Welcome! Check out our free B-School Guides to learn how you compare with other applicants.
Login or Register
 

Subordinate and independent clause

This topic has 3 expert replies and 3 member replies
Bookmark
Previous Topic Next Topic
Mr.Hollywood Rising GMAT Star
Joined
24 Oct 2011
Posted:
34 messages
Thanked:
1 times
Subordinate and independent clause Post Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:28 pm
Elapsed Time: 00:00
  • Lap #[LAPCOUNT] ([LAPTIME])
    Hi guys, I have a somehow general question about sentence structure.

    Subordinate and independent clause.

    We can use the following two sentences to demonstrate

    1. Andy and Lisha are inseparable; they do everything together.

    2. The dam has created dead zones, where fish have disappeared    .

    The comma used in the 2nd sentence indicates that the second part of the sentence is subordinate to the first part. However, in my opinion, the second part of the 1st sentence is also subordinate to its first part. So I was wondering if anybody could please help me differentiate the differences between these two types of clause.

    Thank you so much!

    Need free GMAT or MBA advice from an expert? Register for Beat The GMAT now and post your question in these forums!

    GMAT/MBA Expert

    Brent@GMATPrepNow GMAT Instructor
    Joined
    08 Dec 2008
    Posted:
    3887 messages
    Followed by:
    600 members
    Thanked:
    1678 times
    GMAT Score:
    770
    Most Active Expert Most Responsive Expert Most Thanked Expert
    Post Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:30 pm
    Mr.Hollywood wrote:
    Hi guys, I have a somehow general question about sentence structure.

    Subordinate and independent clause.

    We can use the following two sentences to demonstrate

    1. Andy and Lisha are inseparable; they do everything together.

    2. The dam has created dead zones, where fish have disappeared    .

    The comma used in the 2nd sentence indicates that the second part of the sentence is subordinate to the first part. However, in my opinion, the second part of the 1st sentence is also subordinate to its first part. So I was wondering if anybody could please help me differentiate the differences between these two types of clause.

    Thank you so much!
    "They (Andy and Lisha) do everything together" is an independent clause because it expresses a complete idea all by itself.

    "Where fish have disappeared" is an dependent (subordinate) clause because it does not express a complete idea all by itself.

    Cheers,
    Brent

    _________________
    Brent Hanneson, BSc, BEd, MEd
    - Check out GMAT Prep Now’s online course at http://www.gmatprepnow.com/
    - Use our video course in conjunction with Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide
    - Watch hours of free videos on DS, RC and AWA
    - Our top 3 free videos:
    1) The Double Matrix method
    2) Calculating combinations in your head
    3) Managing your time on the GMAT

    Study Smart! Use Beat The GMAT’s FREE 60-Day Study Guide in conjunction with GMAT Prep Now’s video course and reach your target score in 2 months! With two money-back guarantees, you can try us out risk-free.
    gurpreetsingh.1982 Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
    Joined
    16 Mar 2011
    Posted:
    35 messages
    Thanked:
    2 times
    Post Mon May 14, 2012 10:12 am
    Hi Brent,

    For independent clauses, they can be connected by semi-colon as seen here. However, can they also be connected by conjunctions such as ", and" or ", but" (depending on usage of course)?

    Thanks in advance for your clarification.

    Cheers,
    Gurpreet

    GMAT/MBA Expert

    Brent@GMATPrepNow GMAT Instructor
    Joined
    08 Dec 2008
    Posted:
    3887 messages
    Followed by:
    600 members
    Thanked:
    1678 times
    GMAT Score:
    770
    Most Active Expert Most Responsive Expert Most Thanked Expert
    Post Mon May 14, 2012 10:22 am
    gurpreetsingh.1982 wrote:
    Hi Brent,

    For independent clauses, they can be connected by semi-colon as seen here. However, can they also be connected by conjunctions such as ", and" or ", but" (depending on usage of course)?

    Thanks in advance for your clarification.

    Cheers,
    Gurpreet
    Yes, we can also connect two independent clauses with a conjunction (and, but, etc.) and a comma.

    Correct: Bob is from France; Sue is from Spain.
    Correct: Bob is from France, and Sue is from Spain.
    Incorrect: Bob is from France, Sue is from Spain.
    Incorrect: Bob is from France and Sue is from Spain.

