In writing, "independent" most commonly refers to an independent clause, which is essentially a complete sentence.
Understanding the Independent Clause
An independent clause is a fundamental building block of sentences. Based on the provided reference, an independent clause is:
a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent clause is a sentence.
Think of it this way: an independent clause can stand alone as a complete and grammatically correct sentence. It doesn't rely on any other part of a sentence to make sense.
Key Characteristics
Here's a quick breakdown of what makes a clause independent:
- Subject: It has a noun or pronoun performing an action or being described.
- Verb: It has a word showing action or a state of being.
- Complete Thought: It conveys a full idea that the reader can understand without needing more information.
Let's look at the structure:
| Component | Description | Example (in "The cat sat") |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Who or what the sentence is about | The cat |
| Verb | The action or state of being | sat |
| Complete Thought | The combination makes a full statement | The cat sat makes sense. |
Why Is It Called "Independent"?
The term "independent" highlights its ability to function on its own. Unlike a dependent clause (which also has a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought), an independent clause doesn't need to be attached to anything else to be grammatically sound.
Examples of Independent Clauses
- The sun is shining. (Subject: sun, Verb: is shining, Complete thought)
- Birds sing. (Subject: Birds, Verb: sing, Complete thought)
- She reads a book. (Subject: She, Verb: reads, Complete thought)
Each of these examples can stand alone as a simple sentence.
Independent Clauses in Sentence Structure
Independent clauses are crucial because they form the core of all sentences.
- A simple sentence is just one independent clause.
- Example: The dog barked.
- A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses, usually joined by a coordinating conjunction (like and, but, or), a semicolon, or a conjunctive adverb.
- Example: The dog barked, and the cat ran away. (Two independent clauses joined by "and")
- A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
- Example: Although it was raining, the dog barked. (Dependent clause "Although it was raining" + Independent clause "the dog barked")
- A compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
- Example: Although it was raining, the dog barked, and the cat hid under the porch. (Dependent clause + Two independent clauses)
Understanding independent clauses is key to building varied and grammatically correct sentences in your writing. It ensures that each main part of your sentence conveys a clear and complete idea.
