Differentiate between an independent clause and a dependent clause.

An independent clause, also known as a main clause, is a type of clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence. It expresses a complete thought and contains a subject and a predicate. The subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action or is being described, while the predicate is the verb or verb phrase that expresses the action or state of being. Independent clauses can function independently and do not rely on any other clause to convey a complete meaning.

For example: "She went to the store."

In this sentence, "She" is the subject, "went" is the verb, and "to the store" is the predicate. This independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

On the other hand, a dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, is a type of clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It relies on an independent clause to form a complete thought and provide additional information. Dependent clauses often begin with subordinating conjunctions such as "because," "although," "if," "when," or "since."

For example: "Because it was raining, she took an umbrella."

In this sentence, "Because it was raining" is the dependent clause, and "she took an umbrella" is the independent clause. The dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought. It relies on the independent clause to provide the necessary information.

In summary, the main difference between an independent clause and a dependent clause is that an independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, while a dependent clause relies on an independent clause to convey a complete meaning.