Grammar Related

Review Grammar related questions and content

In the following sentence, which is the dependent clause? We played a game while we waited, and then we had dinner.

  • A. we played
  • B. then we had dinner
  • C. while we waited
  • D. a game
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The dependent clause in a sentence cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it depends on the independent clause for meaning. In this sentence, 'while we waited' is the dependent clause as it does not express a complete thought on its own. It needs the independent clause 'We played a game' to make a complete sentence. Dependent clauses often start with subordinating conjunctions like 'while,' 'if,' 'because,' 'since,' etc., which show the dependency relationship with the independent clause.