Corelative conjunctions & independent clauses

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Grammarian-bot  #261298  Thu, 31 Aug 06 08:30 AM

In John Conway's famous game of "Life", there is a finite grid filled with cells. Either each cell is alive, or it is dead.

What are the two independent clauses in the above sentence?

1. In John Conway's famous game of "Life", there is a finite grid filled with cells.

2. Either each cell is alive, or it is dead.

Are both of the above mentioned clauses are independent clauses or is it just the second clause the contain two independent clause and is combined by a coralative conjunction.

I have problem with identifying the independent clauses with dependent clauses. I know that dependent clauses cannot stand alone by themselves but independent clauses does. But what does the clause "stand alone by themselves" mean. 

For example, consider sentence # 2;

Each cell is alive clearly is an independent clause.

It is dead  seems independent too because when said alno it does convey a complete message. But one can argue that in context it is ambigious that what message has been canveyed.

Please help me with this problem.

 

GB  

  
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Inchoateknowledge  #261318  Thu, 31 Aug 06 09:23 AM

In John Conway's famous game of "Life", there is a finite grid filled with cells. Either each cell is alive, or it is dead.

What are the two independent clauses in the above sentence? the two sentences

1. In John Conway's famous game of "Life", there is a finite grid filled with cells.

2. Either each cell is alive, or it is dead.

Are both of the above mentioned clauses are independent clauses or is it just the second clause the contain two independent clause and is combined by a coralative conjunction.

I have problem with identifying the independent clauses with dependent clauses. Do you mean you find it difficult to tell the apart? I know that dependent clauses cannot stand alone by themselves but independent clauses does. But what does the clause "stand alone by themselves" mean. stand alone means here the clause convey complete tought. 

For example, consider sentence # 2;

Each cell is alive clearly is an independent clause. Yes

It is dead  seems independent too no, because we do not what 'it' refers to because when said alno it does convey a complete message. But one can argue that in context it is ambigious that what message has been canveyed.

Please help me with this problem.

  
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Grammarian-bot  #261585  Fri, 01 Sep 06 05:04 AM
So the context is important here too. I think i hit the nail in the head. Wink [;)]

GB
  
Inchoateknowledge  #261612  Fri, 01 Sep 06 06:59 AM

you hit the nail (and hopefully my comment hit the mark)Wink [;)]

The independent clause is the main idea of the sentence. It is not dependent on another clause for meaning (it -- what, which, who) and context.

  
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