An independent (main) clause can stand alone as a complete sentence.
A dependent (subordinate) clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It must be attached to an independent clause to form a full thought. They often begin with subordinating word, which establish the relationship between the dependent clause and the main clause.
Subordinators are words that introduce dependent clauses, signalling their relationship to the independent clause. They help indicate conditions, time, reasons, or provide additional details about a noun.
| Category | Example |
|---|---|
| Condition | although, unless, provided that |
| Time | whilst, before, until |
| Reason | because, since, as |
| Relative Pronouns | which, who, that |
The following sentences show how subordinators introduce dependent clauses:
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Whilst crossing the bridge, the cyclist saw a swan. | Whilst crossing the bridge indicates the time when the cyclist saw the swan. |
| The manuscript, which was discovered in Oxford, dates to 1482. | Which was discovered in Oxford provides additional information about the manuscript's origin. |
| As the sun set, the sky turned orange. | As the sun set explains the time at which the sky changed colour. |
| She stayed inside as it was raining. | As it was raining gives the reason for her staying indoors. |
| Although he was tired, he continued studying. | Although he was tired contrasts his exhaustion with his decision to keep studying. |
| They arrived late because of the traffic. | Because of the traffic explains why they were late. |
| Before you leave, check your luggage. | Before you leave specifies when the luggage should be checked. |
| If it snows, school will be cancelled. | If it snows sets a condition that determines whether school will be cancelled. |
| He hasn’t called since he left for London. | Since he left for London describes the time period from when he stopped calling. |
| You can’t go out unless you finish your homework. | Unless you finish your homework sets a requirement for going out. |
| Call me whenever you need help. | Whenever you need help specifies the situation in which the person should call. |
| While she was cooking, he set the table. | While she was cooking shows that both actions happened at the same time. |
| While I like coffee, he prefers tea. | While I like coffee contrasts the speaker’s preference for coffee with his preference for tea. |
There are 3 types of dependent or subordinate clauses in English. They help form complex sentences and improve clarity.
An adverbial clause functions like an adverb, providing information about when, where, why, or how an action takes place. It usually begins with a subordinating conjunction such as "as soon as," "because," or "while" and modifies the main verb of the sentence. The English language has different types of adverbial clauses that complement the main clause and enrich the overall meaning of a sentence.
"As soon as the bell rang, students rushed to the common room."
A relative clause acts as an adjective, giving more details about a noun. It usually starts with a relative pronoun such as "who," "which," or "that" and helps specify or describe the subject more clearly.
"The professor who teaches Medieval History won a research grant."
A nominal clause functions as a noun within the sentence, often acting as the subject or object. It usually begins with words like "that," "what," or "whether" and expresses a complete idea as a noun phrase.
"That the experiment failed surprised the research team."
Mixing dependent and independent clauses can enhance your writing, adding variety and engaging your readers. Remember that an independent clause is a complete thought, while a dependent clause is incomplete on its own and needs the support of an independent clause.
| Dependent + independent | When the sentence starts with a dependent clause, add a comma right after it. | "If it rains tomorrow, the match will be postponed." |
| Independent + dependent | When the sentence begins with an independent clause followed by a dependent clause, no comma is needed. | "We'll visit the Tate Modern when we're in London." |
| Two independent clauses | Use a semicolon before and a comma after a conjunctive adverb to connect two independent clauses. | "The lecture ran late; consequently, the Q&A session was shortened." |
| Non-restrictive relative | Use commas to set off non-essential information that adds extra details but does not change the core meaning of the sentence. | "The Thames, which flows through London, is tidal." |
| Error | Correction |
|---|---|
| "Because the train was delayed. We missed the connection." (Fragment) | "Because the train was delayed, we missed the connection." |
| "It was raining heavily we decided to stay indoors." (Run-on) | "It was raining heavily; we decided to stay indoors." |
