Dependent clause
Encyclopedia
In linguistics
, a dependent clause (sometimes called a subordinate clause) is a clause
that augments an independent clause
with additional information, but which cannot stand alone as a sentence. Dependent clauses modify the independent clause of a sentence or serve as a component of it. Some grammarians use the term subordinate clause as a synonym for dependent clause, but in some grammars subordinate clause refers only to adverbial dependent clauses.
, a dependent clause usually begins with a dependent word. One kind of dependent word is a subordinating conjunction. Subordinating conjunctions are used to begin dependent clauses known as adverbial clause
s, which act like adverbs. In the following examples, the adverbial clauses are bold and the subordinating conjunctions are italicized:
A subordinating conjunction can also introduce a noun clause:
Another type of dependent word is the relative pronoun
. Relative pronouns begin dependent clauses known as relative clauses; these are adjective clauses, because they modify noun
s. In the following example, the relative clause is bold and the relative pronoun is italicized:
A relative adverb plays the role of an adverb in a relative clause, as in
An interrogative word
can serve as an adverb in a noun clause, as in
, predicate nominative, direct object, appositive, indirect object, or object of the preposition. Some of the English words that introduce noun clauses are that, whether, who, why, whom, what, how, when, whoever, where, and whomever. Notice that some of these words also introduce adjective and adverbial clauses. A clause is a noun clause if a pronoun (he, she, it, or they) could be substituted for it.
Examples:
Sometimes in English a noun clause is used without the introductory word.
Example:I know he is here. (without "that")
In some cases, use of the introductory word, though grammatically correct, may sound cumbersome in English, and the introductory word may be omitted.
Example:I think it is pretty. (more common)
First, like all dependent clauses, it will contain a verb (and it will also contain a subject unless it is a non-finite dependent clause). However, in a pro-drop language
the subject may be a zero pronoun
—that is, the pronoun may not be explicitly included because its identity is conveyed by a verbal inflection
.
Next, it will begin with a relative adverb [when, where, or why in English] or a relative pronoun [who, whom, whose, that, or which in English]. However, the English relative pronoun may be omitted and only implied if it plays the role of the object of the verb or object of a preposition in a restrictive clause; for example, He is the boy I saw is equivalent to He is the boy whom I saw, and I saw the boy you are talking about is equivalent to the more formal I saw the boy about whom you are talking.
Finally, the relative clause will function as an adjective, answering questions such as "what kind?", "how many?" or "which one?".
The adjective clause in English will follow one of these patterns:
That is the house where I met her.
For a discussion of adjective clauses in languages other than English, see Relative clause#Examples.
Here "vegetables" is nonspecific, so in order to know which ones is being referred to, one must have the information provided in the adjective clause (in italics). Because it restricts the meaning of "vegetable", this adjective clause is called a restrictive clause; it is essential to the meaning of the main clause and uses no commas (and correspondingly, does not experience a pause when spoken).
However, if the additional information does not help to identify more narrowly the identity of the noun antecedent but rather simply provides further information about it, then the adjective clause is non-restrictive and does require commas (or a spoken pause) to separate it from the rest of the sentence. For example:
Depending on context, a particular noun could be modified by either a restrictive or non-restrictive adjective clause. For example, while "broccoli" is modified non-restrictively in the preceding sentence, it is modified restrictively in the following.
or equivalently
and one or more dependent clauses is referred to as a complex sentence
. One with two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses is referred to as a compound-complex sentence
. Here are some English examples:
My sister cried because she scraped her knee. (complex sentence)
When they told me (that) I won the contest, I cried, but I didn't faint. **(compound-complex sentence)
The above sentence contains two dependent clauses. "When they told me" is one; the other is "(that) I won the contest", which serves as the object of the verb "told." The connecting word "that," if not explicitly included, is understood to implicitly precede "I won" and in either case functions as a subordinating conjunction. This sentence also includes two independent clauses, "I cried" and "I didn't faint," connected by the coordinating conjunction "but." The first dependent clause, together with its object (the second dependent clause), adverbially modifies the verbs of both main clauses.
