Independent Clauses
Ø A clause is independent when it meets the following conditions:
It has a subject
It has an action—what the subject is doing.
It expresses a complete thought.
Examples
- We left home.
- He lives in Nairobi.
Subordinate Clauses
Ø A subordinate clause (or dependent) clause cannot stand alone as a sentence since it does not express a complete thought.
Ø A dependent clause begins with a subordinate conjunction or relative pronouns or a relative adverb.
Ø It leaves one wondering “what happened?”
Examples
- Where she went
- Before Khamisi arrived.
- After she abused me.