Identify the number of independent and subordinate clauses in the following group of words.

Question

Before Samantha can take her driving test

two independent clauses

one independent clause and one subordinate clause

one subordinate clause only

one independent clause only

Answer 1

The phrase "Before Samantha can take her driving test" contains one subordinate clause only.

A subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and typically begins with a subordinating conjunction, which in this case is "Before." The clause contains a subject ("Samantha") and a verb phrase ("can take her driving test"), but it is dependent on additional information to form a complete thought.