Independent and Dependent Clauses

What is the difference?

How can we find them?

When do we use them?

Independent Clauses Think of the Declaration of Independence!

What did the colonists want? Independence from Great Britain! We wanted to be able to STAND ON OUR OWN!

Independent clauses CAN STAND ON THEIR OWN! They are complete sentences on their own!

Examples of Independent Clauses:

They lived on the tiny island

Our friends were extremely terrified

Their car was demolished

Computers are wonderful tools

The calendar needs to be updated

Mrs. Jackson will have our grades online

Dependent Clauses Dependent clauses do not make sense

if they stand alone. They begin with a subordinating conjunction (if, so, when, after, because, before, while, until, since, etc.)

Dependent clauses CANNOT STAND ALONE! They require HELP!!!

Examples of Dependent Clauses

Since she was late to school today

Until we win the big game

After she travels to Europe

While we are speeding down the interstate

When I go to my old elementary school

If you like anchovies on your pizza

Compound Sentences

Compound sentences are formed when two independent clauses are joined with a comma and a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so)

The two dogs barked at us viciously, so we quickly rode away from them!

Complex Sentences

Complex sentences are formed when one dependent clause and one independent clause are joined.

When I watch a football game, I get very loud sometimes.

I get very loud sometimes when I watch a football game.

Compound or Complex???

Her father went to the fall festival, and

he won the most candy bars!

After we go to Kroger, we need to

stop at the gas station.

My father enjoys farming because he has always been a

hard worker.

Since he turned in the project late, his grade was lowered

to a C.

Our class accumulated the

most points, so we were awarded an

extra recess.

I will go to the movie before I go shopping

next weekend.

While he attends the football game, I am

going to go shopping.

Their dog licked their face, but they didn’t

seem to mind!

She wasn’t the fastest runner, yet she crossed the finish line first!