Question

Which clause is represented by the saying strike the iron while it is red?

a) An independent clause
b) A dependent clause

Answer 1

The phrase "strike the iron while it is red" stands as an independent clause, as it contains both a subject and a verb and conveys a complete thought without needing additional information.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase "strike the iron while it is red" represents an independent clause. An independent clause is a group of words that includes both a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a complete sentence. It conveys a complete thought and does not rely on additional information to be understood. In contrast, a dependent clause, although it contains a subject and a verb as well, cannot function alone and depends on an independent clause to complete its meaning. Examples of dependent clauses often begin with subordinating conjunctions like 'if', 'because', or 'while', which signal that additional information is needed to complete the sentence.

Considering the saying in question, it is a directive telling someone to take action while conditions are optimal. Since it does not start with a subordinating conjunction and it expresses a complete thought, it does not require additional information to make sense. Therefore, the correct answer is that the saying forms an independent clause.

Answer 2

The saying 'strike the iron while it is red' functions as an independent clause because it consists of a subject and a verb and conveys a complete idea on its own without the need for additional clauses.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase strike the iron while it is red is representative of an independent clause. An independent clause can stand on its own as a complete sentence, possessing both a subject and a verb without the need for additional information from other clauses. This phrase could be seen as a complete thought; hence, it signifies an action that should be taken while the conditions are favorable and does not rely on another clause to make sense.

An independent clause can sometimes be combined with other clauses to form more complex sentences. For instance, an independent clause might be joined with a dependent clause, which cannot stand alone as a sentence because it does not express a complete thought without the independent clause. A dependent clause typically begins with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun, making it reliant on the independent clause to provide a complete idea.

Contrary to independent clauses, dependent clauses depend on the presence of an independent clause to provide clarity and complete meaning. For example, in the sentence 'If you chase two rabbits, you will lose them both', 'If you chase two rabbits' is a dependent clause because it begins with the subordinating conjunction 'if' and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. The independent clause 'you will lose them both' completes the thought and gives the sentence a clear meaning.