Independent and dependent clauses, and simple, compound and complex sentences. · about 15 minutes
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What is it? A phrase is a group of words without its own subject and verb (in the garden, running fast). A clause has a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence; a dependent clause cannot - it begins with a word like because, although, when, who or which.
Why does it matter? Knowing clauses lets you build simple, compound and complex sentences, avoid fragments, and punctuate correctly.
Where do we use it? Every paragraph you write: "I stayed home (independent) because it was raining (dependent)."
In this lesson you will:
