What are independent and dependent clauses?
What are independent and dependent clauses?
According to the Purdue OWL, an independent clause is “a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.” A dependent clause is “a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought.”
What is an independent clause called?
An independent clause is also known as a main clause. An in- dependent clause is a group of words that contains both a sub- ject and a predicate and can stand alone as a complete sen- tence.
What is a subordinate clause example?
For example, in the sentence “I played out until it went dark”, the phrase “until it went dark” is the subordinate clause becauseit requires additional information in order to make sense. Subordinate clauses contain a subject noun and a verb.
Which sentences contain dependent clauses?
Examples of Dependent Clauses
- When the president arrives.
- Because I can’t wait for the bus.
- As if he knew what was going to happen.
- Than his sister can.
- If you can work on Sundays.
- Until the sun sets.
- While flowers continue to bloom.
- Whenever you come to visit.
What is a main independent clause clause?
An independent clause (or main clause) is a clause that can stand by itself as a simple sentence. An independent clause contains a subject and a predicate and makes sense by itself.
How do you know if it is a dependent clause?
A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause cannot be a sentence. Often a dependent clause is marked by a dependent marker word. When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz . . .
How do you find the independent clause in a sentence?
“I got sent home” is an independent clause. “I” is the subject, “got” is the verb, “sent home” is the object. A complete thought is expressed.
What is the difference between an independent clause and a sentence?
What is the difference between a sentence and an independent clause? A complete sentence needs a subject and a verb and it has to express a complete thought. An independent clause has a subject and predicate and can stand alone as a main clause.
Can you have a dependent clause without an independent clause?
2 Answers. Your sentence can indeed be a dependent clause, which would be a noun phrase within the independent clause that is missing or not mentioned here. The phrase is used in the Oxford dictionary as an example in which at need can be used. However, even though it is not a “complete” sentence, it is not wrong.
Why would you use a semicolon instead of a comma?
Use a semicolon to replace a comma when you use a coordinating conjunction to link independent clauses that already contain commas. In this example, using a semicolon makes it easier to read the two independent clauses on either side of the coordinating conjunction: Correct: My dog is sick.
How many independent and dependent clauses are in a simple sentence?
A simple sentence consists of only one clause. A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses. A complex sentence has at least one independent clause plus at least one dependent clause. A set of words with no independent clause may be an incomplete sentence, also called a sentence fragment.
What is the difference between simple sentences and compound sentences?
A simple sentence contains one independent clause. A compound sentence contains more than one! Put another way: a simple sentence contains a subject and a predicate, but a compound sentence contains more than one subject and more than one predicate.