dependent clause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dependent clause" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in grammar to refer to a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. Example: "Although it was raining, we decided to go for a walk, which includes the dependent clause 'Although it was raining.'"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

His style is declarative, with hardly a dependent clause.

The New York Times - Books

"In most books," Mr. Gallagher said, "we're lucky to see a dependent clause about Brooklyn".

The New York Times

Mr. Kerry was all paragraph and dependent clause, stacked thoughts and elaborate detail.

The New York Times

But it is the dependent clause in Rivers's assessment that should resonate as they prepare for their second-round opponent.

The New York Times - Sports

(Think only of the diametrically opposite results that derive from regarding the preamble to the Second Amendment as a controlling, or a dependent, clause).

The New Yorker

My supervisor would periodically read a few of my abstracts, and I was sometimes corrected and told not to begin an abstract with a dependent clause.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

He uses lots of big words and dependent clauses.

The New Yorker

In fact, the entire sentence is a complex sentence, because it is made up of both independent and dependent clauses.

The New York Times

I admire your attempt to disrupt the traditional notion of sentences only having one or, at most two dependent clauses, but unfortunately your message gets a little muddled.

The Guardian - Books

Nor, it appeared, did these readers want news highlights or news briefs or boxes summarizing the background of a story in three or four sentences without dependent clauses.

The New Yorker

Never content to let simple statements stand, he splits them open with interjections -- interjections! -- and garlands them in qualifiers and dependent clauses.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When constructing complex sentences, ensure your "dependent clause" clearly relates to and modifies the independent clause for a cohesive and logical flow.

Common error

Avoid stringing together multiple "dependent clauses" without clear connections or a strong independent clause, as this can lead to convoluted and confusing sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dependent clause" functions as a grammatical term. It identifies a clause that, while containing a subject and verb, does not express a complete thought and relies on an independent clause to form a sentence. Ludwig shows it's typically used in grammatical explanations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dependent clause" is a fundamental grammatical term referring to a clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and usable in written English. It's commonly found in news, scientific literature, and educational resources. It is useful to identify these clauses in order to write better sentences. Related terms include "subordinate clause" and "relative clause". Recognizing and using "dependent clauses" effectively enhances sentence structure and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subordinate clause

A direct synonym, emphasizing the hierarchical relationship to the main clause.

relative clause

A type of dependent clause that modifies a noun or pronoun.

adverbial clause

A dependent clause that functions as an adverb within the sentence.

noun clause

A dependent clause that functions as a noun within the sentence.

embedded clause

A clause that is contained within another clause.

hypotactic clause

Clause connected to an independent clause, showing a relationship of subordination.

conditional clause

A clause that expresses a condition.

grammatical subordinate

A more general term describing a part of the sentence that is less important.

secondary clause

Another term to emphasize the lower rank of clause compared to the main one.

non-independent clause

Highlighting that the clause cannot stand alone as a sentence.

FAQs

How is a "dependent clause" different from an independent clause?

A "dependent clause" cannot stand alone as a sentence, while an independent clause can. Dependent clauses rely on independent clauses to form a complete thought.

What are common words that introduce a "dependent clause"?

Common words include subordinating conjunctions like "because", "although", "if", "when", and relative pronouns like "who", "which", and "that".

How can I identify a "dependent clause" in a sentence?

Look for a group of words with a subject and a verb that cannot stand alone as a sentence. Often, these clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns.

What's the difference between a "relative clause" and a general "dependent clause"?

A "relative clause" is a type of "dependent clause" that modifies a noun or pronoun. Not all "dependent clauses" are relative clauses, as some function as adverbs or nouns.