Dependent and Independent 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 sentence. It has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

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What is a dependent clause?

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

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Identify the independent clause: 'Although it was raining, we went for a walk.'

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The independent clause is 'we went for a walk.'

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Identify the dependent clause: 'Because I was tired, I went to bed early.'

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The dependent clause is 'Because I was tired.'

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What is a subordinating conjunction?

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A subordinating conjunction is a word that connects a dependent clause to an independent clause, such as 'because,' 'although,' or 'if.'

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Example of a sentence with both an independent and dependent clause:

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'When the sun sets, the sky turns orange.' (Independent: 'the sky turns orange'; Dependent: 'When the sun sets').

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What punctuation is used to separate an independent clause from a dependent clause?

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A comma is used to separate an independent clause from a dependent clause when the dependent clause comes first.

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True or False: An independent clause can be part of a larger sentence.

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True. An independent clause can stand alone or be part of a compound or complex sentence.

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What is the role of an independent clause in a sentence?

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The role of an independent clause is to express a complete thought and can function as a standalone sentence.

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

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The role of a dependent clause is to provide additional information but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.