{"id":11161,"date":"2024-06-25T08:51:40","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T08:51:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quillbot.com\/blog\/?p=11161"},"modified":"2025-11-27T12:00:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T12:00:08","slug":"independent-clause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quillbot.com\/blog\/sentence-and-word-structure\/independent-clause\/","title":{"rendered":"Independent Clause | Definition, Examples & Use"},"content":{"rendered":"

An independent clause<\/strong> (also known as a main clause<\/a>) is a group of words with a main subject <\/strong>and verb<\/a>. Independent clauses are complete thoughts and full sentences that can stand by themselves.<\/p>\n

Independent clauses can occur on their own or be combined with a variety of dependent clauses to express more complex ideas.<\/p>\n

Independent clause examples<\/figcaption>She loves chocolate cake.<\/p>\n

The party lasted all night.<\/p>\n

It will rain tomorrow.<\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

What is an independent clause?<\/h2>\n

An independent clause is a type of clause, or a group of words that contains a subject and a verb, that can function as a full sentence.<\/p>\n

The basic components of an independent clause are a main subject<\/span><\/strong> and verb<\/span><\/strong>. However, independent clauses can be expanded to include many more parts, such as direct objects<\/span><\/a> or prepositional phrases<\/span><\/a>.
\nThe most important qualification for an independent clause is that it is a complete idea that can stand on its own grammatically.<\/p>\n

Independent clause examples<\/figcaption>They<\/span> left<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Cacao trees<\/span> require<\/span> warm weather and lots of water<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Mi-sun<\/span> received<\/span> a beautiful present<\/span> from Hana<\/span>.<\/figure>\n

Note<\/figcaption>Complete sentences can be one word when using imperatives to give a command (e.g., \u201cEat,\u201d \u201cRun!\u201d). In imperative<\/a> sentences, the subject of the sentence (\u201cyou\u201d) is implied and therefore omitted.<\/figure>\n

Independent clauses and dependent clauses<\/h2>\n

Independent clauses are often combined with dependent clauses<\/strong><\/a> to express more complex ideas.<\/p>\n

Unlike independent clauses, dependent clauses cannot stand on their own and require an independent clause to form a complete sentence. Dependent clauses (also known as subordinate clauses) still have a subject and verb, but they do not express a complete idea.<\/p>\n

Dependent clause examples<\/figcaption>She loves chocolate cake, although she doesn\u2019t like chocolate<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Cacao trees, which are native to the Amazon basin<\/strong>, require warm weather and lots of water.<\/p>\n

Her face lit up as soon as she saw the box<\/strong>.<\/figure>\n

Dependent clauses are linked to independent clauses using subordinating conjunctions<\/strong><\/a> or relative pronouns<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Subordinating conjunctions<\/h3>\n

There are numerous subordinating conjunctions for different types of information. Some of the most common include \u201cbecause,\u201d \u201calthough,\u201d \u201csince,\u201d \u201cunless,\u201d \u201cwhile,\u201d \u201cbefore,\u201d \u201cwhen,\u201d \u201cafter,\u201d \u201cwhereas,\u201d and \u201cas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Subordinating conjunctions are placed at the beginning of a dependent clause. If the dependent clause comes at the start of the sentence, it should be followed by a comma. The comma is generally omitted if the dependent clause is at the end of the sentence, although a comma may be added for emphasis or clarity.<\/p>\n

Subordinating conjunctions examples<\/figcaption>We parked the car when<\/strong> we arrived.<\/p>\n

Since<\/strong> losing his job, he has become more frugal.<\/p>\n

I recommend reserving a table because<\/strong> that restaurant is usually busy.<\/figure>\n

Relative pronouns<\/h3>\n

The primary relative pronouns<\/strong> are “that,” “which,” “who,” and “whom.” They are used to introduce a type of dependent clause called a relative clause\u00a0<\/strong>(or adjective clause<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Relative clauses typically come in the middle of an independent clause. Commas are required for nonrestrictive clauses<\/strong><\/a> but not for restrictive clauses<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Relative pronouns examples<\/figcaption>The apartment that<\/strong> is closest to the pool is mine.<\/p>\n

My apartment, which<\/strong> I’ve rented for 3 years, is changing owners.<\/p>\n

