Independent and Dependent Clauses: A Clear Lesson Plan
Independent and dependent clauses are one of those grammar topics that quietly shape everything students write—yet they’re often misunderstood. Once students grasp the difference, sentence structure suddenly makes sense: fragments disappear, commas become purposeful, and writing flows more clearly.
In this lesson, I break independent and dependent clauses down in a way that’s simple, practical, and classroom-ready—no grammar headaches required.
What Students Need to Know
Independent Clauses
An independent clause:
Has a subject
Has a verb
Expresses a complete thought
It can stand alone as a sentence.
Example:
I stayed inside during recess.
Dependent Clauses
A dependent clause:
Has a subject and a verb
Does not express a complete thought
It cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Often begins with words like:
because, although, when, if, while, since, after, before
Example:
Because I finished my homework
Putting Them Together
A dependent clause needs an independent clause to make sense.
When a dependent clause comes first, use a comma.
Examples:
Because I finished my homework, I stayed inside.
I stayed inside because I finished my homework.
Practice Together
Have students decide whether each clause is independent (I) or dependent (D).
Because the rain wouldn’t stop
We canceled the field trip
When the bell rang
She opened her book
Class Discussion Prompts
Which clauses feel “unfinished”?
What words signal that a clause might be dependent?
How could we fix the fragments?
Practice Together – Answer Key
Dependent
Independent
Dependent
Independent
Practice Alone (Independent Work)
Students complete a worksheet where they:
Identify whether clauses are independent or dependent
Rewrite sentences correctly when needed
Conclusion
Once students can confidently tell the difference between independent and dependent clauses, a lot of writing problems quietly disappear. Sentence fragments fade away, run-ons become easier to fix, and students gain more control over their writing.
This is one of those grammar lessons that pays off all year long—and it’s absolutely worth slowing down and getting right.
