Question

Is the underlined clause independent or subordinate? Please watch the babies while Mother takes a nap.

Answer 1

First Clause: "Please watch the babies"

This is an independent clause. You can identify independent clauses when you read it and it has a full idea already. It can stand without another clause to back it up.

Second Clause: "while Mother takes a nap"

This is a subordinate clause. Subordinate clauses usually start with a conjunction. You'll see that the given clause starts with "while", which is a conjunction.

Answer 2

The sentence has two clauses: "Please watch the babies" and "while Mother takes a nap". (You didn't underline a clause so I'm going to explain both of them).

First Clause: "Please watch the babies"
This is an independent clause. You can identify independent clauses when you read it and it has a full idea already. It can stand without another clause to back it up.

Second Clause: "while Mother takes a nap"
This is a subordinate clause. Subordinate clauses usually start with a conjunction. You'll see that the given clause starts with "while", which is a conjunction.