Final answer:
An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb, expresses a complete thought, and can stand alone as a sentence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Independent Clause Definition
An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb and can stand alone as a complete sentence. It does not rely on other clauses or phrases for its meaning. For instance, in the sentence ‘Fiona didn’t know how much she could love someone until she had children of her own,’ the clause ‘Fiona didn’t know how much she could love someone’ can stand alone as a sentence; hence, it is considered an independent clause.
An independent clause can also express a complete thought, making it understandable on its own, which is why it can be punctuated as a standalone sentence. The sentence structure varies, but each independent clause can be separated into a separate complete sentence if it is part of a complex sentence with multiple clauses. The clause ‘Hand me that socket wrench’ is another example of an independent clause.