Connecting Independent and Dependent Clauses

CLRC Writing Center<br />

<strong>Connecting</strong> <strong>Independent</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dependent</strong> <strong>Clauses</strong><br />

As a writer, it’s important to clearly structure your main ideas <strong>and</strong> supporting information. This<br />

h<strong>and</strong>out can help you logically combine ideas in sentences, while avoiding fragments <strong>and</strong> other<br />

grammatical errors. First, it’s fundamental to be able to distinguish between independent (main)<br />

<strong>and</strong> dependent (subordinate) clauses.<br />

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE: AN INDEPENDENT CLAUSE IS A COMPLETE SENTENCE ALONE.<br />

All independent clauses have a subject <strong>and</strong> a verb: Marie ran.<br />

s v<br />

Some independent clauses also have objects: Marie ran the race.<br />

s v obj<br />

Some have describing nouns or adjectives in addition to Marie ran the race quickly.<br />

the subject <strong>and</strong> verb: s v obj adv<br />

DEPENDENT CLAUSE: A DEPENDENT CLAUSE ALSO HAS A SUBJECT AND A VERB, BUT<br />

LACKS INFORMATION NECESSARY TO CONVEY A COMPLETE IDEA.<br />

This type of clause… is signaled by… Examples:<br />

Noun clause:<br />

multiple words that<br />

work together as a<br />

noun.<br />

Adjective clause:<br />

multiple words that<br />

act as an adjective<br />

to describe a noun<br />

or pronoun.<br />

Adverb clause:<br />

multiple words that<br />

act as an adverb to<br />

describe a verb,<br />

adjective or another<br />

adverb.<br />

when, where, why or how,<br />

or a relative pronoun such<br />

as that, which, what, who,<br />

whom, whose, whatever,<br />

whoever, or whichever.<br />

a relative pronoun such as<br />

that, which, what, who,<br />

whom, whose, whatever,<br />

whoever, or whichever.<br />

a subordinating<br />

conjunction such as after,<br />

although, as, because,<br />

before, if, since, that,<br />

unless, until, when, where,<br />

or while.<br />

• Whoever passes the test moves to the<br />

next level.<br />

• He wrote many notes about what the<br />

speaker reported.<br />

• It was a beautiful day, which inspired me<br />

to take a walk.<br />

• Here is the nail that popped my tire.<br />

• San Salvador is the town where she grew<br />

up.<br />

• Lucy had no doubt that Sophia could<br />

finish her work.<br />

• After we finished eating, Dad washed the<br />

dishes.<br />

A dependent clause by itself is a sentence fragment <strong>and</strong> is grammatically incorrect. Notice how<br />

the examples of dependent clauses above are not complete ideas alone. <strong>Dependent</strong> clauses must be<br />

attached to an independent clause. We call this subordination. An independent clause can (1) st<strong>and</strong><br />

alone as a complete sentence, (2) be coordinated with another independent clause, or (3) have a<br />

dependent clause subordinated to it.<br />

Created 4/07

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The following formulas help writers avoid comma splices, sentence fragments <strong>and</strong> run-ons by<br />

correctly coordinating <strong>and</strong> subordinating independent <strong>and</strong> dependent clauses:<br />

COORDINATION: USE A COMMA AND A FANBOYS CONJUNCTION.<br />

<strong>Independent</strong> clause,<br />

for or<br />

<strong>and</strong> yet<br />

nor so<br />

but<br />

• Raul loves to run with his dog, but the dog’s short legs prevent her from running very far.<br />

COORDINATION: USE A COLON OR A SEMICOLON.<br />

1) Use a semicolon to distinguish, but connect ideas, or when the second sentence exp<strong>and</strong>s on the<br />

first in a closely related way. Use a colon to introduce information related to the first clause:<br />

;<br />

<strong>Independent</strong> clause : independent clause.<br />

• Mary’s announcement surprised the committee: she had decided to resign.<br />

2) Use a transition word with a semicolon helps to more specifically connect ideas:<br />

consequently in fact<br />

however indeed<br />

<strong>Independent</strong> clause ; therefore moreover<br />

nevertheless then<br />

furthermore<br />

independent clause.<br />

, independent clause.<br />

• Some believe the poem has been misinterpreted; however, I’ll argue that it has not been.<br />

SUBORDINATION: USE TRANSITION WORDS TO CONNECT THE IDEAS IN THE FIRST AND<br />

SECOND CLAUSE.<br />

<strong>Independent</strong> clause<br />

after<br />

as (as if)<br />

before<br />

since<br />

until<br />

when(ever)<br />

although<br />

because<br />

if<br />

unless<br />

whereas<br />

while<br />

dependent clause.<br />

• Robin knew that she had to finish her homework before going out with her friends.<br />

SUBORDINATION: WHEN YOU BEGIN A SENTENCE WITH A DEPENDENT CLAUSE THAT<br />

BEGINS WITH A TRANSTION WORD, PLACE A COMMA BETWEEN THE CLAUSES.<br />

After<br />

As (as if)<br />

Before<br />

Since<br />

Until<br />

When(ever)<br />

Although<br />

Because<br />

If<br />

Unless<br />

Whereas<br />

While<br />

dependent clause,<br />

independent clause.<br />

• Before going out with her friends, Robin knew that she had to finish her homework.