Here's a breakdown:
* Independent Clauses: These are complete thoughts that can stand alone as a sentence. They contain a subject and a verb and express a complete idea.
* Purpose: To convey a main idea or thought.
* Example: *The cat sat on the mat.*
* Dependent Clauses: These are incomplete thoughts that cannot stand alone as a sentence. They rely on an independent clause for meaning. They also contain a subject and verb but express a partial or incomplete thought.
* Purpose: To provide additional information, modify a noun or pronoun, or explain the main idea of the independent clause.
* Example: *Because the cat was tired.* (This needs an independent clause like "The cat sat on the mat" to be a complete sentence.)
Here are the 4 sentence purposes of independent and dependent clauses in a nutshell:
1. Independent Clauses: Express a complete thought.
2. Dependent Clauses: Provide additional information, modify, or explain.
3. Independent Clauses: Form the basis of a sentence.
4. Dependent Clauses: Add depth and complexity to a sentence.