Which of the following best describes an independent clause?

An independent clause is a complete thought that contains a subject and a predicate, which allows it to stand alone as a sentence. It conveys a complete idea, expressing a thought that does not require additional information from another clause to be understood. For example, in the sentence "She enjoys reading," "She enjoys reading" is an independent clause because it encompasses a full idea and can function independently in writing.

In contrast, other options describe elements that do not fulfill the criteria of an independent clause. A clause that depends on another for its meaning lacks the ability to stand alone and is known as a dependent or subordinate clause. A fragment of a sentence does not express a complete thought; it may lack a subject, a verb, or both. Similarly, a phrase without a subject or verb cannot convey a complete idea on its own, which further distinguishes the independent clause as a complete, self-sufficient unit capable of standing alone.