An independent clause, also known as a simple sentence, includes a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. Show
Example: Juliet, a border collie puppy, prefers to chase apples and pears. A dependent clause has a subject and verb, is introduced by a subordinate conjunction or a relative pronoun, but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause is not a complete sentence. Example: Because the heavy rains flooded the entrance to the subdivision. Example:
After Laura carefully read the assigned chapter. Determine whether the underlined word groups are dependent clauses, independent clauses, or not a clause. 1. Although it was raining, Maria went for a jog at Civitan Park. 2. Brianna eats chocolate whenever she gets a poor grade in math. 3. After the flood, the family moved into a temporary shelter. 4. While walking at the park, John saw a raccoon eating potato chips. 5. Students enrolled in bachelor's and associate's degree programs must pass the Regents' Test as a graduation requirement. 6. Students who fail to show up for the Regents' test must enroll in the Regents' remediation courses. 7. When you finish your homework, please take the dog for a walk. 8. After Juan completed the assignment, he swam laps at the gym. 9. Christa left home at 4:00 a.m. since she had to drive to Atlanta for a meeting. 10. Before completing the assignment, Evan decided to eat a quick lunch. This Page Includes...What Is an Independent Clause? (with Examples)An independent clause is a clause that can stand alone as a sentence (i.e., it expresses a complete thought). A dependent clauses (or subordinate clause) is one that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence (i.e., it does not express a complete thought). Remember that a clause has a subject and a verb. Easy Examples of Dependent and Independent ClausesIn all the examples, the independent clauses are highlighted, and the dependent clauses aren't. Also, in each clause, the subject is underlined and the verb is in bold.
Notice how the shaded clauses could all stand alone as sentences. They are independent clauses. Video LessonHere is a video summarizing this lesson on independent clauses:
Some Real-Life Examples of Dependent and Independent Clauses
Do not confuse clauses and phrases. The non-highlighted texts in the example below are not dependent clauses. (With no subjects and verbs, they're not clauses. They're adverbial phrases.)
The Link between an Independent Clause and a Dependent ClausesAn independent clause is linked to a dependent clause with a subordinating conjunction (common ones are "after," "although," "as," "because," "before," "even if," "even though," "if," "provided," "rather than," "since," "so that," "than," "though," "unless," "until," "whether," "while," "how," "that," "what," "when," and "where") or a relative pronoun (common ones are "which," "who," "whom," "whose," "why," "whoever," and "whosever.") Look at these examples:
Dependent Clauses inside Independent Clauses. Grammarians are divided on whether a dependent clause can be a component of an independent clause. Some say yes, and some say no. The no-camp claims that a dependent clause must be linked with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun to an independent clause.
Types of Dependent Clause. Let's quickly look at dependent clauses. They can function as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns.
The Types of Sentence Structure. The number of independent clauses and dependent clauses in a sentence determines the sentence-structure type. There are four.
Why Independent Clauses Are ImportantThere's only one reason to care about independent and dependent clauses: comma placement. There are three, well, four at a push, noteworthy points linked to comma placement. (Point 1) Use a comma before an "and" that links two independent clauses.If your "and" links two independent clauses, precede it with a comma. This rule does not apply only to "and." It applies to any coordinating conjunction (e.g., "but," "or"). Put another way, the rule is "use a comma before a conjunction that joins the independent clauses in a compound sentence." (Point 2) Use commas with nonessential dependent clauses that start with "who" or "which" (or any relative pronoun for that matter).If a dependent clause functioning as an adjective is essential to specify its noun, it's not offset with commas. (NB: In these examples, the dependent clauses are shaded.)
When used to head an adjective dependent clause, "which" and "who" are relative pronouns. Such clauses are often called "relative clauses." Remember that this rule does not apply only to "who" and "which." It applies to any relative pronoun (e.g., "whose," "why"). Read more about relative pronouns. (Point 3) Use a comma after an adverbial dependent clause that sits before the independent clause. Don't use a comma before the clause if it follows the independent clause.Using a comma after a fronted adverbial dependent clause is such a common style, it's becoming increasingly safe to call it a rule. The purpose of the comma is to aid reading. It shows your readers where the clause ends. Omitting a comma isn't a hideous crime (and lots of writers do it, even prefer it), but omitting the comma can cause your readers to stumble as they try to find the end of the dependent clause. Can you read these without stumbling?
Here are some examples with commas. (NB: In these examples, the independent clauses are shaded.) With the clause at the back, there's no comma. (Point 4) There's more to Point 3.Let's complicate the issue a bit. The rule that states "do not use a comma when the adverbial clause follows the independent clause" is not really the rule. In fact, the rule for post-positioned adverbial clauses is the same as for post-positioned adjective clauses (see Point 2). In other words, use a comma if the adverbial clause is nonessential. The problem is that it's way more difficult to decide whether an adverbial clause is essential or nonessential than it is with an adjective clause. As the vast majority of adverbial clauses are essential, it's pretty safe, but not entirely safe, to declare that a post-positioned adverbial clause isn't preceded by a comma. This issue typically crops up with "because" that explains a negative.
The comma distances the dependent clause from "didn't win." In the two examples above, the contexts make the meaning clear, but what about this example:
The take-away point here is that a comma before a post-positioned adverbial clause distances it from the verb in the independent clause. It makes the clause nonessential.
If you ever find yourself relying on the comma before a post-positioned adverbial clause for clarity, don't. Reword. Key Points
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Next lesson > What is the independent clause in the sentence because he lives I can face tomorrow?Q. In the sentence, “ Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.” what is the independent clause? I can face.
Which among the following is an example of an independent clause?An independent clause is the combination of at least one subject and predicate. It expresses a complete thought. For example: The waves crashed onto the sandy shore.
What word group contains a subject and predicate and expresses a complete thought *?An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate and forms a complete thought when standing alone.
What is part of a sentence which can be dependent or independent?Clauses. Clauses can be divided into two kinds: dependent and independent. A dependent clause contains a subject and verb, but cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence; an independent clause includes a subject and a verb, and expresses a complete thought.
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