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1.What is the independent clause here?
2.How does 'accidentally spilled his cargo, leaving a pulpy mess' function here?

Last month a porter carrying a basket of tomatoes in the crowded Shasha market in Ibadan, a city in south-western Nigeria, accidentally spilled his cargo, leaving a pulpy mess.
(Source)

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  • 1
    You've written several similar questions. Can you tell me the source of the quotes?
    – James K
    Mar 6, 2021 at 14:56
  • 1
    What do you think is the independent clause? What is the main verb? What is its subject?
    – James K
    Mar 6, 2021 at 14:58
  • I just want to analyze the sentences used in the articles of economist.com
    – Hasan Hasu
    Mar 6, 2021 at 15:00
  • Okay then, please link to the source of the quotes.
    – James K
    Mar 6, 2021 at 15:07
  • 2
    No! That is not my job. You are quoting, you cite your sources!
    – James K
    Mar 6, 2021 at 15:46

1 Answer 1

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Last month a porter [carrying a basket of tomatoes in the crowded Shasha market in Ibadan, a city in south-western Nigeria], accidentally spilled his cargo, [leaving a pulpy mess].

The main/matrix (independent) clause here is the sentence as a whole. It is not dependent on some other element.

The bracketed "carrying" clause is modifying the head noun “porter” and hence is subordinate (dependent).

The bracketed "leaving" clause is an adjunct in clause structure, and thus subordinate (dependent).

The expression “accidentally spilled his cargo, leaving a pulpy mess” is a verb phrase functioning as the predicate of the main clause (the sentence).

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