IC & DC Clauses

Independent and Dependent Clauses
Independent and dependent clauses are the building blocks of

sentences. A single independent clause can be a sentence, by
itself. However, dependent clauses are used to make sentences
more complete and more interesting. Using conjunctions and
proper punctuation, dependent and independent clauses can be
joined together to create interesting and complex compound
sentences that are fun and engaging to read.
Independent Clause Defined

An 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:

1 They have a subject - they tell the reader what the sentence
is about.
2 They have an action or predicate - they tell the reader what
the subject is doing.
3 They express a complete thought - something happened or
was said.
An independent clause can be as simple as a subject and a verb:

• Jim reads.
Jim is the subject. Reads is the action or verb. A complete thought
was expressed - something was said, and the reader now knows
that Jim likes to read.
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 first clause is an independent clause. Jim is the subject, read
is the action, book is the object.
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.
Again, we have two independent clauses, but the independent
clauses are not joined properly. When two independent clauses
are joined only be a comma, it is a grammatical error called a
comma splice.
Independent clauses can be quite complex, but the important

thing to remember is that they stand on their own and make
sense alone.
Examples of Independent Clauses
An independent clause is a group of words with a subject and a

predicate. It expresses a complete thought and can stand alone
as a sentence.
Independent Clause Examples

• I enjoy sitting by the fireplace and reading.
• Waiting to have my car’s oil changed is boring.
• She wants to travel the world and see wonderful sights.
• Our planets revolve around the sun.
• The professor always comes to class fully prepared.
• Hurricanes strengthen over warm waters.
• It is good to tackle the hardest chores first.
• Meredith fixed the leaky faucet all by herself.
• The soprano sang the aria perfectly.
• Cheetahs are the fastest land animals.
• Hiking and biking are my favorite summertime activities.
• It is very important to brush your teeth twice a day.
• We can hardly wait to see the movie.
• This fall’s television line-up is lacking in diversity.
• The brand new Italian restaurant is beautifully decorated.
• There is a lot of apathy concerning the upcoming election.
• Andrew decided to buy a sundae instead of a double-scoop
cone.
• Joan teaches science and algebra at the community college.
• The squirrels are busy storing nuts for the winter.
• I like to swim laps to stay in shape.
• Peter and Elaine could not decide if they wanted to elope or
have a big wedding.
• The team persevered and finally broke the tie.
• The Alps in Switzerland are breathtaking.
Examples of Independent Clauses Joined Together

Here are examples of two independent clauses together in one
sentence joined by a comma and/or a coordinating conjunction:
• The beach is a lot of fun, but the mountains are even better.
• All of us went to the movie, and we agreed it was enjoyable.
• I went to the mall, but forgot to get socks.
• He went to the park and the ride was broken.
• I really wanted potato soup, but they only offered clam
chowder and chicken noodle.
• Today is Thursday and the test is Friday.
• She not only bought two dresses but she got matching
shoes.
• I really want to see the game, but the store is having a huge
sale.
• She interviewed for three jobs, but she really wants to work
here.
• We all looked very tired, for we had stayed up all night
cramming for the final.
Independent Clauses in Sentences with Semicolons

Here are examples of two independent clauses joined by a
semicolon:
• I went to the Department of Motor vehicles; I took the written
test.
• Monica brought the drinks; Frank brought the main dish.
• This is one of my favorite books; Pride and Prejudice is
another favorite.
• My little brother refuses to go to bed early; he is afraid he will
miss something.
• The bridge is narrow; the river is wide.
• He is going to the cabin; he intends to stay there all
weekend.
• During their hike, they noticed a storm moving in; they
decided to turn back.
• There was a strong wind at the beach; we managed to have
a good time anyway.
• I was very happy; I had pizza and ice cream.
• Some authors prefer to use a word processor; others write
using pen and paper.
Dependent Clause Defined
A 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)
Dependent clauses MUST be joined to another clause, in order to

avoid creating a sentence fragment.
• Because I forgot my homework.
This is a sentence fragment. We have a "because" but not a
"why" or anything accompanying and following what happened
"because" they forgot.
• Because I forgot my homework, I got sent home.
Here, the error is corrected. "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.
Dependent clauses can become more complex if we add

subjects, objects, and modifying phrases:
• Jim, who likes books, read a book.
Jim is the subject.
"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.

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Independent and Dependent Clauses

Independent and dependent clauses are the building blocks of

Independent Clause Defined

Independent clauses have three components:

An independent clause can be as simple as a subject and a verb:

Independent clauses can also be joined to other independent

The independent clauses are related, so they can be joined to

Independent clauses can be quite complex, but the important

Examples of Independent Clauses

An independent clause is a group of words with a subject and a

Independent Clause Examples

Examples of Independent Clauses Joined Together

Independent Clauses in Sentences with Semicolons

Dependent clauses MUST be joined to another clause, in order to

Dependent clauses can become more complex if we add

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