Dependent and independent clauses

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What is an independent clause?

Back

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

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What is a subordinate clause?

Back

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

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Example of an independent clause.

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"She enjoys reading books." This clause can stand alone as a complete sentence.

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Example of a subordinate clause.

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"Although she enjoys reading books" is a subordinate clause because it does not express a complete thought.

Front

What is the function of a subordinate clause in a sentence?

Back

A subordinate clause adds additional information to the main clause but cannot stand alone.

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Identify the independent clause: "When it rains, the ground gets wet."

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The independent clause is "the ground gets wet." It expresses a complete thought.

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Identify the subordinate clause: "Because I was tired, I went to bed early."

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The subordinate clause is "Because I was tired." It does not express a complete thought.

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What punctuation is often used to separate independent clauses?

Back

A comma is often used before a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) to separate independent clauses.

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What is a coordinating conjunction?

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A coordinating conjunction is a word that connects two independent clauses. Examples include: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

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What is a complex sentence?

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A complex sentence is a sentence that contains one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause.