Dependent and Independent Clauses
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
Dependent and Independent Clauses
Clauses are the foundation of English sentences. A clause is typically defined as related words that contain a subject and a predicate.
There are two types of clauses: dependent and independent. A dependent (subordinate) clause is an incomplete thought that cannot stand alone as a sentence. An independent (main) clause is a complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence.
Full sentence: Although it is raining, I am going out for a run.
Dependent clause (incomplete thought): Although it (subject) is raining (predicate)
Independent clause (complete thought): I (subject) am going out for a run (predicate).
Dependent Clauses
As mentioned, being a clause, a dependent clause has a subject and a predicate but cannot stand alone. It is subordinated by a conjunction or a relative pronoun, making it depend on a main clause for completion.
Examples
After (subordinating conjunction) I (subject) leave work (predicate)The guitar that (subordinating relative pronoun) I (subject) like (predicate)
What (subordinating relative pronoun) the decision (subject) will be (predicate)
You can see that the clauses are fragments. Although each has a subject and a verb, it remains unfinished.
Because they are fragmentary and dependent, these clauses serve the main clause as modifiers or as nouns. They are generally classified as adverb, adjective, or noun clauses.
Examples
After I leave work, I will stop at the grocery store. (The dependent clause serves as an adverb for the main clause.)The guitar that I like is for sale. (The dependent clause serves as an adjective for the subject.)
What the decision will be remains to be seen. (The dependent clause serves as the noun of the sentence.)
You may notice that introductory dependent clauses with a subordinating conjunction are typically followed by a comma before the main clause begins. The comma can sometimes be omitted if the dependent clause follows the main clause.
Examples
After I leave work, I will stop at the grocery store.I will stop at the grocery store after I leave work.
The following table includes common conjunctions that subordinate clauses.
| after | even though | until |
| although | if | whatever |
| as | in order to | when |
| because | since | whenever |
| before | though | whether |
| even if | unless | while |
The following table includes relative pronouns that subordinate clauses.
| that | whoever |
| what | whom |
| which | whomever |
| who | whose |
Independent Clauses
As mentioned, an independent clause contains a subject and a predicate and can stand alone as a full thought. It does not need (depend on) another clause to be finished.
Examples
I will stop at the grocery store.The guitar is for sale.
I am going out for a run.
Also as we’ve discussed, independent clauses can be modified by dependent clauses. In addition, they can be joined to other independent clauses by a coordinating conjunction, a colon, or a semicolon.
If connected by a coordinating conjunction, independent clauses are often separated by a comma, particularly if they are longer sentences. Shorter independent clauses might sometimes omit the comma depending on the chosen style.
Examples
The fence needs to be repainted, and I will take care of it soon. (longer independent clauses connected by a comma and a coordinating conjunction)You scrape the fence and I’ll paint it. (shorter independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction without a comma)
The fence needs to be repainted; I will take care of it soon. (independent clauses connected by a semicolon)
The fence color is fading: It’s time to repaint it. (independent clauses connected by a colon)
The following table includes common coordinating conjunctions that join independent clauses.
| and | or |
| but | so |
| for | yet |
| nor |
Related Topics
Clauses and Phrases
Connecting Sentences with Commas and Semicolons
Who, That, Which
Becoming Savvy with Sentence Structures: Part One
Becoming Savvy with Sentence Structures: Part Two
Pop Quiz
Applying what you’ve learned, identify the dependent and independent clauses in the following sentences.
1. Meg likes to go out for Japanese food, but Ryan prefers to dine at Thai restaurants.
2. I will go to the party with you if you promise our return by 11:00 p.m.
3. The distance between the two towers is about 500 yards.
4. Melanie will sign the proposal that you prepared if you send it to her this week.
5. Whenever a new superhero movie comes out, David is among the first to see it on opening weekend.
Pop Quiz Answers
(dependent clauses) [independent clauses]
1. [Meg likes to go out for Japanese food], but [Ryan prefers to dine at Thai restaurants].
2. [I will go to the party with you] (if you promise our return by 11:00 p.m.)
3. [The distance between the two towers is about 500 yards].
4. [Melanie will sign the proposal] (that you prepared) (if you send it to her this week).
5. (Whenever a new superhero movie comes out), [David is among the first to see it on opening weekend].
If the article or the existing discussions do not address a thought or question you have on the subject, please use the "Comment" box at the bottom of this page.
When “in conjunction with” follows a singular subject, is the verb now plural?
Ex: The chapter, in conjunction with the foundation, is hosting the event. Or: The chapter, in conjunction with the foundation, are hosting the event.
Our Rule 5a of Subject-Verb Agreement says, “Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words as along with, as well as, besides, not, etc. These words and phrases are not part of the subject. Ignore them and use a singular verb when the subject is singular.” Therefore, “is hosting” is correct.
A colleague and I are having a discussion about the following sentence and whether there would need to be a comma after “clear.” I put the comma there after the word, but my colleague disagrees. Thoughts? If a comma is required or not, why?
When there was one patch that was super clear and you could see the bottom, I then believed I was done washing the dish.
The sentence begins with two dependent clauses that modify one independent clause. The second dependent clause has an understood omission.
When there was one patch that was super clear and (when) you could see the bottom, I then believed I was done washing the dish.
We would leave the comma out if “when” is omitted, but we would put the comma in if “when” is not omitted:
When there was one patch that was super clear and you could see the bottom, I then believed I was done washing the dish.
When there was one patch that was super clear, and when you could see the bottom, I then believe I was done washing the dis
The article is very comprehensive. It makes it easy to understand the confusions regarding dependent and independent clauses.
Is this an independent or dependent clause? “I like this class, it is very interesting.” The comma is used incorrectly, but I don’t know if it’s dependent or independent.
As written, the statement incorrectly uses a comma, which results in a fused run-on sentence.
The content includes two independent clauses that can be written in three different ways:
1) I like this class. It is very interesting.
2) I like this class; it is very interesting.
3) I like this class: It is very interesting.
A friend said that a dependent clause doesn’t need to have a subject and predicate.
The farmers are happy because of the plenty harvest.
Please enlighten me.
A dependent clause does have a subject and predicate; however, it does not express a complete thought on its own (see examples of dependent clauses in this post). Your sentence is grammatically correct using the adjective “plentiful” instead of “plenty.” The sentence does not contain a dependent clause. “Because of the plentiful harvest” is an adverbial prepositional phrase. See Clauses and Phrases for more information.
The farmers are happy because of the plentiful harvest.
Is there a standard comma across all of the English language? You said that the Oxford comma is optional; but what if I dont want to use it?
In American English usage, many writers and editors feel that a comma should precede and with three or more items in a series (Oxford comma). Usage differs in other countries. “Optional” means you do not need to use it unless you are submitting a formal document to someone who insists on using it.