
A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. Unlike an independent clause, which can stand alone as a complete sentence, a dependent clause relies on an independent clause to form a complete and meaningful sentence.
Dependent clauses often begin with subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns, which indicate the relationship between the dependent clause and the rest of the sentence. Common subordinating conjunctions include words like โbecause,โ โalthough,โ โif,โ and โwhen.โ Relative pronouns include โwho,โ โwhich,โ and โthat.โ
Here are a few examples of dependent clauses:
- Because it was raining, we decided to stay indoors.
Dependent clause: โBecause it was rainingโ - Although she studied hard, Maria did not perform well in the exam.
Dependent clause: โAlthough she studied hardโ - Whenever I visit my grandparents, I enjoy listening to their stories.
Dependent clause: โWhenever I visit my grandparentsโ
In each example, the dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence but needs to be combined with an independent clause to convey a full thought.