English Rules Flashcards
Independent clause
– The early records of the city have disappeared, and the story of its first years can no longer be reconstructed.
– The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape.
Sentences of this type, isolated from their context, may seem to be in need of rewriting. As they make complete sense when the comma is reached, the second clause has the appearance of an after-thought. Further, and, is the least specific of connectives. Used between independent clauses, it indicates only that a relation exists between them without defining that relation. In the example above, the relation is that of cause and result. The two sentences might be rewritten:
– As the early records of the city have disappeared, the story of its first years can no longer be reconstructed.
– Although the situation is perilous, there is still one chance of escape.
