Independent and
Dependent Clauses

Differences and Examples

Independent and dependent clauses are two types of clauses in the English language. 

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A clause is a group of related words that contains a subject and a 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:

• The dog jumped over the fence.
  
  The subject of the sentence is the dog because the dog is doing the action. The verb is jumped because it is the action.
  
  
• He smiled at her.
  
  The subject of this sentence is He. The verb is smiled.
  
  
• My teacher told us to read quietly.
  
  The subject of this sentence is My teacher. The verb is told.

A verb can also describe a state, such as: be, have, like, see, etc.

Example:

• Mom will be home soon.
  
  The subject of this sentence is Mom. The verb is be.

Independent clauses

An independent clause is a group of related words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.


Independent clauses are complete sentences. They begin with a capital letter and end with punctuation, such as a period.

Examples:

• I picked a flower for you.
  
  
• My mom is nice.
  
  
• The teacher taught me how to read.
  
  
• The woman sang.
  

Dependent clauses

Dependent clauses contain a subject and a verb, but do not express a complete thought.


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:

• When I picked a flower for you
  
  What happened when I picked the flower?
  This is not a complete thought or sentence.
  
  
• If my mom is nice
  
  What happens if my mom is nice? This is not a complete thought or sentence.
  
  
• While my teacher taught me to read
  
  What happened while my teacher taught me to read?
  This is not a complete thought or sentence.
  
  
• Because the woman sang
  
  What happened because the woman sang?
  This is not a complete thought or sentence.
  
  

Dependent marker words

Dependent clauses usually start with a dependent marker word, as shown in purple in the examples above.

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:

• I like flowers.

Now, let's turn it into a dependent clause. We do it by adding a word such as "because." This word is called a dependent marker word.

Now we get:

• Because I like flowers

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:

• I planted flowers because I like flowers.

Some common dependent marker words:

• After
  
  
• Although
  
  
• As
  
  
• As if
  
  
• Because
  
  
• Before
  
  
• Even if
  
  
• Even though
  
  
• If
  
  
• In order to
  
  
• Since
  
  
• Though
  
  
• Unless
  
  
• Until
  
  
• Whatever
  
  
• When
  
  
• Whenever
  
  
• Whether
  
  
• While
  
  

Connecting dependent and independent clauses

1. Connect independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions are connecting words that are used to connect independent clauses. There are seven coordinating conjunctions:

• For
  
  
• And
  
  
• Nor
  
  
• But
  
  
• Or
  
  
• Yet
  
  
• So

The coordinating conjunction is placed before the second independent clause. A comma is used before the coordinating conjunction.

Examples:

• She likes to cook carrots, but he likes to eat them raw.
  
  She likes to cook carrots and He likes to eat them raw are both independent clauses because they are complete sentences. They are connected with the coordinating conjunction but.
  
  
• Richard wanted to see a movie, so Lisa drove him to the theater.
  
  Richard wanted to see a movie and Lisa drove him to the theater are both independent clauses because they are complete sentences. They are connected with the coordinating conjunction so.
  
  
• The dog was fast, yet the cat got away by climbing the fence.
  
  The dog was fast and The cat got away by climbing the fence are both independent clauses because they are complete sentences. They are connected with the coordinating conjunction yet.

2. Connect independent clauses with just a semicolon

Semicolons can connect two independent clauses, without using a coordinating conjunction.

Examples:

• The dog likes my blanket; he sleeps on my bed.
  
  
• The trees are beautiful; it is autumn here.
  
  
• That chair broke; it is time to buy a new one.

3. Connect independent clauses with an independent marker word

Independent marker words are another way to connect clauses. These words are used at the beginning of an independent clause.

Some common independent marker words:

• also
  
  
• consequently
  
  
• furthermore
  
  
• however
  
  
• moreover
  
  
• nevertheless
  
  
• therefore

What's the difference between a dependent marker word (such as "if," "while," and "since") and an independent marker word (such as "also" and "therefore")?

Answer:

• If a dependent marker word is used, the clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. 
  
  For example: "If she leaves" = not a complete sentence
  
  
• If an independent marker word is used, the clause can stand alone as a complete sentence.
  
  For example: "Therefore, she leaves" = a complete sentence

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:

• John did not study for his test; consequently, he failed the exam today.
  
  
• Mike cleaned his room; therefore, he can stay up later tonight.
  
• Sam wanted to ride his bike. However, the tire was flat.
  
  
• Nick was tired after work. Nevertheless, he washed the dishes after supper.

4. Dependent clauses are completed by adding an independent clause to the sentence.

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.

• Incorrect: Because the girl laughed
  
  What happened because the girl laughed? This is not a complete thought.
  
  
• Correct: Because the girl laughed, I smiled.
  
  
• Correct: I smiled because the girl laughed.
  
  Note that in this case we left out the comma.
  
  
  

• Incorrect: When I picked a flower for you
  
  What happened when I picked the flower? This is not a complete thought.
  
  
• Correct: When I picked a flower for you, a bee stung me.
  
  
• Correct: A bee stung me when I picked a flower for you.
  
  
  
  
• Incorrect: If my mom is nice
  
  What happens if my mom is nice? This is not a complete thought.
  
  
• Correct: If my mom is nice, she will take us to the park today.
  
  
• Correct: My mom will take us to the park today if she is nice.
  
  
  
  
• Incorrect: While my teacher taught me to read
  
  What happened while my teacher taught me to read? This is not a complete thought.
  
  
• Correct: While my teacher taught me to read, the other students worked quietly in their notebooks.
  
  
• Correct: The other students worked quietly in their notebooks while my teacher taught me to read.

Comma splices

A splice means a connection point.

Do not use just a comma to connect independent clauses. This is called a comma splice and is incorrect.

• Incorrect example: He is wearing a sweater, he is cold.
  
  
• Correct example: He is wearing a sweater because he is cold.
  
  
• Correct example: Because he is cold, he is wearing a sweater.
  
  
• Correct example: He is wearing a sweater, and he is cold.
  
  
• Correct example: He is wearing a sweater; he is cold.
  
  
• Correct example: He is wearing a sweater. He is cold.
  
  
• Correct example: He is wearing a sweater. Therefore, he is cold.

These were differences between independent and dependent clauses. Now that you know them, it is time to practice! Read and do exercises.

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