Independent and Dependent Clauses

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What is an independent clause?

Back

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:

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

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Example of a dependent clause:

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"Although she enjoys reading books." This clause cannot stand alone and needs an independent clause to form a complete sentence.

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What does a dependent clause rely on?

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A dependent clause relies on an independent clause to create a full sentence.

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Can a sentence exist without an independent clause?

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No, a sentence will always have at least one independent clause.

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Identify the clause: "When I finish my homework."

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This is a dependent clause because it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

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Identify the clause: "I will go to the park."

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

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

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A dependent clause adds additional information to the independent clause but cannot stand alone.

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What punctuation is often used before a dependent clause?

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A comma is often used before a dependent clause when it starts a sentence.