independent clause
1
4.0
- noun
- /ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt klɔz/
- Specialized
:
cláusula independiente
- Each independent clause in the sentence conveys a complete thought, such as "He enjoys reading" and "She loves hiking."
- a sentence is one independent clause
- defined as an independent clause
- one independent clause
Examples
-
A C-unit is typically an independent clause plus all of its dependent clauses (Loban, 1976).
Academic text (2015) -
C-unit segmentation was also chosen because some of the children produced long responses involving several independent clauses.
Academic text (2012) -
The DSS analysis includes only utterances that are independent clauses with both a subject and a verb.
Academic text (2012) -
A C-unit is defined as an independent clause plus all associated subordinate clauses.
Academic text (2014) -
A T-unit is defined as an independent clause with its dependent (subordinate) clauses.
Academic text (2013) -
Simple sentences were counted according to the definition found in Howell and Memering (1986): "A simple sentence is one independent clause."
Academic text (2002) -
This sentence contains two independent clauses, three adverb clauses, one noun clause, and one adjective clause.
Academic text (2003) -
A T-unit (short for minimal terminal unit) is defined as any independent clause plus whatever subordinate phrases or clauses are added to the independent clause.
Academic text (2005) -
As described by Loban (1963), a C-unit consists of an independent clause plus any number of dependent clauses. That is, a C-unit can include a maximum of one independent clause.
Academic text (2015) -
An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, like "She runs every day."
Synonyms
1
3.2
A part of a sentence that can stand alone as a complete sentence
Antonyms
- Specialized
A group of words that cannot stand alone and acts like a noun, adjective, or adverb
How Independent
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositionally derivable from 'independent' (able to stand alone) plus 'clause' (a unit with subject and predicate): an independent clause is simply a clause that can stand alone as a sentence. Although somewhat technical, this formation follows straightforward adjective + noun composition and has cross-linguistic parallels, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand the term.
Etymology
Independent clause comes from the simple idea of a part of a sentence that can 'stand alone'. A clause that is independent can be a 'complete sentence' by itself, so the name helps you remember its meaning.