Dependent clause masterclass

This lesson helps us understand what a dependent clause is, how to use it in a sentence, and when to use it. We also get to learn all types of dependent clauses in English.

What is a dependent clause in English?

Dependent clause definition: A group of words that has a subject and a predicate but doesn’t give a complete meaning on its own is called a dependent clause in English. All dependent clauses start with a subordinating conjunction. They often work as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in a sentence.

This is a group of words that starts with a subordinating conjunction ‘because’, has a subject (you), and a predicate (are late). But it doesn’t give us a complete meaning and leaves us with the question ‘so what?’. This clause will only make sense when it is used with or in an independent clause.

Let’s try to add it to an independent clause and see if it makes sense afterward.

The sentences make complete sense now. The dependent clause is working as a part of the sentence here. Let’s take another example of a dependent clause alone.

This clause alone doesn’t make any sense. It lacks context. Let’s try using it in a sentence to render a proper idea.

Now, these are complete sentences that make sense. The dependent clauses are put within a sentence, in place of a noun. But alone, as we have seen already, they don’t make complete sense.

Examples of Dependent clauses

Let’s study more examples of Dependent clauses in sentences and see how they don’t stand alone and are used with independent clauses to give a complete meaning.

Examples:

1. Some people don’t listen to you even if you talk for themselves.
2. As soon as I started talking about his girlfriend, he walked out of the room.
3. I would love to teach you what I have learned recently.
4. Tell me what happened yesterday at the party.
5. We wouldn’t stop hustling until we get what we want.
6. What I had yesterday at the coffee shop did not sit well with my stomach.
7. Don’t give advice unless you are asked to.
8. India pulled the victory out of Australia’s hands though they didn’t have their senior players on the team.

Types of dependent clauses in English

There are 3 types of dependent clauses in English:

1. Noun clause
2. Adjective clause
3. Adverb clause

Let’s study them separately to understand everything about them.

1. Noun clause

A noun clause is a dependent clause that starts with a relative pronoun and works as a noun in a sentence. It is used in place of a subject, object of the verb, object of a preposition, object complement, and subject complement.

Relatives pronouns used at the beginning of a noun clause: what, whatever that, which, whichever, who, whoever, whom, whomsoever why, where, when, when, and how

In this example, the object of the verb (what I do) is a dependent clause. It is working as a noun in the sentence.

The dependent clause in the sentence is coming in place of the object of the preposition ‘about’ and working as a noun. Since it is an essential part of the sentence, taking it out of the sentence would make it incomplete.

More examples:

• No one knows what you are up to.
• How you tricked him into doing it was simply amazing.
• All of us want to know why you left that organization.
• I know where she lives, but I won’t give you her address.
• You can take whatever you want; all of this is for you.
• Tell me who is threatening you.

While observing that these dependent clauses are working as a noun in these sentences, keep in mind and see that they are incomplete on their own.

Adjective clause

An adjective clause is a dependent clause that works as an adjective. It comes next to a noun/pronoun and gives information about it. When a dependent clause functions as an adjective, it starts with the following subordinating conjunctions: that, which, who, and whom.

Examples:

• Do you know someone who can solve this problem?
  (The dependent clause in the example comes after the pronoun ‘someone’ and gives information about it, working as an adjective.)

• I have seen the girl whom you are seeing these days.
  (Here, the dependent clause sits next to the noun ‘girl’ and modifies it with essential information.)

• The book that I gave you last week was given to me by one of my college professors.
  (The dependent clause in the sentence comes after the noun ‘book’ and modifies with essential information.)

• I would love to go to Dubai, which is my favorite city.
  (The adjective clause here gives non-essential information about the noun ‘Dubai’. The information it gives here is non-essential as Dubai is already a proper or identified noun.)

Let me tell you an interesting thing about these dependent clauses. Removing the nouns or noun phrases these dependent clauses (adjectives) modify from the sentences would make the dependent clauses stop functioning as an adjective and start functioning as a noun.

Let’s try to do this with the first example.

The only change we’ve made to the sentence is there we have removed the direct object (noun phrase) from the sentence. Now, the dependent clause is not modifying anything and working as an adjective, it’s working as the direct object of the verb ‘know’.

Earlier sentence: I know the reason why you are here.
structure: subject + verb + object (noun phrase)
Noun phrase: premodifier (the) + noun (reason) + post modifier (why you are here)
Recent sentence: I know why you are here. 
Structure: subject + verb + object (noun clause)

Adverb clause

An adverb clause, also known as an adverbial clause, is a dependent clause that works as an adverb in a sentence. It modifies the main verb and tells us WHY, WHEN, WHERE, and HOW an action happens. Since it is a dependent clause, it starts with a subordinating conjunction.

Here’s a list of subordinating conjunctions that are used in adverb clauses when they answer the following questions:

HOW	as if, provided, like
WHY	since, as, because, because of, now that, given that, so that, that
WHEN	when, whenever, after, before, since, until, while, as soon as, by the time, once
WHERE	where, anywhere, everywhere

• They treat me as if I am a kid.
  (Notice the dependent clause is working as an adverb in the sentence and modifying the main verb in terms of how the action happens. ‘As if’ is the subordinating conjunction in it.)

• Jon is not playing with us because he injured his knees last night.
  (Here, the dependent clause works as a reason for the main verb or the action in the main clause (dependent clause). Notice that it starts with a subordinating conjunction (because)).

• I will leave the room until you give me my money back.
  (The dependent clause, in this example, tells the time of the main clause and renders a sense of a condition too)

• We will meet where we had our first date.
  (The dependent clause tells the place of the main clause; it modifies the main verb of the main clause and indicates where the action is going to take place.)

More examples of dependent clauses as an adverb:

1. Don’t talk to me like I am a kid.
2. Before I reached there, he had already left for his flight.
3. If you don’t want to work with us, you don’t have to do it.
4. The management will not release your payment unless you deliver the complete assignment.
5. No one is going to trouble you as long as I am here.
6. Jon could not prepare his speech as he was not given enough time for it.

Dependent clause and commas

Use the following as a thumb rule:

1. Use a comma right after a dependent clause when it comes at the beginning of a sentence.
2. Don’t use a comma before a dependent clause if it comes right after an independent clause.

Examples:

• If you believe in yourself, nothing can keep you down.
• No one will take you seriously if you keep joking around.
• Though he was under the weather, he came to work and finished the project.
• She will not work with you unless you release her previous payments.

NOTE: the FAQs are taken from the internet. They might have grammatical mistakes in them. Please ignore the mistakes you come across in the questions.

FAQS