Dependent
And
Independent
Clauses
LEARNING TARGET:
TSWBAT
• learn the difference between an independent and dependent clause,
• use them correctly, and thereby
• eliminate fragments from her/his writing.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE DEFINED
An independent clause is a clause that can
stand on its own—by itself. It does not need
to be joined to any other clauses because it
contains all the information necessary to be a
complete sentence.
Independent clauses have
three components:
• They have a subject - they tell the reader what
the sentence is about.
• They have an action or predicate - they tell the
reader what the subject is doing.
• They express a complete thought - something
happened or was said.
An independent clause can be as simple as a
subject and a verb:
Jim reads.
“Jim” is the subject. “Reads” is the action or verb. A complete
thought was expressed - something was said, and the reader now
knows that Jim likes to read.
Independent clauses can also be joined to other independent
clauses, if the independent clauses are related. However, they
MUST be joined using the proper punctuation.
Jim read a book; he really
enjoyed the book.
The first clause is an independent clause. “Jim” is the subject,
“read” is the action, ”book” is the object.
The second clause is an independent clause. “He” is the subject,
“enjoyed” is the action and the “book” is the object.
Jim read a book; he really
enjoyed the book.
Some common independent markers
are:
also, consequently, furthermore,
however, moreover, nevertheless, and
therefore.
DEPENDENT CLAUSE DEFINED
* A dependent clause is a clause that does
not express a complete thought.
* Dependent clauses MUST be joined to
another clause, in order to avoid creating a
sentence fragment.
Because I forgot my homework.
This is a sentence fragment. We have a "because”
but not a "why" or anything accompanying and following
what happened "because" they forgot.
The important thing to remember is that the dependent
clause does not stand on its own as a complete thought.
Some common dependent
markers are:
after, although, as, as if, because,
before, even if, even though, if, in
order to, since, though, unless, until,
whatever, when, whenever, whether,
and while.
Independent and Dependent Clauses
Practice Exercise
Determine whether the boldfaced group of
words is an independent or dependent
clause.
1. Fred took a nap before he left for his friend's house.
YOU ARE CORRECT!
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
“Fred took a nap” is an independent clause because it could
stand on its own as a complete sentence.
Independent or Dependent?
Number your paper from 1-8.
Write “I” for independent or “D” for dependent for each item.
1.
The fish kept circling slowly
2.
When he had seen the golden doodle leave the yard
3.
The hands cure quickly
4.
The crash was not an accident
5.
Everything was beautiful about him except his jaws
6.
When the old woman saw him coming
EACH OF THESE SENTENCES BEGINS WITH A DEPENDENT
CLAUSE. WRITE AN INDEPENDENT CLAUSE TO COMPLETE
THE SENTENCE LOGICALLY.
•
While Mr. Hill is dreaming about the lions, …
Although Ben works hard, …
…
Even though Principal Hoff begins to get tired,
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