What Is An Independent Clause?

An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. In English grammar, an independent clause has the ability to stand alone as a complete sentence. To better understand independent clauses and their role in English grammar, let’s take a look at their definition, components, and structures.

Definition of an Independent Clause

An independent clause is a sentence that conveys a complete thought and stands alone as a grammatically correct sentence. It contains a subject, verb, and expresses a complete thought. Independent clauses can exist on their own as a single sentence.

Components of an Independent Clause

Independent clauses are made up of two components: a subject and a predicate. The subject is the noun that the sentence is about. It is typically a person, place, or thing. The predicate is the part of the sentence that contains the verb and provides more information about the subject. The predicate in an independent clause typically provides the action or state of being of the subject.

Structure of an Independent Clause

In English grammar, an independent clause is typically constructed in a Subject-Verb sentence format. The sentence begins with the subject and includes its associated verb or verb phrase. The verb phrase typically includes a main verb, object, and any additional modifiers or adverbial elements. After the subject and verb have been expressed, the clause may include additional information or details about the subject.

An Example of an Independent Clause

In the following example, the independent clause is highlighted in bold.

The cat climbed the tree quickly.

In this independent clause, the subject is “cat” and the verb is “climbed.” As you can see, this clause contains all the necessary components to express a complete thought and stands alone as a complete sentence.

Conclusion

An independent clause is a sentence that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. It is a grammatically correct sentence that can stand alone on its own. Independent clauses typically have a Subject-Verb structure and can contain additional information or details about the subject. Understanding independent clauses is an important part of English grammar.