Independent and Dependent Clauses

Independent Clauses

There are two types of clauses, independent and dependent clauses. The independent clause, also called the main clause, expresses a complete thought. It makes sense all by itself.

• Max studies ornithology.
• I shall check the meteorology report.
• Polygons have more than two sides.
• James Watt invented the steam engine.
• Millard Fillmore was America's thirteenth president.
• Ambiguous terms confuse us.
• Dickinson drafted the Articles of Confederation.

Dependent Clauses

The other type of clause is the dependent clause. It cannot stand by itself and is sometimes called the subordinate clause. It depends upon additional information to complete a thought.

• If they feign illness
• When he found gold
• After the fog in the glen lifted
• Since John Dickinson spoke for the colonies

Even though the dependent clauses above each contain a subject and a predicate, they do not complete a thought. If we remove the introductory words, "if," "when," "after," and "since," they become independent clauses. They make sense and can stand alone:

• They feign illness.
• He found gold.
• The fog in the glen lifted.
• John Dickinson spoke for the colonies.

We learn to identify independent and dependent clauses. 

Examples

For 1-14, tell whether the following are dependent or independent clauses.

1. the pigeon flew home
2. although it rained
3. they find serenity
4. many countries were ruled by dictators
5. although Jose de San Martin dreamed of a free South America
6. the military leaders betrayed his dream
7. when Evelyn's boss promoted her to manager
8. she received the good news in the morning
9. as soon as Evelyn phoned home
10. her husband began to plan a special dinner
11. when John Dickinson published Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania
12. he explained the colonists' feelings toward policies of the British
13. until he had petitioned the king
14. he also wrote "Song of the Farmer," the anthem of the Revolution

Solutions

We identify independent and dependent clauses: 

1. This is an independent clause. It can stand alone and does not require another clause in order to complete a thought.
2. This is a dependent clause.
3. This is an independent clause and can stand by itself.
4. This is an independent clause. It can stand alone and does not require another clause in order to complete a thought.
5. This is a dependent clause.
6. This is an independent clause and can stand by itself.
7. This is a dependent clause. It depends on another clause in order to complete a thought.
8. This is an independent clause. It can stand by itself and does not require another clause in order to make sense.
9. This is a dependent clause. Alone, it makes no sense.
10. This is an independent clause. It makes sense and can stand alone.
11. This is a dependent clause. It depends on another clause in order to make sense.
12. This is an independent clause. It can stand by itself and does not require another clause in order to make sense.
13. This is a dependent clause. Alone, it makes no sense.
14. This is an independent clause. Standing alone, it makes sense.