An independent clause contains a subject and verb, expresses a complete thought, and can stand on its own as a complete sentence.
A dependent clause contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought; it depends on being joined to an independent clause to form a complete sentence. Dependent clauses can often be recognized by a marker word at the beginning of the clause that signals a subordinate relationship with an independent clause.
Many sentence fragments are dependent clauses that have mistakenly been separated from the independent clauses they belong with.
Which of the following is an independent clause? Mark all that apply.
If you can work on Tuesdays.
While my aunt does the dishes.
Which is why we can't afford to go.
As though he was leading a high speed chase.
I don't have to go if I don't want to.
Whether he can drive that far is irrelevant.