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Independent Clauses
An independent clause contains a subject, a verb, and a complete thought. Therefore, an independent clause can function alone as a complete sentence.
When the verb of the sentence is transitive, the independent
clause needs a direct object for there to be a complete thought.
The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos.
Bill rode his motorcycle.
Sandra threw the ball.
When the verb of the independent
clause is intransitive, the
independent clause does not need
a direct objectfor there to be a
complete thought.
Millie sat.
Ibrahim arrived.
My brother lied.
Whether the verb is transitive or intransitive, an independent
clause can be modified by words or phrases to give more detail,
but these modifying words and phrases are not necessary for the
clause to be independent.
The Seattle Seahawks easily defeated the Denver Broncosin Super Bowl XLVIII.
Bill rode his motorcycle across the country.
Sandra threw the ball to her daughter.
Millie sat quietly on the park bench.
Ibrahim arrived early.
My brother lied about eating the cookies.
When the verb of the independent clause is a linking verb, the independent clause needs a predicate adjective or a predicate nominative for there to be a complete thought. A predicate adjective describes the subject of the independent clause; a predicate nominative renames the subject of the independent clause.
Samuel is intelligent.
June was the leader.
We were late.
They are teammates.
Every sentence needs at least one independent clause.
A sentence that lacks an independent clause is a sentence fragment.
A sentence with only one clause, which has to be an independent clause, is a simple sentence.
Two independent clauses can be joined together to create a compound sentence.
Two independent clauses that are incorrectly joined create a run-on sentence.
An independent clause can be joined with a dependent clause to create a complex sentence.
Two or more independent clauses can be joined with one or more dependent clauses to create a compound-complex sentence.