Explain Independent Clause with Example

Diverse parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs, and adjectives, as well as different parts of a sentence, such as the subject and the predicate, make up sentences. Clauses are produced when parts of speech are combined. Combining clauses can result in full sentences. 

A minimum of one independent clause, or the union of a minimum of one subject and one predicate, must be present in every entire sentence.

Independent Clause

A set of words known as an independent clause includes a complete subject and a complete verb. A grammatically correct sentence in English must have at least one independent clause. An independent clause expresses a complete notion and can be read as a complete sentence on its own. A main clause or a superordinate clause are other names for an independent clause.

A dependent clause, on the other hand, is a set of words that includes a subject and verb but does not fully articulate a notion. A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a full, valid sentence in English. The sentence’s meaning is left open, implying that there will be more to come. Subordinate clause is another name for a dependent clause.

Examples of Independent Clauses

Several instances of sentences made up of separate clauses are provided below.

1. Jill sings in the choir.
2. Evan loves to swim.
3. The Great Gatsby is my favorite novel.

How does a Dependent Clause different from independent Clauses?

Independent clauses are exactly what they sound like—independent. This means that they don’t need any other clauses to make sense as a whole. However, in order to form a complete sentence, a dependent clause must be joined to an independent clause because they cannot stand alone. In other words, they rely on independent clauses to form the sentence’s structure.

Types of Independent Clauses

In English Language it Contains Six types of Independent Clauses:

Declarative

Statements are what declarative sentences are. A period is usually used to finish them. Here’s an illustration: “Before crossing the street, children and adults should look both ways.”

Exclamative

Exclamation marks are used in sentences (sudden, forceful cries expressing emotion, such as surprise, pain, grief, joy, anger, or delight). Exclamation points are used to punctuate exclamations. For instance: “Before crossing the street, look both ways!

Imperative

These are Basically Commands. Eg. “Turn off the light”.

Interrogative

Questions are used in interrogative sentences. They are followed by a question mark. “Did you remember to turn out the light? Is one example.

Benedictive

Independent clauses ending in benedictive indicate a blessing (a hope for something good) over the subject. “May the road come up to meet you,” for instance (a blessing drawn from a traditional Irish prayer).

Maledictive

Maledictive independent clauses are used to indicate a curse or a wish for anything bad to happen to someone. For instance, before he went away, the renowned English playwright William Shakespeare included a blessing and a curse in his epitaph in an effort to deter grave tampering.

Dependent Clauses

A set of words known as a dependent clause has a subject and a verb but does not fully communicate a thought. A sentence cannot be a dependent clause. 

It can also be referred to as a subordinate clause because it has to have at least one independent clause added to it in order to form a full sentence. A comma is usually placed after a dependent clause at the start of a sentence.

Examples of Independent Clauses:

1. Floated down the river.
2. Riding bikes with my friend.
3. Because it doesn’t work anymore.

Reason of Connect Independent Clauses to other Clause in Sentences

Although independent clauses do not necessarily need to be connected to other clauses to form a complete sentence, writers frequently do so in order to give their writing more personality and diversity. Readers would likely pass out from boredom if each phrase contained just one independent clause.

Types of Sentences using Independent Clauses

It might be challenging to spot independent clauses, especially in compound, complex, or compound-complex phrases, which use independent clauses to form many sorts of sentence structures.

Simple Sentence

One independent clause is all that is needed to make a simple phrase.

Compound Sentences

The abbreviation FANBOYS makes it simple to recall compound phrases, which link two or more independent clauses with a semicolon or coordinating conjunction.

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

Complex Sentences

Independent and dependent clauses are found in complex sentences. A subordinating conjunction joins the dependent clause to the independent clause.

Compound-Complex Sentences

At least two independent clauses and one dependent clause are wrapped up in compound-complex sentences. Complex sentences are frequently extended and constructed with both coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.

Run-on Sentences

Run-on sentences result from omitting the relevant punctuation or conjunction in sentences with independent clauses. Dependent clauses break up into fragments.

Run-on phrases and sentence fragments should not be used in your writing, but they can be used in fiction because they mirror commonplace oral discourse. Writing that is formal, intellectual, or nonfiction rarely calls for them.

The weak comma splice, which occurs when a comma is asked to perform the duties of a semicolon, is a common component of run-on sentences.

Conclusion

A sentence or portion of a sentence that consists of a Subject, Predicate, and Verb + Object is called Clauses. Clauses can be both full and fragmentary sentences. The Independent Clause is one of the two categories of clauses. Independent clauses can stand alone as entire sentences without the help of any other clauses.