A clause is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb.
An independent clause also is a complete thought, meaning that it can be a sentence by itself.
Unlike an independent clause, a dependent clause is NOT a complete thought, meaning that it CANNOT be a sentence by itself. (If you tried to make it a sentence, it would be a fragment.)
A dependent clause is also known as a subordinate clause, meaning that it is less important than the sentence's main (independent) clause.
A dependent clause begins with a subordinating conjunction. The most common subordinating conjunctions (SWABIs) include Since, When, After, Because, and If. Subordinating conjunctions indicate the relationship of the subordinate (dependent) clause to the main (independent) clause.
we saw a bear
I was scared
when we saw a bear
because we were scared
A simple sentence is a sentence with exactly one independent clause.
We saw a bear.
I was scared.
A compound sentence is a sentence that includes two independent clauses. There are three ways to connect independent clauses:
with a comma and a coordinating conjunction
with a semicolon
with a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb
Coordinating conjunctions can be used along with a comma to show the relationship between two independent clauses. Different coordinating conjunctions show different relationships. The 7 coordinating conjunctions, also known by the acronym FANBOYS, are For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So.
We saw a bear, and we ran out of the forest.
It may not actually have been a bear, but we didn't stay to find out.
We saw a bear, so we ran out of the forest.
A semicolon simply connects two independent clauses, indicating that their ideas are related to each other somehow.
We saw a bear; we ran out of the forest.
I was terrified of the bear; I thought it was going to eat me.
While a semicolon connects two independent clauses, it doesn't clarify how their ideas are related. Adding a conjunctive adverb helps to clarify the relationship between the two clauses.
The most common conjunctive adverbs (THAMOs) are Therefore, However, Also, Meanwhile, and Otherwise.
A conjunctive adverb that comes after a semicolon is followed by a comma.
When a conjunctive adverb interrupts a single thought, place a comma on both sides.
We saw a bear; therefore, we ran out of the forest.
We all saw the bear; also, my sister saw a snake.
We think it was a bear; however, we didn't stay to find out.
It was time for class. Connor, however, didn't want to go to history.
I love the New England Patriots; my cousin, however, is a Panthers fan.
Adam's alarm clock didn't go off this morning. All of his friends, meanwhile, were still waiting for him to pick them up for school.
A complex sentence is a sentence that includes an independent clause and a dependent clause. Either clause can appear first.
No comma is used when the independent clause is first.
I am now afraid of bears because I almost got eaten by one.
I was terrified when I saw the bear although it didn't attack us.
We started doing research on bears after we got home.
When the dependent clause is first, it is followed by a comma.
A dependent clause begins with a subordinating conjunction. The most common subordinating conjunctions (SWABIs) include Since, When, After, Because, and If. Subordinating conjunctions indicate the relationship of the subordinate (dependent) clause to the main (independent) clause.
Because I almost got eaten by a bear, I am now afraid of bears.
Although the bear didn't attack us, I was terrified when I saw it.
After we got home, we started doing research on bears.