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 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 dependent clause?

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A dependent 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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Can an independent clause function as a complete sentence?

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Yes, an independent clause can function as a complete sentence because it expresses a complete thought.

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Can a dependent clause function as a complete sentence?

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No, a dependent clause cannot function as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought.

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What is an example of an independent clause?

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An example of an independent clause is 'We have no idea.'

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What is an example of a dependent clause?

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An example of a dependent clause is 'If he or she wants to survive.'

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What punctuation is often used to separate independent clauses?

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A comma is often used to separate independent clauses when they are joined by a coordinating conjunction.

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What are coordinating conjunctions?

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Coordinating conjunctions are words that connect independent clauses. The most common ones are 'for,' 'and,' 'nor,' 'but,' 'or,' 'yet,' and 'so' (FANBOYS).

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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 dependent clause.

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What is a compound sentence?

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A compound sentence is a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.