Identify dependent and independent clauses

Key Notes:

Independent Clauses

1. Definition: An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. It has a subject and a predicate.
2. Examples:
   • “She went to the store.”
   • “The dog barked loudly.”
3. Characteristics:
   • Contains a subject and a verb.
   • Can function as a complete sentence.
   • Example structure: “Subject + Verb + (Optional Object/Complement).”

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Dependent Clauses

1. Definition: A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence because it does not express a complete thought. It depends on an independent clause to give it meaning.
2. Examples:
   • “Although she was tired” (needs additional information to be complete).
   • “Because the dog was hungry” (needs more information to complete the thought).
3. Characteristics:
   • Contains a subject and a verb.
   • Begins with a subordinating conjunction (e.g., although, because, if, when).
   • Cannot function as a complete sentence by itself.

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Subordinating Conjunctions

Common Examples: although, because, if, when, unless, since, while, after, before.

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Combining Clauses

Complex Sentences: An independent clause can be joined with a dependent clause to form a complex sentence.

Example: “She went to the store because she needed groceries.”

• Independent Clause: “She went to the store.”
• Dependent Clause: “because she needed groceries.”

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Punctuation:

When the dependent clause comes first: Use a comma before the independent clause.

• Example: “Although it was raining, we went for a walk.”

When the independent clause comes first: No comma is needed before the dependent clause.

• Example: “We went for a walk although it was raining.”