Identifying Independent and Dependent Clauses

Clauses

Independent Clauses

• A clause that has a subject and a predicate (verb)
• Can stand alone as a complete sentence
• Examples:
  • I went to the store.
  • She is studying for the exam.

Dependent Clauses

• A clause that has a subject and a predicate, but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence
• Begins with a subordinating conjunction (e.g. because, although, if, unless, etc.)
• Examples:
  • Because I was tired. (incomplete sentence)
  • Unless you apologize. (incomplete sentence)

Relative Clauses

• A dependent clause that begins with a relative pronoun (e.g. who, which, that, whom, etc.)
• Provides additional information about a noun in the sentence
• Examples:
  • The book, which is on the table, is mine.
  • The student who answered the question correctly got a prize.

Subordinate Clauses

• A dependent clause that provides additional information about the main clause
• Can be introduced by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun
• Examples:
  • I went to the store because I needed milk.
  • The teacher, who was very patient, explained the concept again.

Coordinate Clauses

• Two or more independent clauses joined together using a coordinating conjunction (e.g. and, but, or, so, etc.)
• Each clause has a subject and a predicate
• Examples:
  • I went to the store, and I bought some milk.
  • She studied for the exam, but she still didn't feel prepared.

Embedded Clauses

• A clause that is embedded within another clause
• Functions as a single part of speech (e.g. noun, adjective, adverb)
• Examples:
  • The fact that I was tired surprised me. (embedded clause "that I was tired" functions as a noun)
  • The book, whose author is unknown, is on the shelf. (embedded clause "whose author is unknown" functions as an adjective)

Clauses

Independent Clauses

• Have a subject and a predicate (verb)
• Can stand alone as a complete sentence
• Examples: I went to the store, She is studying for the exam

Dependent Clauses

• Have a subject and a predicate, but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence
• Begin with a subordinating conjunction (e.g. because, although, if, unless, etc.)
• Examples: Because I was tired, Unless you apologize

Relative Clauses

• Begin with a relative pronoun (e.g. who, which, that, whom, etc.)
• Provide additional information about a noun in the sentence
• Examples: The book, which is on the table, is mine, The student who answered the question correctly got a prize

Subordinate Clauses

• Provide additional information about the main clause
• Can be introduced by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun
• Examples: I went to the store because I needed milk, The teacher, who was very patient, explained the concept again

Coordinate Clauses

• Two or more independent clauses joined together using a coordinating conjunction (e.g. and, but, or, so, etc.)
• Each clause has a subject and a predicate
• Examples: I went to the store, and I bought some milk, She studied for the exam, but she still didn't feel prepared

Embedded Clauses

• Function as a single part of speech (e.g. noun, adjective, adverb)
• Examples: The fact that I was tired surprised me, The book, whose author is unknown, is on the shelf

Test your knowledge of clauses in English grammar. Learn to distinguish between independent and dependent clauses.