If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website. If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked. Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses A clause is a group of related words that contains a subject and a verb. Clause = Subject + Verb Clauses are the basic building blocks of sentences in the English language. A subject is the person or thing that is doing something or being something. The subject performs the verb.A verb is the action word in a sentence. Examples:
A verb can also describe a state, such as: be, have, like, see, etc. Example:
Independent Clause = Independent clauses are complete sentences. They begin with a capital letter and end with punctuation, such as a period. Examples:
Dependent clauses contain a subject and a verb, but do not express a complete thought. Dependent Clause = A dependent clause is not a complete sentence. The words in purple below are called dependent marker words and will be explained in the next section. Examples:
A dependent marker word is a word added to the beginning of an independent clause to make it dependent. For example, this is an independent clause: Now, let's turn it into a dependent clause. We do it by adding a word such as "because." This word is called a Now we get:The above group of words does not communicate a complete thought and becomes a dependent clause. The dependent clause must be connected with an independent clause to make a complete sentence:
Independent Clause + Coordinating Conjunction + Independent Clause
Examples:
Independent Clause + ; + Independent Clause Semicolons can connect two independent clauses, without using a coordinating conjunction. Examples:
Independent Clause + Independent Marker Word + Independent Clause Some common independent marker words:
A semicolon ( ; ) is placed before the independent marker word. Note: Do not capitalize the independent marker word after a semicolon. You can also use a period ( . ) before the dependent marker word, but note that then you have two separate sentences. Examples:
Independent Clause + Dependent Clause Independent Clause + , + Dependent Clause We usually place a comma after the dependent clause if it begins with a dependent marker word. We can leave the comma out if we reverse the order of the clauses.
Do not use just a comma to connect independent clauses. This is called a comma splice and is incorrect.
These were differences between independent and dependent clauses. Now that you know them, it is time to practice! Read and do exercises. Please share this page with others: |