Question

grammar review
directions: underline the dependent clause in the following sentences:

1. while the refugees crossed the dangerous sea, they feared the storms that might capsize their rafts.
2. the children, who had never seen the ocean before, were terrified by the vastness of the water.
3. although they had little food and water, the families continued their journey toward freedom.
4. if the refugees were caught at sea, they would be sent to the u.s. naval base at guantanamo bay.
5. they were left stranded without a working engine after the storm passed.
6. many families chose to travel together in small groups because the journey was so dangerous.
7. even though they faced certain risks, the refugees had no other choice but to escape their country.
8. when the u.s. coast guard intercepted the rafts, the refugees hoped for a chance at asylum.

Explanation:

To identify dependent clauses, we look for clauses that cannot stand alone as a sentence and are introduced by subordinating conjunctions (like while, who, although, if, after, because, even though, when) or relative pronouns. A dependent clause functions as a part of a sentence (noun, adjective, or adverb) and relies on the independent clause for meaning.

1. A dependent clause starts with "While" and cannot stand alone. So, $\underline{\text{While the refugees crossed the dangerous sea}}$, they feared the storms that might capsize their rafts. Also, "that might capsize their rafts" is a relative (dependent) clause modifying "storms": they feared the storms $\underline{\text{that might capsize their rafts}}$.
2. The clause starting with "who" is a relative dependent clause modifying "The children": The children, $\underline{\text{who had never seen the ocean before}}$, were terrified by the vastness of the water.
3. The clause starting with "Although" is a dependent adverbial clause: $\underline{\text{Although they had little food and water}}$, the families continued their journey toward freedom.
4. The clause starting with "If" is a dependent adverbial clause: $\underline{\text{If the refugees were caught at sea}}$, they would be sent to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay.
5. The clause starting with "after" is a dependent adverbial clause: They were left stranded without a working engine $\underline{\text{after the storm passed}}$.
6. The clause starting with "because" is a dependent adverbial clause: Many families choose to travel together in small groups $\underline{\text{because the journey was so dangerous}}$.
7. The clause starting with "Even though" is a dependent adverbial clause: $\underline{\text{Even though they faced certain risks}}$, the refugees had no other choice but to escape their country.
8. The clause starting with "When" is a dependent adverbial clause: $\underline{\text{When the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted the rafts}}$, the refugees hoped for a chance at asylum.

Answer:

1. $\underline{\text{While the refugees crossed the dangerous sea}}$, $\underline{\text{that might capsize their rafts}}$
2. $\underline{\text{who had never seen the ocean before}}$
3. $\underline{\text{Although they had little food and water}}$
4. $\underline{\text{If the refugees were caught at sea}}$
5. $\underline{\text{after the storm passed}}$
6. $\underline{\text{because the journey was so dangerous}}$
7. $\underline{\text{Even though they faced certain risks}}$
8. $\underline{\text{When the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted the rafts}}$