Which type of clause can stand alone as a complete sentence?

An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. Because it conveys a full idea, it can function as a standalone sentence. For instance, "The dog barks" is an independent clause; it makes sense on its own without needing any additional information.

In contrast, dependent clauses, subordinate clauses, and relative clauses cannot stand alone because they do not express complete thoughts. They typically rely on an independent clause to form a complete sentence. For instance, a dependent clause like "because the dog barks" leaves the reader expecting more information to understand the full context. This key characteristic of independence allows clauses of this type to function as full sentences in writing and conversation, distinguishing them from other types of clauses that inherently require additional information to convey clear meanings.