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:

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"I enjoy reading books." This is an independent clause because it expresses a complete thought.

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Example of a Dependent Clause:

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"Although I enjoy reading books." This is a dependent clause because it does not express a complete thought.

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What is the main difference between Independent and Dependent Clauses?

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The main difference is that independent clauses can stand alone as complete sentences, while dependent clauses cannot.

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Identify the clause: "Because it was raining"

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Dependent Clause.

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Identify the clause: "She went to the store"

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Independent Clause.

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What does a Dependent Clause often start with?

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A dependent clause often starts with a subordinating conjunction like 'because', 'although', or 'if'.

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What does an Independent Clause often contain?

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An independent clause contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

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Can a Dependent Clause be part of a larger sentence?

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