by an infinitive
or other non-finite verb
form, which in linguistics is called deranked. In these cases, the subject of the dependent clause may take a non-nominative form. An example is:
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
, a dependent clause (sometimes called a subordinate clause) is a clause
Clause
In grammar, a clause is the smallest grammatical unit that can express a complete proposition. In some languages it may be a pair or group of words that consists of a subject and a predicate, although in other languages in certain clauses the subject may not appear explicitly as a noun phrase,...
that augments an independent clause
Independent clause
An independent clause is a clause that can stand by itself, also known as a simple sentence. An independent clause contains a subject and a predicate; it makes sense by itself....
with additional information, but which cannot stand alone as a sentence. Dependent clauses modify the independent clause of a sentence or serve as a component of it. Some grammarians use the term subordinate clause as a synonym for dependent clause, but in some grammars subordinate clause refers only to adverbial dependent clauses.
Dependent words
In Indo-European languagesIndo-European languages
The Indo-European languages are a family of several hundred related languages and dialects, including most major current languages of Europe, the Iranian plateau, and South Asia and also historically predominant in Anatolia...
, a dependent clause usually begins with a dependent word. One kind of dependent word is a subordinating conjunction. Subordinating conjunctions are used to begin dependent clauses known as adverbial clause
Adverbial clause
An adverbial clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adverb. In other words, it contains a subject and a predicate, and it modifies a verb.*I saw Joe when I went to the store....
s, which act like adverbs. In the following examples, the adverbial clauses are bold and the subordinating conjunctions are italicized:
- Wherever she goes, she leaves a piece of luggage behind.
- Bob enjoyed the movie more than I did.
A subordinating conjunction can also introduce a noun clause:
- I know that he likes me.
Another type of dependent word is the relative pronoun
Relative pronoun
A relative pronoun is a pronoun that marks a relative clause within a larger sentence. It is called a relative pronoun because it relates the relative clause to the noun that it modifies. In English, the relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, whosever, whosesoever, which, and, in some...
. Relative pronouns begin dependent clauses known as relative clauses; these are adjective clauses, because they modify noun
Noun
In linguistics, a noun is a member of a large, open lexical category whose members can occur as the main word in the subject of a clause, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition .Lexical categories are defined in terms of how their members combine with other kinds of...
s. In the following example, the relative clause is bold and the relative pronoun is italicized:
- The only one of the seven dwarfs who does not have a beard is Dopey.
A relative adverb plays the role of an adverb in a relative clause, as in
- That is the reason why I came.
- That is the place where he lives.
An interrogative word
Interrogative word
In linguistics, an interrogative word is a function word used for the item interrupted in an information statement. Interrogative words are sometimes called wh-words because most of English interrogative words start with wh-...
can serve as an adverb in a noun clause, as in
- No one understands why you need experience.
Noun clause
A noun clause can be used like a noun. It can be a subjectSubject (grammar)
The subject is one of the two main constituents of a clause, according to a tradition that can be tracked back to Aristotle and that is associated with phrase structure grammars; the other constituent is the predicate. According to another tradition, i.e...
, predicate nominative, direct object, appositive, indirect object, or object of the preposition. Some of the English words that introduce noun clauses are that, whether, who, why, whom, what, how, when, whoever, where, and whomever. Notice that some of these words also introduce adjective and adverbial clauses. A clause is a noun clause if a pronoun (he, she, it, or they) could be substituted for it.
Examples:
- I know
Sometimes in English a noun clause is used without the introductory word.
Example:
- I know
In some cases, use of the introductory word, though grammatically correct, may sound cumbersome in English, and the introductory word may be omitted.
Example:
- I think
Relative (adjectival) clause
In Indo-European languages, a relative clause—also called an adjective clause or an adjectival clause—will meet three requirements.First, like all dependent clauses, it will contain a verb (and it will also contain a subject unless it is a non-finite dependent clause). However, in a pro-drop language
Pro-drop language
A pro-drop language is a language in which certain classes of pronouns may be omitted when they are in some sense pragmatically inferable...
the subject may be a zero pronoun
Zero (linguistics)
A zero, in linguistics, is a constituent needed in an analysis but not realized in speech. This implies that there is a lack of an element where a theory would expect one. It is usually written with the symbol "", in Unicode .There are several kind of zeros....
