Independent Clause- Definition, meaning with examples

Index

Definition of Independent clauses

When we combine different parts of speech, clauses are formed. An Independent clause is a clause that can form a sentence of its own having a subject and a predicate.

To The Moon

Clauses are separated from each other by commas. For example, when John F. Kennedy gave his ‘To The Moon speech’, he used long sentences with many clauses.

Here’s an excerpt of that speech:

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.”

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In this speech, he used a combination of Clauses to get his point across. One of the Independent Clauses is “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do other things. ” This Independent Clause is interjected by the Dependent Clause “not because they are easy.”

Meaning of Independent Clause

To be clear, Independent clauses are groupings of words that contain a Subject and a Verb. The Subject and Verb have a relationship. An Independent Clause expresses a complete thought. It can form a complete sentence on its own.

Examples of Independent Clause

She loves me.
Even though Nobara left early, she still arrived late at the venue. (Independent Clause – She still arrived late at the venue.)
We left the party before the group arrived. (Independent Clause – We left the party.)

Let’s practice

Q1: Which part of this sentence is an Independent Clause? Since the mall doesn’t open until 10:00 AM, we can have coffee first. Answer: We can have coffee first.

Q2: Give an example of an Independent Clause.

Q3: How do you prepare when you need to take a test or give a presentation?

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