What is a Clause?
First, remember that a clause is a group of related words that contains both a subject and a
verb performing an action. This is the key difference between a phrase and a clause.
1. Independent Clause (Main Clause):
● Definition: An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as
a sentence. It has a subject and a verb and makes sense on its own.
● Characteristic: It is not introduced by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.
● Function: It forms the main part of a sentence. A simple sentence consists of just one
independent clause. Compound sentences have two or more independent clauses joined
by coordinating conjunctions (like and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) or semicolons.
○ Example: The dog barked loudly.
■ Subject: The dog
■ Verb: barked
■ Complete Thought: Yes, we understand a complete action.
○ Example: She enjoys reading novels, and her brother prefers watching
movies.
■ "She enjoys reading novels" is one independent clause.
■ "her brother prefers watching movies" is another independent clause, joined
by the coordinating conjunction "and."
2. Dependent Clause (Subordinate Clause):
● Definition: A dependent clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand
alone as a sentence. It has a subject and a verb but is made dependent on an
independent clause by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.
● Characteristic: It begins with a subordinating conjunction (e.g., because, although, since,
while, if, when, as, until, unless, after, before, though, that, so that) or a relative pronoun
(e.g., who, whom, whose, which, that, where, when, why).
● Function: It functions as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb within the main sentence.
Let's break down the different types of dependent clauses:
a) Noun Clause:
● Function: Acts as a noun in the sentence. It can be a subject, object, complement, or
object of a preposition.
● Introduced by: that, whether, if, who, whom, whose, what, which, whoever, whomever,
whichever, when, where, why, how.
○ Example (as subject): What she said surprised everyone.
■ "What she said" is the noun clause acting as the subject of the verb
"surprised."
○ Example (as direct object): I don't know where he went.
■ "Where he went" is the noun clause acting as the direct object of the verb
"know."
○ Example (as predicate nominative/complement): The problem is that we are
late.
■ "That we are late" is the noun clause acting as the predicate nominative,
renaming the subject "The problem."
b) Adjective Clause (Relative Clause):
● Function: Modifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause, telling us which one or what
kind.
● Introduced by: Relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) or relative adverbs
(where, when, why).
○ Example: The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting.
■ "That I borrowed from the library" modifies the noun "book," telling us which
book.
○ Example: This is the house where I grew up.
■ "Where I grew up" modifies the noun "house," telling us which house.
c) Adverb Clause:
● Function: Modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb in the main clause, indicating
time, place, reason, condition, purpose, manner, or contrast.
● Introduced by: Subordinating conjunctions (e.g., because, although, since, while, if,
when, as, until, unless, after, before, though, so that, in order that, as if, as though).
○ Example (of time): When the rain stops, we will go outside.
■ "When the rain stops" modifies the verb "will go," telling us when we will go.
○ Example (of reason): She was happy because she received a gift.
■ "Because she received a gift" modifies the adjective "happy," telling us why
she was happy.
○ Example (of condition): If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
■ "If you study hard" modifies the verb "will pass," stating the condition for
passing.
In Summary:
Feature Independent Clause Dependent Clause
Completeness Expresses a complete thought Does not express a complete
thought
Stand Alone Can stand alone as a sentence Cannot stand alone as a
sentence
Introduction Not introduced by Introduced by
subordinators/relatives subordinators/relatives
Function Main part of the sentence Functions as a noun, adjective,
or adverb
Understanding the presence or absence of a subordinating word and whether the clause can
stand alone is key to distinguishing between independent and dependent clauses. Recognizing
the role the dependent clause plays within the main sentence helps identify its specific type
(noun, adjective, or adverb).
