What is an independent clause?

An independent clause is defined as a group of words that expresses a complete thought. This means that it can stand alone as a sentence and conveys a clear idea without needing any additional information. For example, in the sentence "She enjoys reading," the group of words contains a subject ("She") and a verb ("enjoys"), and it fully communicates a specific thought.

The other options highlight aspects of sentence structure but do not accurately define what makes an independent clause. A group of words without a subject and verb cannot form a complete thought, while a group that has a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought is classified as a dependent or subordinating clause. This distinction is essential for understanding sentence construction and is foundational in effective reading instruction.