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

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

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.