{"id":4608,"date":"2021-04-07T06:00:10","date_gmt":"2021-04-07T11:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/?p=4608"},"modified":"2024-04-05T14:59:24","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T19:59:24","slug":"dependent-and-independent-clauses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/clauses-sentences\/dependent-and-independent-clauses\/","title":{"rendered":"Dependent and Independent Clauses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clauses are the foundation of English sentences. A clause is typically defined as related words that contain a subject and a predicate.<\/p>\n

There are two types of clauses: dependent and independent. A dependent (subordinate<\/a>) clause is an incomplete thought that cannot stand alone as a sentence. An independent (main) clause is a complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence.<\/p>\n

Full sentence:<\/strong> Although it is raining, I am going out for a run.<\/p>\n

Dependent clause <\/strong>(incomplete thought): Although it<\/u> (subject) is raining<\/strong><\/span> (predicate)<\/p>\n

Independent clause <\/strong>(complete thought): I<\/u> (subject) am going out for a run<\/span><\/strong> (predicate).<\/p>\n

Dependent Clauses<\/h2>\n

As mentioned, being a clause, a dependent clause<\/strong> has a subject and a predicate but cannot stand alone. It is subordinated by a conjunction or a relative pronoun, making it depend on a main clause for completion.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong>
\nAfter<\/strong> (subordinating conjunction) I<\/u> (subject) leave work<\/span><\/strong> (predicate)<\/p>\n

The guitar that<\/strong> (subordinating relative pronoun) I<\/u> (subject) like<\/span><\/strong> (predicate)<\/p>\n

What<\/strong> (subordinating relative pronoun) the decision<\/u> (subject) will be<\/span><\/strong> (predicate)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You can see that the clauses are fragments. Although each has a subject and a verb, it remains unfinished.<\/p>\n

Because they are fragmentary and dependent, these clauses serve the main clause as modifiers or as nouns. They are generally classified as adverb, adjective, or noun clauses.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong>
\nAfter I leave work<\/u>, I will stop at the grocery store. (The dependent clause serves as an adverb for the main clause.)<\/p>\n

The guitar that I like<\/u> is for sale. (The dependent clause serves as an adjective for the subject.)<\/p>\n

What the decision will be<\/u> remains to be seen. (The dependent clause serves as the noun of the sentence.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You may notice that introductory dependent clauses with a subordinating conjunction are typically followed by a comma before the main clause begins. The comma can sometimes be omitted if the dependent clause follows the main clause.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong>
\nAfter I leave work<\/u>, I will stop at the grocery store.<\/p>\n

I will stop at the grocery store after I leave work<\/u>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The following table includes common conjunctions that subordinate clauses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
after<\/td>\neven though<\/td>\nuntil<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
although<\/td>\nif<\/td>\nwhatever<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
as<\/td>\nin order to<\/td>\nwhen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
because<\/td>\nsince<\/td>\nwhenever<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
before<\/td>\nthough<\/td>\nwhether<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
even if<\/td>\nunless<\/td>\nwhile<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The following table includes relative pronouns that subordinate clauses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
that<\/td>\nwhoever<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
what<\/td>\nwhom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
which<\/td>\nwhomever<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
who<\/td>\nwhose<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Independent Clauses<\/h2>\n

As mentioned, an independent clause<\/strong> contains a subject and a predicate and can stand alone as a full thought. It does not need (depend on) another clause to be finished.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong>
\nI will stop at the grocery store.<\/p>\n

The guitar is for sale.<\/p>\n

I am going out for a run.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Also as we’ve discussed, independent clauses can be modified by dependent clauses. In addition, they can be joined to other independent clauses by a coordinating conjunction, a colon, or a semicolon.<\/p>\n

If connected by a coordinating conjunction, independent clauses are often separated by a comma, particularly if they are longer sentences. Shorter independent clauses might sometimes omit the comma depending on the chosen style.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong>
\nThe fence needs to be repainted, and<\/u> I will take care of it soon. (longer independent clauses connected by a comma and a coordinating conjunction)<\/p>\n

You scrape the fence and<\/u> I’ll paint it. (shorter independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction without a comma)<\/p>\n

The fence needs to be repainted;<\/u> I will take care of it soon. (independent clauses connected by a semicolon)<\/p>\n

The fence color is fading: It’s time to repaint it. (independent clauses connected by a colon)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The following table includes common coordinating conjunctions that join independent clauses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
and<\/td>\nor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
but<\/td>\nso<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
for<\/td>\nyet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
nor<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Related Topics<\/h3>\n

Clauses and Phrases<\/a>
\nConnecting Sentences with Commas and Semicolons<\/a>
\nWho, That, Which<\/a>
\nBecoming Savvy with Sentence Structures: Part One<\/a>
\nBecoming Savvy with Sentence Structures: Part Two<\/a><\/p>\n

Pop Quiz<\/h2>\n

Applying what you’ve learned, identify the dependent and independent clauses in the following sentences.<\/p>\n

1. Meg likes to go out for Japanese food, but Ryan prefers to dine at Thai restaurants.<\/p>\n

2. I will go to the party with you if you promise our return by 11:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

3. The distance between the two towers is about 500 yards.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

4. Melanie will sign the proposal that you prepared if you send it to her this week.<\/p>\n

5. Whenever a new superhero movie comes out, David is among the first to see it on opening weekend.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pop Quiz Answers<\/h3>\n

(dependent clauses) [independent clauses]<\/p>\n

1. [Meg likes to go out for Japanese food], but [Ryan prefers to dine at Thai restaurants].<\/p>\n

2. [I will go to the party with you] (if you promise our return by 11:00 p.m.)<\/p>\n

3. [The distance between the two towers is about 500 yards].<\/p>\n

4. [Melanie will sign the proposal] (that you prepared) (if you send it to her this week).<\/p>\n

5. (Whenever a new superhero movie comes out), [David is among the first to see it on opening weekend].<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Clauses are the foundation of English sentences. A clause is typically defined as related words that contain a subject and a predicate. There are two types of clauses: dependent and independent. A dependent (subordinate) clause is an incomplete thought that cannot stand alone as a sentence. An independent (main) clause is a complete thought that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[74],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-clauses-sentences"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4608"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4608"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6919,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4608\/revisions\/6919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}