Independent clauses facts for kids

An independent clause, also called a main clause, is a group of words that can stand alone as a complete sentence. It has everything it needs to make sense on its own. Think of it like a mini-story that tells you something important.

Every independent clause must have two main parts:

• A subject: This is who or what the sentence is about.
• A verb: This tells you what the subject is doing or being.

When these two parts are together, they express a complete thought. This means the reader understands what happened or what was said without needing more information.

What Makes a Clause Independent?

An independent clause is like a complete idea. It doesn't need any other words or phrases to make sense. It can be a simple sentence all by itself.

• Example: The sun shines.

* Here, "sun" is the subject (what the sentence is about). * "shines" is the verb (what the sun is doing). * This sentence makes perfect sense on its own.

• Another example: My dog loves pizza crusts.

* The subject is dog. * The verb is loves. * This sentence tells you a complete idea: your dog enjoys pizza crusts.

Independent vs. Dependent Clauses

It's helpful to know the difference between an independent clause and a dependent clause.

• An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence.
• A dependent clause cannot stand alone. It needs an independent clause to make a complete thought. Dependent clauses often start with words like because, although, when, or if.

• Independent clause: The cat purred. (Complete thought)
• Dependent clause: Because it was happy. (Not a complete thought on its own)
• Together: The cat purred because it was happy. (Now it's a complete sentence!)

How Independent Clauses Form Sentences

Independent clauses are the building blocks of all sentences.

• A simple sentence is just one independent clause.
• A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses joined together, often by words like and, but, or or.
• A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Simple Sentences

A simple sentence is the easiest way to use an independent clause.

• Birds sing.
• She laughed loudly.
• The car stopped.

Compound Sentences

You can combine two independent clauses to make a compound sentence.

• I like apples, and she likes oranges.

* "I like apples" is an independent clause. * "she likes oranges" is an independent clause.

• He ran fast, but he didn't win the race.

* "He ran fast" is an independent clause. * "he didn't win the race" is an independent clause.

Understanding independent clauses helps you write clear and complete sentences.

See also

In Spanish: Oración principal para niños