Punctuating Independent and Dependent Clauses

1. Punctuating Independent and Dependent Clauses

2. Punctuating Independent Clauses • An independent clause is a group of related words that contains a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete idea. As a result, an independent clause can stand alone and be used as a sentence. Two independent clauses used this way and joined together should each be ended (and separated) with a period (or question mark or exclamation point).

3. Option 1: Independent clause. Independent clause. Examples: • Rina went to the store. She bought some candy. • The writing test was very hard. It was about Greek history. • Omar failed his Psychology test. He was deeply sad.

4. Coordinating Conjunctions • Two independent clauses can also be joined together into one, more complex sentence. When we do this, we must separate the clauses with a coordinating conjunction.   • The coordinating conjunctions used to join independent clauses are:  and but or for so yet no A comma must also always be placed directly before the coordinating conjunction that is used to connect the two independent clauses. 

5. Option 2: Independent clause, {coordinating conjunction} independent clause. Examples: • Maher went to the store, and he bought some candy. • Garrett called me this morning, but I wasn’t home. • You can go to the drugstore to get your medicine, or you can order it online.

6. Option 3: Independent clause; independent clause. • A semicolon can be used in place of a coordinating conjunction in order to connect two independent clauses. Examples: • Yoon went to the store; he bought some candy. • Mark went to Korea last summer; he bought a lot of presents for us. • Florence speaks Chinese; she also speaks Arabic very fluently. • Note: two independent clause can be separated by a semicolon only when the two clauses have the same subject. Otherwise, a period would be necessary.

7. Conjunctive Adverbs • Conjunctive adverbs are often used as introductory words after the semicolon. A comma always follows them. A partial list of words and phrases used as conjunctive adverbs includes:  However therefore for example for instance in fact moreover nevertheless consequently then indeed also furthermore instead  after all still  in general

8. Option 4: Independent clause; {conjunctive adverb}, independent clause. Examples: • Abdullah went to the store; then, he bought some candy. • Vivian didn’t do her homework; therefore, she will receive an F as a final grade. • Maher never came to class on time; however, he never failed a test.

9. Two Serious Errors Error # 1: An independent clause should never be joined together with another one without end punctuation, a comma and a coordinating conjunction, or a semicolon. If this occurs, we call it a “run-on” sentence. (One independent clause/sentence is “run” onto another.) • Run-on: Independent clause independent clause. Examples: • Anqi went to the store she bought some candy. • Majeed graduated from Harvard he is very talented.

10. Error # 2 • It is also incorrect to join an independent clause with another simply by using a comma. If this occurs, we call it a “comma-splice.”  • Comma Splice: Independent clause, independent clause. Examples: • Anqi went to the store, she bought some candy. • Majeed graduated from Harvard, he is very talented.

11. Punctuating Dependent Clauses • A dependent clause or a subordinate clause is a group of related words that contains a subject and a predicate but does not express a complete idea and, therefore, cannot stand alone. (It is subordinate or dependent on the rest of the sentence in order to express a complete idea.) Such clauses often begin with introductory words called subordinating conjunctions. A partial list of words and phrases used as subordinating conjunctions includes:  After before when although if whenever as since whereas as if unless while because until supposing that

12. Subordinating Conjunctions •  By using subordinating conjunctions, an independent clause is turned into a dependent or subordinate one. Examples: • Linh went to the store. (Independent clause) • After Linh went to the store (Dependent clause) • Chris loves chocolate. (Independent clause) • Because Chris loves chocolate. (Dependent clause)

13. Option #1: Dependent clause, independent clause. • A dependent clause can be made into a complete idea if it is placed before an independent clause. A comma comes directly after a dependent clause that comes before an independent clause. Examples: • After Abdullah went to the store, he bought some candy. • Because Chris loves chocolate, I bought some for him.

14. Option #2: Independent clausedependent clause. • A dependent clause can also be made intoa complete idea if it is placed after an independent clause. When a dependent clause comes directly after an independent clause, no comma is necessary. Example : • Garrett doesn’t care what store he goes to as long as it has candy.

15. Option #3: Independent clause,dependent clause • Although a comma is not necessary (and is usually omitted) in the case of option #2, it is sometimes placed after the independent clause for emphasis.  • Example : • Santiago doesn’t care what store he goes to, as long as it has candy.

16. Option #4 : Dependent clause dependent clause. •  A dependent clause is sometimes made into a complete idea by combining it with another dependent clause. When two dependent clauses are joined together, no comma is necessary. •  Example : • To buy some candy at the store will be easy for Fred.