69 Independent & Dependent Clauses

A complex sentence is usually composed of an Independent Clause and at least one Dependent or Subordinate Clause.

Independent Clause: Clauses that can be used by itself as a sentence.
Dependent Clause: Clauses that cannot form a separate sentence.

A Complex Sentence usually is made up of these structures:

1. Independent clause;
2. Independent clause + connector + Dependent clause;
3. Dependent clause + connector + Independent clause.

A Dependent Clause can have the same subject as an Independent Clause as well as a different one. In more complicated sentences, Dependent and Independent Clauses have different subjects.

1. Independent clause
   • Pope called me.
   • We will stay at the church.
   • I will finish practicing religion.
2. Independent clause + dependent clause
   • Pope called me while I was praying.
   • We will stay at the church, as it started raining.
   • I will finish practicing religion before the priest comes back.
3. Dependent clause + (,) + independent clause
   • While I was praying, Pope called me.
   • As it started raining, we will stay at the church.
   • Before the priest comes back, I will finish practicing religion.

Dependent Clauses are used to add more information to the Independent Clause which can stand alone as a sentence unlike Dependent Clause.

A complex sentence is made up of an Independent clause, which can stand alone and a Subordinate (Dependent) clause (which cannot stand alone as a complete meaning).

Complex sentences have these structures:

• Independent clause (e.g. He studies history.);
• Independent clause + connector + Subordinate clause (e.g. He studies history while his sister studies chemistry.);
• Subordinate clause + connector + Independent clause (e.g. While his sister studies chemistry, he studies history.).

For example:
— “He studies history.” = Independent Clause can stand alone.
— “He studies history while his sister studies chemistry.” = Subordinate Clause “while his sister studies chemistry” adds information to the Independent Clause “He studies history”.

Let’s revise this content within the [Form] section. Take a look at the [Example] section that shows its use within a context.