Independent and Dependent Clauses
(All about Puck)
Independent Clauses
An independent clause contains a noun, a verb, and a complete thought. It stands on its own as a complete sentence.
Example Puck chewed up my students’ papers.
Example Puck is a bad dog.
Dependent Clauses
A dependent clause contains a noun and a verb but does not contain a complete thought. It cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence.
Example While I was gone. (fragment)
Example When I returned. (fragment)
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions often begin dependent clauses. Subordinating conjunctions include after, although, as long as, as soon as, as much as, if, as though, before, because, since, though, unless, until, when, whenever, wherever, and while. If the subordinating clause comes at the beginning of the sentence, then a comma generally follows the clause. If the subordinating clause is at the end of the sentence, then there generally is no comma.
Example While I was gone, Puck chewed up my students’ papers.
Example When I returned, Puck pretended to be innocent.
Example Puck pretended to be innocent when I returned home.
Note Words like furthermore, however, moreover, nevertheless, and therefore begin independent clauses not dependent ones. These words are usually followed by a comma.
Example However, I knew Puck was guilty.
Example Therefore, he got in trouble.
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions connect two independent clauses. Coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. When using a coordinating conjunction to connect two independent clauses, use a comma before the coordinating conjunction.
Example Puck is a bad dog, but I love him.
Note Coordinating conjunctions only have a comma preceding them when they separate two independent clauses.
Example Puck likes to eat pillows and students’ papers.
You can access more information about commas by visiting our comma rules and comma tips pages.
Click here to download a PDF version of this page.
Writing Lab