An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete though

 What is an independent clause?

An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. It can stand on its own as a sentence.

For example:

• I ate a sandwich.
• The dog barked.
• The sun shone brightly.

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independent clause

Test:

Identify the independent clauses in the following sentences.

1. The cat chased the mouse, but it escaped.
2. I went to the park and played on the swings.
3. When it started to rain, we ran inside.
4. The dog barked loudly because it saw a squirrel.
5. If you finish your homework early, you can watch TV.

Answers:

1. The cat chased the mouse.
2. I went to the park.
3. When it started to rain.
4. The dog barked loudly.
5. If you finish your homework early.

Tips for fifth graders:

• An independent clause can stand on its own as a sentence.
• An independent clause always has a subject and a verb.
• To find the independent clause in a sentence, look for the subject and verb. The independent clause will start with the subject and end with the verb.

Fun activity:

Write a few sentences of your own and then identify the independent clauses. You can also try writing a story using only independent clauses.