—that is, the pronoun may not be explicitly included because its identity is conveyed by a verbal inflection
Inflection
In grammar, inflection or inflexion is the modification of a word to express different grammatical categories such as tense, grammatical mood, grammatical voice, aspect, person, number, gender and case...
.
Next, it will begin with a relative adverb [when, where, or why in English] or a relative pronoun [who, whom, whose, that, or which in English]. However, the English relative pronoun may be omitted and only implied if it plays the role of the object of the verb or object of a preposition in a restrictive clause; for example, He is the boy I saw is equivalent to He is the boy whom I saw, and I saw the boy you are talking about is equivalent to the more formal I saw the boy about whom you are talking.
Finally, the relative clause will function as an adjective, answering questions such as "what kind?", "how many?" or "which one?".
The adjective clause in English will follow one of these patterns:
- Relative Pronoun [Functioning as Object of Verb] + Subject + Verb
- This is the ball that
- Relative Adverb + Subject + Verb (possibly + Object of Verb)
- That is the house where
- Relative Pronoun [Functioning as Subject] + Verb (possibly + Object of Verb)
- That is the person who hiccuped.
- That is the person who saw me.
- Relative Pronoun [Functioning as Object of Preposition] + Subject + Verb (possibly + Object of Verb) + Preposition
- That is the person who(m) I was talking about.
- That is the person who(m) I was telling you about.
- Preposition + Relative Pronoun [Functioning as Object of Preposition] + Subject + Verb (possibly + Object of Verb)
- That is the person about whom I was talking.
- That is the person about whom I was telling you.
- Possessive Relative Pronoun + Noun [Functioning as Subject] + Verb (possibly + Object of Verb)
- That is the dog whose big brown eyes pleaded for another cookie.
- That is the dog whose big brown eyes begged me for another cookie.
- Possessive Relative Pronoun + Noun [Functioning as Object of Verb] + Subject + Verb
- That is the person whose car I saw.
For a discussion of adjective clauses in languages other than English, see Relative clause#Examples.
English punctuation
The punctuation of an adjective clause depends on whether it is essential or nonessential and use commas accordingly. Essential clauses are not set off with commas, while non-essential clauses are. An adjective clause is essential if the information it contains is necessary to the meaning of the sentence. For example:- The vegetables that people often leave uneaten are usually the most nutritious.
Here "vegetables" is nonspecific, so in order to know which ones is being referred to, one must have the information provided in the adjective clause (in italics). Because it restricts the meaning of "vegetable", this adjective clause is called a restrictive clause; it is essential to the meaning of the main clause and uses no commas (and correspondingly, does not experience a pause when spoken).
However, if the additional information does not help to identify more narrowly the identity of the noun antecedent but rather simply provides further information about it, then the adjective clause is non-restrictive and does require commas (or a spoken pause) to separate it from the rest of the sentence. For example:
- Broccoli, which people often leave uneaten, is very nutritious.
Depending on context, a particular noun could be modified by either a restrictive or non-restrictive adjective clause. For example, while "broccoli" is modified non-restrictively in the preceding sentence, it is modified restrictively in the following.
- The broccoli which people leave uneaten is often nutritious.
Adverbial clause
"He saw Mary when he was in New York" and "They studied hard because they had a test" both contain adverbial clauses (in italics). Adverbial clauses express when, why, where, opposition, and conditions, As with all dependent clauses, they cannot stand alone. For example, When he was in New York is not a complete sentence; it needs to be completed by an independent clause. For example:- He went to the Guggenheim Museum
or equivalently
Dependent clauses and sentence structure
A sentence with an independent clauseIndependent clause
An independent clause is a clause that can stand by itself, also known as a simple sentence. An independent clause contains a subject and a predicate; it makes sense by itself....
and one or more dependent clauses is referred to as a complex sentence
Complex sentence
A complex sentence is a sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.-Examples:* I ate the meal that you cooked....
