Question

Identify the dependent or subordinate clause in the sentence.
Anil called at 5.30 and I told him that you had gone out. [Advance]

• A. Anil called at 5.30
• B. gone out
• C. that you had gone out.
• D. and I told him

Answer 1

The correct option is C that you had gone out.

Here option C is the correct answer.

Explanation:

A clause can be a part of the sentence or it can be a complete sentence in itself.

1. Anil called at 5.30
   
2. I told him
   
3. That you had gone out

Each part here contains a subject and predicate of its own, and forms part of a large sentence.

Here the clauses, Anil called at 5.30 and I told him make good sense by themselves and hence could stand by themselves as complete sentences. They are therefore called Principal Clause or Main Clause.

The clause, That you had gone out, cannot stand by itself and make good sense. It is dependent on the clauses, Anil called at 5.30 and I told him. It is therefore called Dependent or Subordinate clause.

Such sentences are called as Compound sentences. In addition to two or three main clause a Compound sentence, sometimes includes one or more Subordinate clauses.

So options A and D are the Principal clauses whereas option C is a Subordinate clause.

Option B is incorrect as it is not a clause.
Hence options A, B and D are incorrect.