An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate, expressing a complete thought. It is a self-contained unit of meaning that can stand alone as a complete sentence. An independent clause has a subject, which is the noun or pronoun that performs the action, and a predicate, which is the verb or action that the subject performs. The independent clause must express a complete thought, meaning that it must have a clear and understandable meaning that can be grasped by the reader or listener.
Characteristics of Independent Clauses
An independent clause typically has the following characteristics: it has a subject, it has a predicate, and it expresses a complete thought. For example, the sentence “I am going to the store” is an independent clause because it has a subject (I), a predicate (am going), and it expresses a complete thought. Independent clauses can be simple, compound, or complex, depending on the number and type of clauses they contain.
Types of Independent Clauses
There are several types of independent clauses, including simple independent clauses, compound independent clauses, and complex independent clauses. A simple independent clause is a single independent clause with a subject and a predicate, such as “I like ice cream.” A compound independent clause is made up of two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction, such as “I like ice cream, and my sister likes cake.” A complex independent clause is an independent clause that contains a dependent clause, such as “I will go to the store because I need to buy milk.”
| Type of Independent Clause | Example |
|---|---|
| Simple Independent Clause | "I like ice cream." |
| Compound Independent Clause | "I like ice cream, and my sister likes cake." |
| Complex Independent Clause | "I will go to the store because I need to buy milk." |
Identifying Independent Clauses
To identify an independent clause, look for a group of words that has a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought. Ask yourself if the group of words can stand alone as a complete sentence. If it can, then it is an independent clause. For example, the sentence “Because I forgot my lunch” is not an independent clause because it does not express a complete thought. However, the sentence “I will go to the cafeteria because I forgot my lunch” is an independent clause because it has a subject (I), a predicate (will go), and it expresses a complete thought.
Common Mistakes
One common mistake when working with independent clauses is to confuse them with dependent clauses. A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate, but does not express a complete thought. For example, the sentence “Because I forgot my lunch” is a dependent clause because it does not express a complete thought. Another common mistake is to use a comma splice, which occurs when two independent clauses are joined with a comma without a conjunction. For example, the sentence “I like ice cream, my sister likes cake” is a comma splice because it joins two independent clauses with a comma without a conjunction.
What is an independent clause?
+An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate, expressing a complete thought. It is a self-contained unit of meaning that can stand alone as a complete sentence.
How do I identify an independent clause?
+To identify an independent clause, look for a group of words that has a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought. Ask yourself if the group of words can stand alone as a complete sentence.
What is the difference between an independent clause and a dependent clause?
+An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a complete sentence, while a dependent clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
