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The Question & Answer (Q&A) Knowledge Managenet
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A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause cannot be a sentence.
A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought. Like all clauses, a dependent clause has a subject and verb.
A subordinate clause also called a dependent clause is one which cannot stand by itself. This is because it does not express a complete thought. It contains both a subject and a verb. A subordinate clause always depends on a main clause.
A dependent clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb. It does not express a complete thought so it is not a sentence and can’t stand alone. These clauses include adverb clauses, adjective clauses and noun clauses.
Recognize a clause when you find one. Clauses come in four types: main (or independent), subordinate (or dependent), adjective (or relative), and noun. Every clause has at least one subject and one verb. Other characteristics will help you distinguish one type of clause from another.
What are the three types of dependent clauses?
A clause is a group of words that contains a verb (and usually other components too). A clause may form part of a sentence or it may be a complete sentence in itself. For example: He was eating a bacon sandwich.
Independent Clause Examples
An independent clause is a sentence that has a subject and a verb and requires no extra information to understand. Dependent clauses, which start with subordinating conjunctions such as “while,” “that,” or “unless,” give background information but cannot stand on their own as sentences.
According to the Purdue OWL, an independent clause is “a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.” A dependent clause is “a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought.”
Independent and Dependent Clauses: Coordination and Subordination
Coordinating Independent Clauses | ||
---|---|---|
Method 1 Semicolon | Independent clause | ; |
Method 2 Comma and coordinating conjunction | Independent clause | , for , and , nor , but , or , yet , so |
To combine two independent clauses (complete sentences), use a semicolon or a comma and conjunction. To attach a dependent clause, use a comma if it comes before the independent clause; use no comma if it comes after the independent clause, unless it is a “contrast word” (although, though, even though, whereas).
A dependent clause is a clause that cannot stand as a sentence in its own right, such as before I left the parking lot. When a complex sentence contains a dependent clause like this one, a comma is not used unless the dependent clause comes before the independent clause.
A COMPLEX SENTENCE has one dependent clause (headed by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun ) joined to an independent clause.
There are two types of clause:
A subordinate clause is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence; it merely complements a sentence’s main clause, thereby adding to the whole unit of meaning. This main clause will be independent: it can stand on its own as a complete sentence. We can all go for ice cream.
A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence. Like an independent clause, it has a subject and a verb. It may not, however, express a complete thought and may begin with a signal word called a subordinating conjunction.
Fragments are sentences that are not complete or cannot stand alone. They can occur when the subject or the main verb in a sentence is missing OR when the sentence begins with a word that forces it to be dependent on another sentence to complete its meaning (dependent clause).
A phrase is different from a dependent clause because unlike the dependent clause it generally lacks a subject. However, like a dependent clause, it can not stand alone and is dependent on a clause being added. The following are a few examples of phrases.
A dependent clause has a subject and verb, is introduced by a subordinate conjunction or a relative pronoun, but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause is not a complete sentence. Example: Because the heavy rains flooded the entrance to the subdivision.
A dependent (or subordinate) clause begins with a subordinating conjunction, such as if, after, before, because, although, or when, and it requires the support of an independent clause to constitute a complete sentence.
Some common dependent clause markers are: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while.
Take a noun (person or thing) and add information to it in the form of a “who” or “which” clause. Examples: The lion was most grateful for the appearance of the little mouse. The lion, who felt he would never be able to disentangle himself from the hunter’s net, was most grateful for the appearance of the little mouse.
We can’t drop the relative pronoun. For example (clause after the object of the sentence):…
That-clause as a noun clause
Here are some examples of wh questions with which:
In English there are seven Wh questions.
100 Getting to Know You Questions
Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. An interrogative word or question word is a function word used to ask a question, such as what, which, when, where, who, whom, whose, why, whether and how. They are sometimes called wh-words, because in English most of them start with wh- (compare Five Ws).