How To Identify An Independent Clause

Identifying an independent clause is a fundamental skill in mastering English grammar. This ability allows you to understand sentence structure, construct grammatically correct sentences, and improve your overall writing clarity. An independent clause, also known as a main clause, is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. In essence, it can stand alone as a sentence. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of identifying independent clauses, providing examples and practical exercises along the way.

Understanding the Basics: What is a Clause?

Before diving into the specifics of identifying independent clauses, it’s crucial to understand the broader concept of a clause. A clause is a group of related words containing a subject and a verb. Clauses form the building blocks of sentences. There are two primary types of clauses:

Independent Clause: As mentioned earlier, an independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.
Dependent Clause: A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. It relies on an independent clause to make sense.

Understanding the difference between these two types of clauses is the first step in mastering sentence construction.

Key Components of an Independent Clause

An independent clause consists of two essential components: a subject and a verb.

Subject

The subject of a clause is the noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that performs the action of the verb. It answers the question "Who?" or "What?" is performing the action.

Example: The dog barks loudly. (The subject is "the dog.")
Example: She is reading a book. (The subject is "she.")
Example: The old, wooden chair sat in the corner. (The subject is "the old, wooden chair.")

Verb

The verb of a clause is the word that expresses the action or state of being performed by the subject. It is the core of the clause, indicating what the subject is doing or being.

Example: The dog barks loudly. (The verb is "barks.")
Example: She is reading a book. (The verb is "is reading.")
Example: The old, wooden chair sat in the corner. (The verb is "sat.")

Identifying Independent Clauses: A Step-by-Step Guide

Identifying an independent clause involves a systematic approach. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you master this skill:

Step 1: Locate the Verb

The first step in identifying an independent clause is to find the verb. The verb is the action word or the word that expresses a state of being. Ask yourself, "What is happening?" or "What is the subject doing/being?"

Example: The birds sing in the morning. (The verb is "sing.")
Example: He is a doctor. (The verb is "is.")
Example: They have been traveling. (The verb is "have been traveling.")

Step 2: Find the Subject

Once you've identified the verb, find the subject that performs the action of the verb. Ask yourself, "Who or what is performing this action?"

Example: The birds sing in the morning. (The subject is "the birds.")
Example: He is a doctor. (The subject is "he.")
Example: They have been traveling. (The subject is "they.")

Step 3: Check for a Complete Thought

After identifying the subject and verb, the most crucial step is to determine whether the clause expresses a complete thought. Can the clause stand alone as a sentence and make sense? If it can, it is an independent clause.

Example: The birds sing in the morning. This clause expresses a complete thought. We know who is singing (the birds) and when they are singing (in the morning).
Example: He is a doctor. This clause also expresses a complete thought. We know who the person is (he) and what his profession is (doctor).
Example: They have been traveling. This clause expresses a complete thought. We know who has been traveling (they) and what they have been doing (traveling).

Step 4: Recognize Common Sentence Structures

Understanding common sentence structures can help you quickly identify independent clauses. Here are a few examples:

Simple Sentence: A simple sentence consists of one independent clause.
- Example: The cat slept.
Compound Sentence: A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (e.g., and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) or a semicolon.
- Example: The cat slept, and the dog played.
Complex Sentence: A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
- Example: Because it was raining, the cat slept. (The independent clause is "the cat slept.")
Compound-Complex Sentence: A compound-complex sentence consists of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
- Example: Because it was raining, the cat slept, and the dog played inside. (The independent clauses are "the cat slept" and "the dog played inside.")

Identifying Dependent Clauses

Understanding what dependent clauses are and how to spot them can significantly assist in identifying independent clauses. A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and often begins with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses and connect them to independent clauses. Common subordinating conjunctions include:

after
although
as
because
before
even if
even though
if
since
so that
than
though
unless
until
when
where
while

Example: Because it was raining, the game was canceled. ("Because it was raining" is a dependent clause introduced by the subordinating conjunction "because.")

Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses, which are a type of dependent clause that modifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause. Common relative pronouns include:

who
whom
whose
which
that

Example: The book that I borrowed from the library is overdue. ("That I borrowed from the library" is a dependent clause introduced by the relative pronoun "that.")

