Table of Contents
What is an Independent Clause?
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.
Examples:
She enjoys reading novels.
Complete idea: She likes reading novels.
The sun rises in the east.
Complete idea: The sun rises in the east.
They will visit us tomorrow.
Complete idea: They are visiting tomorrow.
Types of Dependent Clauses
A dependent clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It depends on an independent clause to complete its meaning. There are three main types of dependent clauses:
1. Noun Clause
A noun clause acts as a noun in a sentence. It can be a subject, object, or complement.
- What she said surprised everyone.
(Noun clause as the subject)
- I know that he will come.
(Noun clause as the object)
2. Adjective Clause
An adjective clause (also called a relative clause) describes a noun or pronoun. It usually starts with words like who, which, that, or whose.
- The book that she recommended is amazing.
(Adjective clause describing book)
- I met a student who loves science.
(Adjective clause describing student)
3. Adverb Clause
An adverb clause modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It shows time, reason, condition, or manner and starts with subordinating conjunctions like because, when, if, although, or since.
- She stayed home because it was raining.
(Adverb clause showing reason)
- We will leave when the movie ends.
(Adverb clause showing time)
Independent Clause and Dependent Clause
An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. It expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.
A dependent clause (also called a subordinate clause) also contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone because it does not express a complete thought. It depends on an independent clause to make sense.
Examples:
Independent Clause: She enjoys reading.
Dependent Clause: Because she has free time.
- She enjoys reading because she has free time.
Independent Clause: He went to the store.
Dependent Clause: Although it was raining.
- He went to the store although it was raining.
Independent Clause: They are studying hard.
Dependent Clause: So that they can pass the exam.
- They are studying hard so that they can pass the exam.
Phrase vs. Dependent Clause
A phrase is a group of words that work together but do not have both a subject and a verb. It cannot form a complete thought on its own.
A dependent clause (or subordinate clause), on the other hand, contains a subject and a verb but still cannot stand alone because it does not express a complete thought.
Structure
- A phrase lacks either a subject, a verb, or both.
- A dependent clause has both a subject and a verb but needs an independent clause to make sense.
Function
- A phrase adds detail or description to a sentence.
- A dependent clause provides additional information but depends on the main clause for meaning.
Phrase:
- Walking in the park is relaxing.
(No subject performing the action; walking acts as a noun.)
Dependent Clause:
- When she walks in the park, she feels calm.
(She walks is a subject-verb pair, but the clause is incomplete without the main idea.)
Common Mistakes with Independent Clauses
Understanding and using independent clauses correctly is essential for clear communication. However, learners often make mistakes that affect sentence structure and meaning. Here are some common mistakes and how to avoid them:
Run-on Sentences
Mistake: Combining two independent clauses without proper punctuation or a conjunction.
- ✗ She loves to read she writes stories too.
- ✓ She loves to read, and she writes stories too.
Comma Splices
Mistake: Joining two independent clauses with just a comma.
- ✗ I enjoy cooking, I bake cakes every weekend.
- ✓ I enjoy cooking, and I bake cakes every weekend.
- ✓ I enjoy cooking; I bake cakes every weekend.
Using Dependent Words Incorrectly
Mistake: Starting an independent clause with a subordinating word, making it incomplete.
- ✗ Because I was tired.
- ✓ Because I was tired, I went to bed early.
Missing Subjects or Verbs
Mistake: Writing a clause that lacks a subject or verb, making it incomplete.
- ✗ Went to the store.
- ✓ She went to the store.
Incorrect Coordination
Mistake: Using conjunctions improperly to link independent clauses.
- ✗ He likes pizza but hates burgers, he eats both.
- ✓ He likes pizza but hates burgers, yet he eats both.
Why Independent Clauses Are Important
Independent clauses are essential in English because they form the foundation of complete sentences. They ensure that your writing communicates clear and complete ideas. Without an independent clause, a sentence cannot stand alone or make sense.
Building Complete Sentences:
An independent clause provides the main idea, ensuring the sentence is grammatically correct.
- She loves painting.
Combining Ideas:
Independent clauses help link ideas using conjunctions or punctuation, creating more complex sentences.
- I wanted to go outside, but it started raining.
Clear Communication:
Using independent clauses ensures your writing conveys full thoughts, avoiding confusion or ambiguity.
- The train arrived late.
Examples of Independent Clause
- She enjoys reading books every evening.
- I will call you when I arrive home.
- They finished their project on time.
- He likes playing basketball on weekends.
- We are going to the park later today.
- The dog barked loudly throughout the night.
- My brother studies hard for his exams.
- She is planning to travel abroad next year.
- They met at the café for lunch.
- John loves watching movies with his friends.
Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Clause
1. What is an independent clause?
An independent clause is a group of words that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. It includes a subject and a predicate.
Example: She runs every morning.
2. What is the difference between an independent clause and a dependent clause?
An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, while a dependent clause cannot.
Example: Because I was tired.
3. How are independent clauses linked to other clauses?
Independent clauses are linked to other clauses using coordinating conjunctions (such as and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) or punctuation marks like commas and semicolons. Example, She loves reading, and he enjoys writing.
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