For the CSET, you must know what independent and dependent clauses are.

One other word for dependent clause is subordinate clause: which means the clause is subordinate to a different element (the independent clause) and depends on that other element for its meaning.

A dependent clause is a clause which can not exist on its own; it needs a principal (or independent) clause to go along with it. For instance:

Because it was raining, I took my umbrella.

This sentence incorporates two clauses, “Because it was raining” and “I took my umbrella”. The primary clause does not mean anything on its own. For those who say “Because it was raining”, and nothing else, individuals will be unable to know what you mean. Nonetheless, “I took my umbrella” is an independent clause – we can understand what it means even if it is alone.

The difference between an independent and dependent clause rests on the appearance of one word.

Dependent markers include words such as: as, after, before, until, once, since, while, when, whenever (relating to time), where, wherever (relating to place), although, though, despite,if, even if, even though, how, unless, whether, because, in order to, why, who, which, that (relative pronouns).

Take into account how the addition of one word changes the character of the clause:

The inspector uses a dye to reveal imperfections within the metal. (independent clause)

After the inspector makes use of a dye to reveal imperfections within the metal… (dependent clause)

Until the inspector makes use of a dye to reveal imperfections in the metal… (dependent clause)

Only the first example is an independent clause and a complete sentence. By including a dependent marker such as “after” or “until,” we turn the last two examples into dependent clauses. And because those examples are dependent, they can’t be full sentences.

Once more, a dependent clause cannot represent a whole sentence by itself. Because a dependent clause alone is a sentence fragment, the last two examples above want an independent clause so as to make a complete sentence.

After the inspector makes use of a dye to reveal imperfections in the steel, she examines the turbine below a magnifying glass and black light.

Our buyer will not accept our bid until the inspector uses a dye to disclose imperfections within the metal.

Note that dependent clauses could come before or after an independent clause. They may even be inserted into another clause, as in this case: “The inspector, who uses a dye to disclose imperfections in the metal, presented last month’s quality assurance statistics.

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