    Cheers,
    Brent

    _________________
    Brent Hanneson, BSc, BEd, MEd
    - Check out GMAT Prep Now’s online course at http://www.gmatprepnow.com/
    - Use our video course in conjunction with Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide
    - Watch hours of free videos on DS, RC and AWA
    - Our top 3 free videos:
    1) The Double Matrix method
    2) Calculating combinations in your head
    3) Managing your time on the GMAT



    Last edited by Brent@GMATPrepNow on Mon May 14, 2012 10:51 am; edited 2 times in total

    Study Smart! Use Beat The GMAT’s FREE 60-Day Study Guide in conjunction with GMAT Prep Now’s video course and reach your target score in 2 months! With two money-back guarantees, you can try us out risk-free.
    gurpreetsingh.1982 Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
    Joined
    16 Mar 2011
    Posted:
    35 messages
    Thanked:
    2 times
    Post Mon May 14, 2012 10:43 am
    Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:
    gurpreetsingh.1982 wrote:
    Hi Brent,

    For independent clauses, they can be connected by semi-colon as seen here. However, can they also be connected by conjunctions such as ", and" or ", but" (depending on usage of course)?

    Thanks in advance for your clarification.

    Cheers,
    Gurpreet
    Yes, we can also connect two independent clauses with a conjunction (and, but, etc.) and a comma.

    Correct: Bob is from France; Bob is from Spain.
    Correct: Bob is from France, and Bob is from Spain.
    Incorrect: Correct: Bob is from France, Bob is from Spain.
    Incorrect: Correct: Bob is from France and Bob is from Spain.

    Cheers,
    Brent
    Hi Brent,

    Just to be sure, believe you mean:
    Incorrect: Bob is from France, Bob is from Spain.
    Correct: Bob is from France and Bob is from Spain.

    Thanks,
    Gurpreet

    GMAT/MBA Expert

    Brent@GMATPrepNow GMAT Instructor
    Joined
    08 Dec 2008
    Posted:
    3887 messages
    Followed by:
    600 members
    Thanked:
    1678 times
    GMAT Score:
    770
    Most Active Expert Most Responsive Expert Most Thanked Expert
    Post Mon May 14, 2012 10:50 am
    gurpreetsingh.1982 wrote:
    Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:
    gurpreetsingh.1982 wrote:
    Hi Brent,

    For independent clauses, they can be connected by semi-colon as seen here. However, can they also be connected by conjunctions such as ", and" or ", but" (depending on usage of course)?

    Thanks in advance for your clarification.

    Cheers,
    Gurpreet
    Yes, we can also connect two independent clauses with a conjunction (and, but, etc.) and a comma.

    Correct: Bob is from France; Bob is from Spain.
    Correct: Bob is from France, and Bobis from Spain.
    Incorrect: Correct: Bob is from France, Bobis from Spain.
    Incorrect: Correct: Bob is from France and Bobis from Spain.

    Cheers,
    Brent
    Hi Brent,

    Just to be sure, believe you mean:
    Incorrect: Bob is from France, Bob is from Spain.
    Correct: Bob is from France and Bob is from Spain.

    Thanks,
    Gurpreet
    Yikes, I used Bob for both people, and I wrote correct and incorrect for one sentence! I edited it.

    I'll repeat it here:

    Correct: Bob is from France; Sue is from Spain.
    Correct: Bob is from France, and Sue is from Spain.
    Incorrect: Bob is from France, Sue is from Spain.
    Incorrect: Bob is from France and Sue is from Spain.

    The last one ("Bob is from France and Sue is from Spain") is incorrect, because we need to join the 2 independent clauses with a conjunction and a comma. This sentence has no comma.

    _________________
    Brent Hanneson, BSc, BEd, MEd
    - Check out GMAT Prep Now’s online course at http://www.gmatprepnow.com/
    - Use our video course in conjunction with Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide
    - Watch hours of free videos on DS, RC and AWA
    - Our top 3 free videos:
    1) The Double Matrix method
    2) Calculating combinations in your head
    3) Managing your time on the GMAT

    Thanked by: gurpreetsingh.1982
    Study Smart! Use Beat The GMAT’s FREE 60-Day Study Guide in conjunction with GMAT Prep Now’s video course and reach your target score in 2 months! With two money-back guarantees, you can try us out risk-free.
    gurpreetsingh.1982 Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
    Joined
    16 Mar 2011
    Posted:
    35 messages
    Thanked:
    2 times
    Post Mon May 14, 2012 10:55 am
    Ah thanks for clarifying, Brent.

    Have a good day!

    Best Conversation Starters
    1 varun289 43 topics
    2 greenwich 30 topics
    3 sana.noor 21 topics
    4 guerrero 20 topics
    5 killerdrummer 19 topics
    See More Top Beat The GMAT Members...

    Most Active Experts
    1 image description Brent@GMATPrepNow

    GMAT Prep Now Teacher

    		 202 posts
    2 image description GMATGuruNY

    The Princeton Review Teacher

    		 143 posts
    3 image description Anju@Gurome

    Gurome

    		 134 posts
    4 image description Jim@StratusPrep

    Stratus Prep

    		 86 posts
    5 image description David@VeritasPrep

    Veritas Prep

    		 41 posts
    See More Top Beat The GMAT Experts