Independent and Dependent Clauses

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What is an Independent Clause?

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An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a complete sentence. It has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

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What is a Dependent Clause?

Back

A dependent clause is a group of words that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It has a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought.

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Example of an Independent Clause: 'Cheetahs are the fastest land animals.'

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This is an independent clause because it expresses a complete thought and can stand alone.

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Example of a Dependent Clause: 'When my mother arrives.'

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This is a dependent clause because it does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone.

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Can an Independent Clause be part of a larger sentence?

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Yes, an independent clause can be part of a larger sentence, often combined with dependent clauses.

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What punctuation is often used to separate independent clauses?

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A comma is often used before a coordinating conjunction (like 'and', 'but', 'or') to separate independent clauses.

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Identify the clause: 'I was watching my brother play video games.'

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This is an independent clause.

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Identify the clause: 'She got matching shoes.'

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This is an independent clause.

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Identify the clause: 'When it rains.'

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This is a dependent clause.

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What is a coordinating conjunction?

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A coordinating conjunction is a word that connects two independent clauses, such as 'and', 'but', or 'or'.