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CLAUSE COMBINING The complex sentence Independent and dependent clauses

المؤلف:  Angela Downing

المصدر:  ENGLISH GRAMMAR A UNIVERSITY COURSE

الجزء والصفحة:  P249-C7

2026-06-12

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CLAUSE COMBINING

The complex sentence

Independent and dependent clauses

We have seen how a clause can be embedded within another clause, as a realization of subject, object or complement in the superordinate clause. As such, these clauses occupy well-defined positions and are tightly bound to the host clause. An embedded clausal complement is also bound by stringent grammatical constraints determined by the verb.

We now turn to how clauses can be combined to form complex sentences or clause complexes. The inter-clause relationships involved are of a looser kind than that of embedding. Clauses are either independent or dependent. An independent clause is complete in itself; it does not form part of a larger structure. It can function as the main clause in a complex sentence.

The independent clause is considered primary in that it comprises minimal completeness and unity.

A dependent clause is syntactically dependent on a main clause or on another dependent clause. It cannot function as a main clause, even when finite.