The independent clauses (IC) of a compound sentence must generally be joined in one of the following 3 ways:
1. IC ; IC
2. IC , conjunction IC
3. IC ; conjunctive adverb (placement optional), IC
In general
1. Use a semicolon alone when the clauses are short comparatively and relation between them is obvious.
- Self-denial is not a virtue; it is only the effect of prudence on rascality.
2. Use a coordinating conjunction ( and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) when you want to indicate the relation clearly.
- The firefighters fought hard, yet they could not save the building.
3. Use a conjunctive adverb when it can show the relation more precisely than a conjunction does.
- Alice supplemented her class instruction with weekly visits to a tutor; thus her writing steadily improved.
Clause: A group of Subject - Predicate construction is called a Clause.
OR
A Subject and a Predicate form a clause.
OR
Such a group of words which forms part of a sentence, and contains a Subject and a Predicate, is called a clause.
- He has a chain which is made of gold. (which - subject; is made of gold - predicate).
- I think that you have made a mistake. (you - subject; have made a mistake - predicate).
Independent Clause: can stand alone or makes a coomplete sense in itself.
Note: A simple sentence has just one clause, called an independent clause.
Dependent Clause or Subordinate Clause: The dependent clause cannot stand alone as a short but complete sentence.
- When Ram writes stories, he observes other people closely. (Ram - subject; when writes stories - predicate). The word when signals that additional words are needed to complete its meaning.
Links:
What is a clause?
Subject and Predicate
