Grammar · StudentHub Lesson
Sentence Structure & Clauses
Understand independent and dependent clauses and how they combine to form sentence types.
What you will learn
- Define independent and dependent clauses
- Identify subject and predicate in a clause
- Distinguish simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences
- Recognize subordinating and coordinating conjunctions
- Avoid sentence fragments and run-ons
Watch the lesson
Dependent and independent clauses | Syntax | Khan Academy · Khan Academy
Watch on YouTubeTopic notes
Main Idea
A sentence is built from clauses. Understanding independent vs dependent clauses lets you construct varied, grammatically correct sentences.
Key Concepts
- A clause has a subject and a verb
- Independent clauses can stand alone as sentences
- Dependent clauses cannot stand alone; they rely on an independent clause
- Combining clauses creates different sentence types
Definitions
- Independent clause: complete thought, can be its own sentence
- Dependent clause: incomplete thought, begins with a subordinating word (because, although, when)
- Simple sentence: one independent clause
- Compound sentence: two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS)
- Complex sentence: one independent + one dependent clause
- Compound-complex: two independent + at least one dependent clause
Structures / Templates
- Complex: [Dependent clause], [independent clause].
- Compound: [Independent clause], but [independent clause].
Examples
- Independent: 'The dog barked.'
- Dependent: 'because it was scared'
- Complex: 'Because it was scared, the dog barked.'
Common Mistakes
- Sentence fragments: writing a dependent clause alone as if it's complete
- Run-on sentences: joining two independent clauses without punctuation or a conjunction
- Comma splices: joining two independent clauses with only a comma
Key concepts
Important terms
- Independent clause
- A clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone.
- Dependent clause
- A clause that cannot stand alone because it depends on another clause.
- Run-on sentence
- Two or more independent clauses joined without correct punctuation.
- Comma splice
- Joining two independent clauses with only a comma.
Quick revision
- Clause = subject + verb
- Independent clause stands alone
- Dependent clause cannot stand alone
- Simple sentence = 1 independent clause
- Compound = 2 independent clauses + conjunction
- Complex = independent + dependent clause
- Avoid comma splices and run-ons
- FANBOYS join independent clauses
Check your understanding
Question 1 · Multiple choice
Which of these is an independent clause?
Question 2 · Multiple choice
A sentence with one independent clause and one dependent clause is called:
Question 3 · True or false
A comma alone can correctly join two independent clauses.
Question 4 · Short answer
What is the term for a dependent clause written as if it were a complete sentence?
Question 5 · Multiple choice
Which conjunction set is used to join independent clauses?
Done with Sentence Structure & Clauses?
Sign in to save your progress across the library.