The man who<\/strong> gave the speech is my boss.<\/figure>\n

Sentence types<\/h2>\n

Adding independent or dependent clauses to an independent clause results in different sentence types. There are four sentence types in English, each referring to a different structure: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Sentence type<\/th>\nStructure<\/th>\nExamples<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Simple sentence<\/a><\/th>\nIndependent clause<\/td>\nBe careful.<\/p>\n

The road is closed.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Compound sentence<\/a><\/th>\nIndependent clause<\/span> + independent clause<\/span><\/td>\nWe called ahead to reserve<\/span>, but the restaurant was already full<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Whey is a byproduct of cheesemaking<\/span>, and it has many uses<\/span>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Complex sentence<\/a><\/th>\nIndependent clause<\/span> + dependent clause(s)<\/span><\/td>\nEven though he warned me about the traffic<\/span>, I left late<\/span>, which meant I was caught for several hours on the highway<\/span>.<\/p>\n

We will go on a picnic<\/span> unless it rains<\/span>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Compound-complex sentence<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\nAt least two independent clauses + dependent clause(s)<\/td>\nI visited a few beaches<\/span>, which were beautiful<\/a><\/span>, but the water was too rough for swimming<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Although we hadn\u2019t met<\/a> before<\/span>, I recognized her name from the conference<\/span>, so I decided to introduce myself<\/span>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Note<\/figcaption>Varying sentence structures is a good practice for strong writing. However, while it is possible to include many clauses within a sentence, including too many independent or dependent clauses may result in a sentence that is difficult to read. The QuillBot Grammar Checker<\/a> can help you ensure your sentences are not overly complicated.<\/figure>\n

Connecting two independent clauses<\/h2>\n

Independent clauses can be connected with a comma or a semicolon<\/a> when their ideas have some kind of relationship. Less commonly, they can also be connected with a colon or em dash<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Using commas<\/h3>\n

Two independent clauses can be connected with coordinating conjunctions<\/strong><\/a> to form compound and compound-complex sentences. When connecting independent clauses, the coordinating conjunction should be preceded by a comma<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

There are seven coordinating conjunctions that fulfill this function: \u201cfor,\u201d \u201cand,\u201d \u201cnor,\u201d \u201cbut,\u201d \u201cor,\u201d \u201cyet,\u201d and \u201cso\u201d (often referred to with the acronym FANBOYS).<\/p>\n

Independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction examples<\/figcaption>She loves chocolate cake, so<\/strong> she bakes a cake once a week.<\/p>\n

Paul wants to adopt<\/a> a puppy, but<\/strong> his apartment is too small.<\/p>\n

They are happy to go first, or<\/strong> they can wait longer.<\/figure>\n

Using semicolons<\/h3>\n

Semicolons can be used to link two independent clauses together. Semicolons should be used when the clauses are closely related in terms of idea or content. There are a couple of ways semicolons can be used to link independent clauses.<\/p>\n

First, the two independent clauses can simply be next to each other. In this case, the second independent clause immediately follows the first, with the semicolon in place of the period.<\/p>\n

In addition, conjunctive adverbs<\/a>, also called subordinating adverbs, can be used after a semicolon. These adverbs<\/a> add nuance to the relationship between the two independent clauses and serve as a transition between them.<\/p>\n

Common conjunctive adverbs include \u201cfirst,\u201d \u201chowever,\u201d \u201cnonetheless<\/a>,\u201d \u201cregardless,\u201d \u201cfurthermore,\u201d \u201cthen,\u201d \u201cin contrast,\u201d \u201cthus,\u201d and \u201ctherefore.\u201d When using a conjunctive adverb immediately after a semicolon, the adverb<\/a> must be followed by a comma.<\/p>\n

Note that the word following the semicolon is always lowercase unless it is a proper noun<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Independent clauses connected by a semicolon examples<\/figcaption>The rain lasted all night; the streets were still wet in the morning.<\/p>\n

First, we\u2019ll stop at the market; then, we can have lunch.<\/figure>\n

Note<\/figcaption>If two independent clauses are not closely related to each other, it likely makes more sense to split the clauses into two separate sentences.<\/p>\n