Content
Complex sentences
Dependent clauses of three kinds
Independent clauses
Punctuation marks for complex sentences
Dependent clauses of three kinds
Independent clauses
Punctuation marks for complex sentences
Independent Clause DefinedAn independent clause is a clause that can stand on its own, by itself. It does not need to be joined to any other clauses, because it contains all the information necessary to be a complete sentences.
Independent clauses have three components:
Independent clauses can also be joined to other independent clauses, if the independent clauses are related. However, they MUST be joined using the proper punctuation.
The second clause is an independent clause. He is the subject, enjoyed is the action and the book is the object.
The independent clauses are related, so they can be joined to create a complex sentence. They are correctly joined by a semicolon.
Independent clauses can be quite complex, but the important thing to remember is that they stand on their own and make sense alone.
For more examples of independent clauses, check out Examples of Independent Clauses.
Dependent Clause DefinedA dependent clause is a clause that does not express a complete thought.
A clause can be dependent because of the presence of a:
Dependent clauses can become more complex if we add subjects, objects, and modifying phrases:
"Who likes to read" is a dependent clause that modifies Jim. It contains "likes" which is a verb.
Read is a verb.
A book is the object.Like independent clauses, a dependent clause can also be complex. The important thing to remember is that the dependent clause does not stand on its own as a complete thought.
For more examples of dependent clauses, check out Examples of Dependent Clauses.
Independent clauses have three components:
- They have a subject - they tell the reader what the sentence is about.
- They have an action or predicate - they tell the reader what the subject is doing.
- They express a complete thought - something happened or was said.
- Jim reads.
Independent clauses can also be joined to other independent clauses, if the independent clauses are related. However, they MUST be joined using the proper punctuation.
- Jim read a book; he really enjoyed the book.
The second clause is an independent clause. He is the subject, enjoyed is the action and the book is the object.
The independent clauses are related, so they can be joined to create a complex sentence. They are correctly joined by a semicolon.
- Jim read a book, he really enjoyed the book.
Independent clauses can be quite complex, but the important thing to remember is that they stand on their own and make sense alone.
For more examples of independent clauses, check out Examples of Independent Clauses.
Dependent Clause DefinedA dependent clause is a clause that does not express a complete thought.
A clause can be dependent because of the presence of a:
- Marker Word (Before, after, because, since, in order to, although, though, whenever, wherever, whether, while, even though, even if)
- Conjunction (And, or, nor, but, yet)
- Because I forgot my homework.
- Because I forgot my homework, I got sent home.
Dependent clauses can become more complex if we add subjects, objects, and modifying phrases:
- Jim, who likes books, read a book.
"Who likes to read" is a dependent clause that modifies Jim. It contains "likes" which is a verb.
Read is a verb.
A book is the object.Like independent clauses, a dependent clause can also be complex. The important thing to remember is that the dependent clause does not stand on its own as a complete thought.
For more examples of dependent clauses, check out Examples of Dependent Clauses.