ParaPro Assesment Practice Exam

What is a key distinguishing characteristic of a dependent clause?

1. It contains a subject and a verb.

2. It expresses a complete thought.

3. It cannot function as a sentence on its own.

4. It includes a subject and an object.

The correct answer is: It cannot function as a sentence on its own.

A dependent clause is defined by its inability to stand alone as a complete sentence. While it contains a subject and a verb, like an independent clause, it cannot express a complete thought on its own and relies on an independent clause to provide necessary context or meaning. For example, in the phrase "because she was late," the thought is incomplete and leaves the reader wondering what happened as a result of her being late. Thus, the defining feature of a dependent clause is its reliance on another clause, which aligns with the explanation given for the answer. In contrast, the presence of a subject and a verb does apply to both dependent and independent clauses, making this aspect insufficient for distinguishing dependent clauses. Complete thoughts are characteristic of independent clauses, which differentiates them from dependent clauses. Finally, while some dependent clauses can include objects, this is not a necessary feature that distinguishes them from independent clauses. Therefore, the key characteristic is the inability to function independently.