Recitation One

Independent and Dependent Clauses, Coordination

and Subordination

Independent Clauses
Independent Clause
An independent clause is a complete sentence; it
contains a subject and verb and expresses a
complete thought in both context and meaning.

The window opened.

Jim laughed.
The firework exploded.

Dependent Clauses
Dependent Clause
A dependent (or subordinate) clause is part of a sentence; it
contains a subject and verb but does not express a
complete thought.
Dependent clauses can make sense on their own, but they are
dependent on the rest of the sentence for context and
meaning.
Usually dependent clauses are joined to an independent
clause to form a complex sentence.
Dependent clauses often begin with a subordinating
conjunction or relative pronoun.

The door opened because the man pushed it.

I wondered whether the homework was necessary.
They will visit you before they go to the airport.

Independent or
Dependent?
He ran
When we arrived
As he was running
Yesterday we played soccer
Ralph laughs
The window opened
While we were playing

Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions are used to join independent
clauses to make compound sentences.
The coordinating conjunctions are as follows:and, but, for,
nor, or, so,andyet.
A mnemonic device to remember the coordinating
conjunctions: FANBOYS
f for
a and
n nor
b but
o or
y yet
s - so

Coordinating Conjunctions
Cont.
You can use coordinating conjunctions to
revise run-on sentences and comma
splices.
I wanted more popcorn, Sam wanted Junior Mints.
I wanted more popcorn, but Sam wanted Junior
Mints.

You can also use coordinating conjunctions to

make writing less choppy by joining
short, simple sentences.
I wanted more popcorn. I didnt want any more
soda.
I wanted more popcornbutno soda.

Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions are used to
join independent clauses to make
complex sentences.
The most common subordinating
conjunctions are as follows:
after, although, as, as if, because, before,
even if, even though, if, if only, rather than,
since, that, though, unless, until, when,
where, whereas, wherever, whether, which,
and while.

Subordinating Conjunctions
Cont.
Consider the following sentence:
I wanted to get more sodabecauseits hard to eat
popcorn without it.

Can it be altered?
Because its hard to eat popcorn without it, I wanted to
get more soda.

Note that when a dependent clause is placed at the

beginning of a sentence, its necessary to place a
comma at the end of the dependent clause.
While I was getting more soda and popcorn, I missed a
really important part of the movie.

Subordinating Conjunctions
Cont.
Subordinating conjunctions can be used to
correct run-on sentences and comma
splices.
I stayed up all night studying for my Algebra
exam, I was so tired all day today.
Jerry and Elaine always go to movies together,
they dont go to movies together when Jerry is
dating someone.
Mad Season is a great band, they only put out
one album.

Possible Answers
After staying up all night last night studying for
my Algebra exam, I was so tired all day today.
Unless Jerry is dating someone, Jerry and Elaine
always go to movies together.
Mad Season is a great band even though they
only put out one album.

Common Mistakes To
Avoid:
Comma Splices
Comma splices are a type of run-on sentence.
Comma splices occur when two independent clauses
are connected with only a comma.
My family bakes together nearly every night, we then get
to enjoy everything we make together.

Solutions:
break the two independent clauses into two
sentences
My family bakes together nearly every night. We then
get to enjoy everything we make together.
add a coordinating conjunction and a comma
My family bakes together nearly every night, and we
then get to enjoy everything we make together.

Common Mistakes To
Avoid:
Fused Sentences
Fused sentences are a type of run-on sentence that
occur when two independent clauses are not
separated by any form of punctuation.
My professor is intelligent Ive learned a lot from her.

Solutions:
break the two independent clauses into two
sentences
My professor is intelligent. Ive learned a lot from her.
add a coordinating conjunction and a comma
My professor is intelligent, and Ive learned a lot from
her.
use a semicolon
My professor is intelligent; Ive learned a lot from her.

Common Mistakes to
Avoid:
Fragments
Sentence fragments occur when a writer
treats a dependent clause or another
type of incomplete thought as a complete
sentence.
Because I love sandwiches.

Solutions:
Couple the fragment with a complete
thought
I purchased six loaves of bread because I love
sandwiches.
Remove the subordinating conjunction
I love sandwiches.