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Identifying independent clauses can sometimes be tricky. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

Confusing Phrases with Clauses: A phrase is a group of related words that does not contain both a subject and a verb. Therefore, it cannot be an independent clause.
- Example of a Phrase: After the game (This is a prepositional phrase and lacks a verb.)
- Example of a Clause: After the game ended (This is a clause because it has a subject "game" and a verb "ended.")
Misidentifying Verbs: Ensure you correctly identify the main verb in the clause. Sometimes, auxiliary verbs (e.g., is, are, was, were, have, has, had) can make it confusing.
- Incorrect: Running quickly (Identifying "running" as the main verb without a subject.)
- Correct: He is running quickly. (Identifying "is running" as the main verb with the subject "He.")
Ignoring Coordinating Conjunctions: Remember that coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) can join two independent clauses to form a compound sentence. Each clause on either side of the conjunction must be able to stand alone.
- Example: She likes to read, and he likes to play video games. ("She likes to read" and "he likes to play video games" are both independent clauses.)

Practice Exercises

To solidify your understanding of independent clauses, try these practice exercises:

Identify the independent clause(s) in each sentence:

Because it was cold, I wore a jacket.
The dog barked loudly, and the cat ran away.
Although he was tired, he finished his work.
She went to the store, but she forgot her wallet.
The sun set, and the stars appeared.
After the rain stopped, the rainbow appeared.
He studied hard, so he passed the exam.
If you need help, just ask.
The book that I read was very interesting.
Before you leave, please turn off the lights.

Answers:

I wore a jacket
The dog barked loudly, the cat ran away
he finished his work
She went to the store, she forgot her wallet
The sun set, the stars appeared
the rainbow appeared
he passed the exam
just ask
The book was very interesting
please turn off the lights

Advanced Tips for Mastery

Once you are comfortable identifying basic independent clauses, you can delve into more advanced aspects:

Understanding Elliptical Clauses: An elliptical clause is a clause where some words are omitted but understood from the context.
- Example: She can sing better than he can. (Elliptical: She can sing better than he. The verb "can" is understood.)
Recognizing Inverted Sentences: In inverted sentences, the subject follows the verb, which can make it harder to identify the independent clause.
- Example: Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset. (The subject is "I," and the verb is "have seen.")
Dealing with Compound Subjects and Verbs: An independent clause can have a compound subject (two or more subjects sharing the same verb) or a compound verb (two or more verbs sharing the same subject).
- Example of Compound Subject: John and Mary went to the store.
- Example of Compound Verb: She sang and danced at the party.

The Importance of Identifying Independent Clauses

Mastering the identification of independent clauses is crucial for several reasons:

Improved Writing Skills: Understanding independent clauses allows you to construct grammatically correct and clear sentences.
Effective Communication: Knowing how to use independent clauses helps you express your thoughts and ideas effectively.
Enhanced Reading Comprehension: Recognizing independent clauses improves your ability to understand complex sentences and texts.
Grammar Proficiency: This skill forms the foundation for mastering more advanced grammar concepts.

Common Core Standards Alignment

Understanding and identifying independent clauses directly aligns with several Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. These standards emphasize the importance of students' ability to understand sentence structure and grammar, which is essential for effective communication and writing. Some relevant standards include:

Language Standards

L.4.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
L.5.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
L.6.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
L.7.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Writing Standards

W.4.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
W.5.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
W.6.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
W.7.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

By mastering the identification of independent clauses, students can effectively meet these standards and improve their overall language and writing proficiency.

Practical Applications

Understanding independent clauses is not just an academic exercise; it has practical applications in various real-world scenarios:

Business Communication: Writing clear and concise emails, reports, and presentations.
Legal Writing: Drafting accurate and unambiguous contracts and legal documents.
Journalism: Creating well-structured news articles and stories.
Academic Writing: Composing essays, research papers, and theses.

Conclusion

Identifying independent clauses is a vital skill for anyone seeking to improve their English grammar and writing proficiency. By understanding the key components of an independent clause, recognizing common sentence structures, and avoiding common mistakes, you can master this essential skill. Practice the exercises provided and continue to refine your understanding through ongoing reading and writing. With dedication and perseverance, you'll be well on your way to becoming a grammar expert and a more effective communicator.