Editing Independent clause

{{Short description|Grammatical clause that can be a sentence on its own}}
{{refimprove|date=October 2013}}

In traditional grammar, an '''independent clause''' (or '''main clause''') is a [[clause]] that can stand by itself as a ''[[simple sentence]]''. An independent clause contains a [[Subject (grammar)|subject]] and a [[Predicate (grammar)|predicate]] and makes sense by itself.

Independent clauses can be joined by using a semicolon or by using a comma followed by a [[Conjunction (grammar)|coordinating conjunction]] (''and'', ''but'', ''for'', ''or'', ''nor'', ''so'', ''yet'', etc.).

==Examples==
In the following example [[sentence (linguistics)|sentence]]s, independent clauses are <u>underlined</u>, and conjunctions are in '''bold'''.

Single independent clauses:
*<u>I have enough money to buy an ice cream cone</u>.
*<u>My favourite flavour is chocolate</u>.
*<u>Let's go to the shop</u>.
Multiple independent clauses:
*<u>I have enough money to buy an ice cream cone</u>''';''' <u>my favourite flavour is chocolate</u>.
*<u>I have enough money to buy an ice cream cone</u>, '''so''' <u>let's go to the shop</u>.

==See also==
*[[Comma splice]]
*[[Conditional sentence]]
*[[Dependent clause]]
*[[Relative clause]]
*[[Run-on sentence]]
*[[Sentence clause structure]]

==References==
*{{cite book|author=Rozakis, Laurie|title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grammar and Style|publisher=Alpha|year=2003|isbn=1-59257-115-8|pages=152}}

==External links==
* [http://www.grammaruntied.com/blog/?p=1187 Clauses: Independent] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107001357/http://www.grammaruntied.com/blog/?p=1187 |date=2021-11-07 }}, The Tongue Untied
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150531232759/http://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/clauses.htm Clauses], Online Writing Lab
* [http://www.myschoolhouse.com/courses/O/1/56.asp Independent & Dependent Clauses], My Schoolhouse

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[[Category:Clauses]]


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