These independent clause examples will make you able to identify the clauses. You will make the difference between the dependent and independent clauses easily.
This topic has been a bit difficult for everyone. Now, read the following examples to make it easier. I strongly assure you that these exercises will add new information to your knowledge base. For this exercise, you must know the definition of dependent and independent clauses. This will keep you ahead of others who do not know the definition.
Let us move forward to the point.
Before we go to the independent clause example, let us have a look at the clause.
There are 3 types of clauses in English.
- Principal Clause (Independent Clause)
- Coordinate Clause
- Subordinate Clause (Dependent Clause)
An Independent clause is a clause that has only one subject and one predicate part. It is not good to say one predicate part. Rather, it is better to say, it has one finite verb. Moreover, it makes good sense by itself.
On the other hand, a dependent clause does not make sense by itself. It does not have only one subject or finite verb.
And the coordinate clause has two or more than two independent clauses. In other words you can say, it has more than two finite verbs. However, unlike the dependent clause, it makes complete sense by itself.
Now let us have a look at the following sentences.
Independent Clause Examples
Here is a list of five sentences below. Let us examine the following sentences.
In the above image, there are five sentences. Let us examine all the sentences of the above independent clause examples one by one.
His honesty provides him respect.
| Subject Part | Predicate Part | Finite Verb |
| His honesty | provides him respect | provides |
If you see the above table, you can find that there is one subject and one finite verb. And we know if there is one subject and one predicate, that is an independent clause. Moreover, if we see the sense of the sentence, it makes complete sense on its own. Therefore, the above sentence is an independent clause.
The boy is intelligent and he can succeed.
| Subject Part | Predicate Part | Finite Verb |
| The boy He | is intelligent can succeed | is succeed |
In the above sentence, there are two parts. It means it has two clauses. Let us take the first part and examine the same. The first part of the sentence is – the boy is intelligent. Here in this part, the boy is the subject and the rest is the predicate. There is only one finite verb as well. Therefore, this part is an independent clause. Let us move on to the second part.
The second part of the sentence is – he can succeed. In this clause, there is only one subject and predicate. Therefore, this clause is also an independent clause.
Here in the sentence we get two clauses together connected with conjunction – and. When two independent clauses come together, they are called a co-ordinate clause. This sentence is not one of the independent clause examples but of coordinate clauses.
My mentor took a rest.
| Subject Part | Predicate Part | Finite Verb |
| My mentor | took a rest. | took |
This sentence has only one subject that is my mentor. The rest is the predicate part. It is also only one. It means it has only one finite verb that is ‘took’. Now let us see it sense. It makes complete sense on its own as well. So this is an independent clause.
She came when it was early in the morning.
| Subject Part | Predicate Part | Finite Verb |
| She it | came was early in the morning. | came was |
After the close examination of the above sentence, we find she and it as subjects. And the rest parts are predicate parts. There are two finite verbs, first – came and the second – was. When we see the sense of the first sentence, we find it complete on its own. But the second part of the sentence, that is second clause does not make complete sense on its own. It depends on the first sentence for its sense. So this is not an independent clause but a dependent clause. The first sentence is an independent clause examples.
If we talk about the whole sentence, the sentence has an independent clause and a dependent clause. Such a sentence is called a complex sentence. Anyway, we will not go very far in sentences.
John made a call and I told him that you are in hospital.
| Subject Part | Predicate Part | Finite Verb |
| John I you | made a call told him are in hospital | made told are |
This sentence is totally different from the other four sentences. It comprises three parts in it. The first clause has only one subject and one finite verb with its complete sense on its own. So this is an independent clause. The second clause of the sentence also has only one subject and finite verb. And it also makes its complete sense on its own. Therefore, this clause is also an independent clause. The third clause also has one subject and finite verb but it does not have complete sense of its own. Therefore, this is a dependent clause.
Such a sentence that has two independent clause and a dependent clause, is called a complex sentence.
Hope these independent clause examples were very helpful for you. For other examples and exercises, click the links below.