Which Sentence Contains a Dependent Clause

A dependent clause, likewise called a subordinate clause, is a part of a sentence that can’t stand alone.

Today, nosotros’re learning all most dependent clauses.

What Is a Dependent Clause?

What does it mean when we say a dependent clause can’t stand alone? Let’s accept a look at the dictionary definition of dependent clause and what this means in English grammar.

Dependent Clause: Definition

A dependent clause is a office of a sentence that has a subject area and a verb but cannot stand alone every bit a complete sentence.

Dependent clauses often brainstorm with subordinating conjunctions, which include words like
although,
considering, and
since.

Here’due south an example of a sentence with a dependent clause. The dependent clause is in bold.

• I dropped the canteen
  because my hands were full.

Because my easily were full
is not a complete sentence. It’southward more than just a modifier or predicate, all the same, because there’southward a discipline (my hands) and a verb (were).

“Considering my hands are full” is an incomplete thought and therefore not a full sentence. ProWritingAid can make sure that your dependent clauses aren’t standing alone!

Our grammar checker will highlight sentence fragments in your writing to ensure you’re expressing your ideas completely and conspicuously.

Dependent Clause: Meaning

We utilize dependent clauses to add more than information to sentences. Dependent clauses are paired with independent clauses and may provide information similar who, why, or how something happened.

Retrieve dorsum to our previous example. The independent clause “I dropped the bottle” is a complete judgement. Adding the dependent clause explains
why
I dropped the canteen.

Because it does not express a complete idea, a dependent clause must be linked to an independent clause. This means that you lot tin can detect dependent clauses in two types of sentences.

• A
  complex judgement
  contains i independent clause and at to the lowest degree i dependent clause.
• A
  compound-complex sentence
  contains at least two independent clauses with at to the lowest degree 1 dependent clause.

Dependent clauses are usually easy to identify within a sentence. Many times, they beginning with a subordinating conjunction. Here is a full listing of common subordinating conjunctions.

Dependent clauses tin also outset with relative pronouns. A relative pronoun stands in for a noun or substantive phrase. Here is a list of relative pronouns.

If you spot a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun, it’s a inkling that you’ve institute a dependent clause.

Then, look for the discipline and the verb in that clause.

Finally, make up one’s mind if the clause tin express a complete thought. If non, you have a dependent clause.

How to Write a Dependent Clause

In that location are a few rules for writing dependent clauses. We already know that information technology must exist paired with an independent clause, since a dependent clause can’t stand alone.

The other rules deal with how to punctuate a dependent clause.

When a sentence starts with a dependent clause that acts as an describing word or adverb, put a comma later the dependent clause, before the independent clause.

Here’s an instance:

• Until he learns to apply the stove safely, he cannot stay at home alone.

If the dependent clause ends the sentence, yous don’t need a comma. Check out the same example with the independent clause at the start:

• He cannot stay at home alone
  until he learns to use the stove safely.

Sometimes a dependent clause appears in the middle of a sentence. If it’due south essential to the judgement’south significant, information technology’s chosen a restrictive clause and doesn’t require a comma.

If the clause is but extraneous information, it’s called a non-restrictive clause (non-essential clause) and does require commas.

• My neighbor
  who has a red car
  always plays loud music on the weekends.
• My neighbor John,
  who has a blood-red motorcar, ever plays loud music on the weekends.

In the kickoff sentence, the dependent clause (who has a red motorcar) is restrictive because it tells usa which neighbor plays loud music.

In the second sentence, we already know which neighbor it is (John), so the dependent clause is extraneous information.

Types of Dependent Clause

There are 3 main types of dependent clause. They are named after the role they play in a sentence.

A dependent clause can act like an describing word, an adverb, or a noun. Permit’southward look at each of these in more detail.

Adjective Clauses

When a dependent clause provides information that describes a noun or pronoun, it’southward interim like an adjective. This is called an describing word clause or a relative clause.

Adjective clauses commonly begin with a relative pronoun.

Let’s return to our example of the neighbor who plays loud music.

• My neighbor
  who has a red car
  always plays loud music on the weekends.

“Who has a cerise car” describes the bailiwick “my neighbor,” which makes it an adjective clause.

Here’south a different example where the adjective clause describes the object of a judgement.

• Nosotros bought a house
  that had been on the market for ninety days.

The clause describes the house.

If y’all’re wondering where the subjects are in these dependent clauses, call up that relative pronouns human activity like nouns or pronouns.
Who
and
that
are the subjects of the describing word clauses.

Adverbial Clauses

You lot might recall that adverbs are words that change verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Adverbs commonly provide information about how, how much, when, to what extent, or in what way something occurs.

Adverbial clauses exercise the same affair, but instead of one word, the entire adverbial clause modifies the verb, describing word, or adverb.

Here’s an example of an adverbial clause:

• We danced salsa
  till the eating house kicked usa out.

This adverbial clause modifies the verb
danced
and answers the question
How long did we dance?

Permit’s await at another example:

• Wherever there is standing h2o, mosquitos can brood.

The adverbial clause tells us where mosquitos can breed.

Noun Clauses

Noun clauses are dependent clauses that part as nouns.

Noun clauses are an exception to one of the comma rules. If a noun clause begins a sentence, no comma is necessary before the independent clause.

Let’s look at an example.

• Whoever shows up after school
  will go candy.

In this instance, the substantive clause replaces the entire subject of the sentence. Substantive clauses can replace whatever noun, not but the subject.

Here’southward another example of a noun clause:

• I believe
  that people are inherently good.

This noun clause acts equally the object of the sentence.

Dependent Clause Instance Sentences

We’ve looked at several examples of dependent clauses already. Here are a few more.

• When you arrive at the venue, find the wedding planner.
• My favorite cuisine is Indian
  because I savour the earthy spices like cumin and coriander.
• He still doesn’t know
  why she left him.
• Although she’s immature, she is a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom.
• I won’t call you
  unless there is an emergency.
• The bar
  where Sally bartends
  is open until 2 a.m. everyday.

Remember, a dependent clause contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete idea. Always pair your dependent clauses with an independent clause to avoid sentence fragments.

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