. One with two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses is referred to as a compound-complex sentence
Complex-compound sentence
A complex-compound sentence or compound-complex sentence is a sentence with at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses .-Example:...
. Here are some English examples:
My sister cried because she scraped her knee. (complex sentence)
- Subjects: My sister, she
- Predicates: cried, scraped her knee
- Subordinating conjunction: because
When they told me (that) I won the contest, I cried, but I didn't faint. **(compound-complex sentence)
- Subjects: they, I, I, I
- Predicates: told me, won the contest, cried, didn't faint
- Subordinating conjunctions: when, that (explicit or understood)
- Coordinating conjunction: but
The above sentence contains two dependent clauses. "When they told me" is one; the other is "(that) I won the contest", which serves as the object of the verb "told." The connecting word "that," if not explicitly included, is understood to implicitly precede "I won" and in either case functions as a subordinating conjunction. This sentence also includes two independent clauses, "I cried" and "I didn't faint," connected by the coordinating conjunction "but." The first dependent clause, together with its object (the second dependent clause), adverbially modifies the verbs of both main clauses.
Non-finite dependent clauses
Dependent clauses may be headedHead (linguistics)
In linguistics, the head is the word that determines the syntactic type of the phrase of which it is a member, or analogously the stem that determines the semantic category of a compound of which it is a component. The other elements modify the head....
by an infinitive
Infinitive
In grammar, infinitive is the name for certain verb forms that exist in many languages. In the usual description of English, the infinitive of a verb is its basic form with or without the particle to: therefore, do and to do, be and to be, and so on are infinitives...
or other non-finite verb
Non-finite verb
In linguistics, a non-finite verb is a verb form that is not limited by a subject and, more generally, is not fully inflected by categories that are marked inflectionally in language, such as tense, aspect, mood, number, gender, and person...
form, which in linguistics is called deranked. In these cases, the subject of the dependent clause may take a non-nominative form. An example is:
- I want him to vanish.
See also
- ClauseClauseIn grammar, a clause is the smallest grammatical unit that can express a complete proposition. In some languages it may be a pair or group of words that consists of a subject and a predicate, although in other languages in certain clauses the subject may not appear explicitly as a noun phrase,...
- Independent clauseIndependent clauseAn independent clause is a clause that can stand by itself, also known as a simple sentence. An independent clause contains a subject and a predicate; it makes sense by itself....
- Relative clauseRelative clauseA relative clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun phrase, most commonly a noun. For example, the phrase "the man who wasn't there" contains the noun man, which is modified by the relative clause who wasn't there...
- Conditional clause
- Independent clause
- Relative pronounRelative pronounA relative pronoun is a pronoun that marks a relative clause within a larger sentence. It is called a relative pronoun because it relates the relative clause to the noun that it modifies. In English, the relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, whosever, whosesoever, which, and, in some...
- Grammatical conjunctionGrammatical conjunctionIn grammar, a conjunction is a part of speech that connects two words, sentences, phrases or clauses together. A discourse connective is a conjunction joining sentences. This definition may overlap with that of other parts of speech, so what constitutes a "conjunction" must be defined for each...
- SentenceSentence (linguistics)In the field of linguistics, a sentence is an expression in natural language, and often defined to indicate a grammatical unit consisting of one or more words that generally bear minimal syntactic relation to the words that precede or follow it...
- Compound sentenceCompound sentence (linguistics)A compound sentence is composed of at least two independent clauses. It does not require a dependent clause. The clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction , a correlative conjunction , a semicolon that functions as a conjunction, or a conjunctive adverb preceded by a semicolon. A conjunction...
- Simple sentenceSimple sentenceA simple sentence is a sentence structure that contains one independent clause and no dependent clauses.-Examples:*The runner jumped....
- Compound sentence
- Subjunctive moodSubjunctive moodIn grammar, the subjunctive mood is a verb mood typically used in subordinate clauses to express various states of irreality such as wish, emotion, possibility, judgment, opinion, necessity, or action that has not yet occurred....
External links
- Owl Online Writing Lab: Independent and Dependent Clauses
- Complex Sentences: Subordinate Clauses as Adverb Clauses