Introduction
In this chapter, we will learn about dependent clauses. Dependent clauses are groups of words that contain a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as complete sentences. Understanding dependent clauses helps us create complex and meaningful sentences.
What is the Dependent Clause?
A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. It cannot stand alone as a sentence because it does not provide a complete idea. Instead, it needs to be attached to an independent clause to form a complete sentence. For example, consider the phrase “who lives next door.” It is a dependent clause because it has a subject (“who”) and a verb (“lives”), but it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Examples:
- Because she enjoys them. (Incomplete idea)
- Although the dog barked. (Incomplete idea)
- When they went to the park. (Incomplete idea)
Key Points About Dependent Clauses
- Contain Subject and Verb: Every dependent clause has a subject and a verb.
- Incomplete Thoughts: Dependent clauses do not express complete thoughts and cannot stand alone as sentences.
- Form Complex Sentences: Dependent clauses are used with independent clauses to form complex sentences.
Structure of Dependent Clauses
Basic Structure
The basic structure of a dependent clause is:
- Subordinating Conjunction + Subject + Verb + (Object/Complement)
Examples:
| Subordinating Conjunction | Subject | Verb | Object/Complement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Because | she | enjoys | them |
| Although | the dog | barked | |
| When | they | went | to the park |
Types of Dependent Clauses
1. Adjective Clauses
Adjective clauses (also called relative clauses) describe or give more information about a noun. They often start with words like who, whom, whose, which, or that.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| The book that she reads is interesting. | Describes the book |
| The dog which barked loudly scared the children. | Describes the dog |
| The person who called you is my friend. | Describes the person |
2. Adverb Clauses
Adverb clauses provide information about when, where, why, how, to what extent, or under what conditions something happens. They often start with words like because, although, since, if, when, etc.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| She reads books because she enjoys them. | Explains why she reads books |
| When the dog barked, the cat ran away. | Explains when the cat ran away |
| He will go to the park if it stops raining. | Explains the condition for going to the park |
3. Noun Clauses
Noun clauses function as a noun in a sentence. They can act as the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| What she said surprised me. | Acts as the subject |
| She believes that the Earth is round. | Acts as the object |
| The question is whether we should go. | Acts as the complement |
Using Dependent Clauses in Sentences
Combining Clauses to Form Complex Sentences
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| She loves music because it makes her happy. | Independent clause + Dependent clause |
| Although he is a good student, he struggles with math. | Dependent clause + Independent clause |
| When they went to the beach, they had a lot of fun. | Dependent clause + Independent clause |
Real-Life Examples of Dependent Clauses
- Because it was raining. (Incomplete thought)
- Although she was tired. (Incomplete thought)
- When the movie ended. (Incomplete thought)
- If he finishes his homework. (Incomplete thought)
- Since you asked. (Incomplete thought)
List of Common Dependent Clauses
| Type of Dependent Clause | Examples |
|---|---|
| Adjective Clauses | The book that she reads is interesting. |
| The dog which barked loudly scared the children. | |
| The person who called you is my friend. | |
| Adverb Clauses | She reads books because she enjoys them. |
| When the dog barked, the cat ran away. | |
| He will go to the park if it stops raining. | |
| Noun Clauses | What she said surprised me. |
| She believes that the Earth is round. | |
| The question is whether we should go. |
Practice
Identify the Dependent Clauses
Determine whether the following sentences contain dependent clauses:
- She enjoys reading because it relaxes her.
- When the bell rang, the students left the classroom.
- He finished his homework, and then he watched TV.
- Although it was raining, they went for a walk.
- The cat sat on the mat.
Answers:
- Dependent Clause: because it relaxes her.
- Dependent Clause: When the bell rang.
- No dependent clause.
- Dependent Clause: Although it was raining.
- No dependent clause.
Create Your Own Sentences
Combine the dependent clauses with independent clauses to form complex sentences:
- Because it was raining, ________________________________________.
- Although she was tired, ________________________________________.
- When the movie ended, ________________________________________.
- If he finishes his homework, ________________________________________.
- Since you asked, ________________________________________.
Conclusion
A dependent clause is like a sentence fragment with a subject and a verb, but it doesn’t express a complete thought on its own. It needs to team up with an independent clause to form a proper sentence.