Question

which is a dependent clause?
during intermission, while we were discussing the performance
dodging frantically, a valet ran through the crowd and into the theater
dashing after him, two police officers plowed through the lobby crowd
discussing the commotion, we decided it was more exciting than the play

Explanation:

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and relies on an independent clause. The first option "during intermission, while we were discussing the performance" contains a subordinate conjunction "while" and a subject-verb structure ("we were discussing"), but it's part of a larger context? Wait, no—wait, actually, the first option's "while we were discussing the performance" is a dependent clause (subordinate clause) because it starts with the subordinating conjunction "while" and can't stand alone. The other options are independent clauses or phrases. Wait, let's check each:

1. "during intermission, while we were discussing the performance" – the "while we were discussing the performance" is a dependent clause (adverbial clause, subordinate) because it has a subordinating conjunction "while", subject "we", verb "were discussing", and it can't stand alone as a complete sentence.

1. "dodging frantically, a valet ran through the crowd and into the theater" – this is an independent clause (has a subject "a valet" and verb "ran", can stand alone).

1. "dashing after him, two police officers plowed through the lobby crowd" – independent clause (subject "two police officers", verb "plowed", can stand alone).

1. "discussing the commotion, we decided it was more exciting than the play" – independent clause (subject "we", verb "decided", can stand alone).

So the dependent clause is the part with "while we were discussing the performance", which is in the first option. Wait, the first option's full text: "during intermission, while we were discussing the performance" – the "while we were discussing the performance" is the dependent clause (subordinate), as it depends on the main clause (though the main clause here might be implied, but structurally, the "while" clause is dependent).

Answer:

A. during intermission, while we were discussing the performance