Sentence: Dependent and Independent Clauses
Sentences are built around independent or dependent clauses.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
An independent clause is able to stand alone as a sentence. ‘I walked to the store….’ can be its own sentence or combine with another clause.
Check if you have an independent clause by trying it alone as a single sentence. 'I walked to the store.' It is a complete sentence on its own. Therefore, it is an independent clause. If it works as a simple sentence, you have an independent clause.
DEPENDENT CLAUSES
A dependent clause ‘depends’ on another clause to make the sentence complete. It cannot stand on its own as a sentence. ‘..because I needed food.’
Check if you have a dependent clause by trying it alone as a simple sentence. If it needs something else to make it complete, or make sense, then it is a dependent clause. "Because I needed food." cannot stand alone; it needs more information for it to make sense. "I went to the store because I needed food."
TIP: Any sentence starting with 'because' needs another clause to explain it.
Check your dependent clause by adding a phrase or clause to help it make sense. If your clause depends on your added phrase to make sense, it is a dependent clause.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
An independent clause is able to stand alone as a sentence. ‘I walked to the store….’ can be its own sentence or combine with another clause.
Check if you have an independent clause by trying it alone as a single sentence. 'I walked to the store.' It is a complete sentence on its own. Therefore, it is an independent clause. If it works as a simple sentence, you have an independent clause.
DEPENDENT CLAUSES
A dependent clause ‘depends’ on another clause to make the sentence complete. It cannot stand on its own as a sentence. ‘..because I needed food.’
Check if you have a dependent clause by trying it alone as a simple sentence. If it needs something else to make it complete, or make sense, then it is a dependent clause. "Because I needed food." cannot stand alone; it needs more information for it to make sense. "I went to the store because I needed food."
TIP: Any sentence starting with 'because' needs another clause to explain it.
Check your dependent clause by adding a phrase or clause to help it make sense. If your clause depends on your added phrase to make sense, it is a dependent clause.