1. Independent Clause: This is the main part of the sentence, expressing a complete thought and capable of standing alone. It contains a subject and a verb.
* Example: *The dog barked.*
2. Dependent Clause: This clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence, as it relies on the independent clause to make sense. It contains a subject and a verb, but also a subordinating conjunction that connects it to the independent clause.
* Example: *because it saw a cat.*
Combining the parts:
* Independent Clause + Dependent Clause: *The dog barked because it saw a cat.*
Types of dependent clauses:
There are several types of dependent clauses, each introduced by a different type of subordinating conjunction:
* Adverb Clauses: These clauses modify the verb of the independent clause, describing how, when, where, why, or to what extent the action occurred.
* Examples: *when the sun rose*, *since you asked*, *although it was raining*
* Adjective Clauses: These clauses modify a noun in the independent clause, providing more information about it.
* Examples: *who lives next door*, *that I bought yesterday*, *which is very old*
* Noun Clauses: These clauses function as a noun in the sentence, often acting as the subject or object of the verb.
* Examples: *what you said*, *where we went*, *that she is coming*
Examples of complex sentences:
* Adverb Clause: *Although the weather was terrible, we went for a walk.*
* Adjective Clause: *The woman who lives next door is a doctor.*
* Noun Clause: *I know what you did last summer.*
Important Note: The independent clause can come before or after the dependent clause in a complex sentence. The order will affect the emphasis of the sentence.