Independent clause
An independent clause is a group of words with its own subject and verb that could stand alone as a sentence, such as 'the lock turned'.
The lock turned. Subject, verb, complete thought. That is an independent clause, and it is still one when it sits inside a longer sentence. In Although the key was bent, the lock turned, the bold part remains independent; the clause in front of it is not.
Independent clause examples
- She laughed. The shortest form: one subject, one verb.
- The whole class had already left for lunch. Longer, but still one subject and one verb phrase, and still complete.
- Close the door. The subject (you) is understood, so a command counts too.
- When the bell rang, everyone ran. The bold part could stand alone; when the bell rang could not.
How to tell if a clause is independent
Read it on its own with a full stop. If it sounds finished, it is independent. If it leaves you waiting for more, as because the key was bent does, it is a dependent clause.
How the sentence types are counted
One independent clause is a simple sentence. Two joined together make a compound sentence. One plus a dependent clause makes a complex sentence. Two or more plus a dependent clause make a compound-complex sentence. Where the independent clause sits, first or last, is what makes a sentence loose or periodic.
The comma splice, and four repairs
Two independent clauses cannot be joined by a comma alone. The lock turned, the door stayed shut is a comma splice. Four legitimate repairs:
- Full stop: The lock turned. The door stayed shut.
- Comma plus a conjunction: The lock turned, but the door stayed shut.
- Semicolon: The lock turned; the door stayed shut.
- Make one dependent: Though the lock turned, the door stayed shut.
Each says something slightly different about how tightly the two facts belong together, which is why fixing a comma splice is a rhythm decision as much as a correctness one. The splice is occasionally deliberate, and in rushed first-person narration it can read as breathlessness, but a reader has no way to tell your intent from an error, so earn it.
Frequently asked questions
What is an independent clause?
An independent clause is a subject plus a verb that expresses a complete thought, so it could be a sentence on its own. 'The dog barked' is an independent clause; 'because the dog barked' is not.
What is the difference between an independent and a dependent clause?
Both have a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause starts with a word like because, although, when or who, which makes it lean on an independent clause to make sense.
Can a sentence have two independent clauses?
Yes. Two or more independent clauses joined correctly make a compound sentence, for example 'The lock turned, but the door stayed shut.'