Identify the dependent clause in this sentence: The mother dog left her bed as soon as the puppies were asleep.

The dependent clause in this sentence is "as soon as the puppies were asleep." This clause is considered dependent because it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence; it requires additional context to convey a complete thought. In this context, it functions to specify the timing of the action described in the independent clause, "The mother dog left her bed." The dependent clause provides important information about when the mother dog left, and without it, the meaning of the independent clause would be incomplete. The use of "as soon as" signals that the clause depends on the events described in the independent clause for its full meaning, establishing a clear relationship between the two clauses.