English Grammar Demystified - A Self Teaching Guide

CHAPTER 8 Punctuation Builds Sentences^181

Independent Clause Dependent Clause

↓ ↓

(Elliot still works in Los Angeles) (although Tom works in Phoenix).

In addition, if you fi nd that you frequently start sentences with the word it, you

can overcome that poor word choice by combining two short independent clauses

into a complex sentence. For example:

It is sunny today.

We don’t have raincoats in the car.

An obvious causal relationship exists between these two statements. Why not

express it? Of course, you will have to decide which idea is the more important one

for your purposes. The following may be your choice:

[Dependent Clause] (Comma) [Independent Clause]

↓↓ ↓

Because it is sunny today, we don't have raincoats in the car.

In this case, the fi rst clause is dependent, emphasizing the second clause.

Writing strong sentences requires placing emphasis on the most important idea.

You can usually achieve that emphasis by placing the key idea at the end of the

sentence.

Losing weight and building strength are the clear goals of our new health and

fi tness program, although other activities will be included.

Which clause holds the more important idea?

Independent: Losing weight and building strength are the clear goals of our

new health and fi tness program

Dependent: although other activities will be included

We can assume that the independent clause holds the more important idea. If that is

the case and considering the earlier note regarding emphasis on the key idea, how

should we put this sentence together? Look at the following examples: