Lessons to Develop a Writer's Toolkit:
Dependent Clauses

Dr. Stuart Blythe
Department of English & Linguistics
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne

 

In this second lesson, we review the dependent clause, another basic building block of written language. This lesson, along with the lessons on independent clauses and on phrases, prepares you for the lessons to follow. After completing this lesson, you should be able to do the following:

  • Differentiate between independent and dependent clauses
  • Differentiate between conjunctive adverbs and dependent markers
  • Produce three types of dependent clauses: noun, adjective, and adverb
  • Combine dependent and independent clauses

About Dependent Clauses

Just as we characterized an independent clause by its construction, so can we characterize a dependent clause. Both independent and dependent clauses have a subject + predicate. There is only one difference between the two clauses: a dependent clause has a dependent marker. That's it. The difference between an independent and dependent clause rests on the appearance of one word.

Dependent markers include words such as

as, after, before, until, once, since, while, when, whenever (relating to time)

where, wherever (relating to place)

although, though, despite (acknowledging contradictions)

if, even if, even though, how, unless, whether (acknowledging contingencies)

because, in order to, why (examining cause and effect)

who, which, that (relative pronouns)

Consider how the addition of one word changes the nature of the clause:

The inspector uses a dye to reveal imperfections in the metal. (independent clause)

After the inspector uses a dye to reveal imperfections in the metal... (dependent clause)

Unless the inspector uses a dye to reveal imperfections in the metal... (dependent clause)

Only the first example is an independent clause and a complete sentence. By adding a dependent marker such as "after" or "unless," we turn the last two examples into dependent clauses. And because those examples are dependent, they cannot be complete sentences.

Again, a dependent clause cannot constitute a complete sentence by itself. Because a dependent clause alone is a sentence fragment, the last two examples above need an independent clause in order to make a complete sentence:

After the inspector uses a dye to reveal imperfections in the metal, she examines the turbine under a magnifying class and black light.

Our customer will not accept our bid unless the inspector uses a dye to reveal imperfections in the metal.

Notice that dependent clauses may come before or after an independent clause. They may also be inserted into another clause, as in this case: "The inspector, who uses a dye to reveal imperfections in the metal, presented last month's quality assurance statistics."

Don't Confuse Dependent Markers with Conjunctive Adverbs

Dependent markers should NOT be confused with words such as however, consequently, therefore, and also, which are conjunctive adverbs. Such adverbs can be used in independent clauses and do not create dependent clauses.

One way to tell whether you're dealing with a dependent marker or a conjunctive adverb is to check whether the word can be moved around in the clause. For example, you can place "however," in several spots in this clause:

The project manager will review the data in the morning.

You can wait until the morning to submit your data. However, the project manager will review the data in the morning.

Several people are scheduled to review the data within the month. The project manager, however, will review the data in the morning.

The data analysis is not due until next week. The project manager will review the data itself, however, in the morning.

You couldn't exchange a dependent marker such as "because" for "however" in the last three examples. Remember that dependent markers can only appear at the beginning of a dependent clause. In other words, you could write

You should submit the data tonight because the project manager will review it in the morning.

But you couldn't write

You should submit the data tonight the project manager because will review it in the morning.

Dependent markers cannot be placed anywhere in a clause, but conjunctive adverbs can.

Why Should You Care about This?

You should be able to identify dependent clauses for at least three reasons. First, knowing how to create dependent clauses allows you to combine them with independent clauses, which in turn enables you to avoid strings of short, choppy sentences.  This in turn improves paragraph cohesion.

Second, differentiating between dependent and independent clauses helps you avoid sentence fragments. Writers most often create fragments when they mistake a dependent clause for a complete sentence. Sentence fragments are often listed as a "major" error by employers and writing instructors.

Finally, recognizing independent and dependent clauses can help you master some basic sentence punctuation patterns. (See the lesson on clauses and punctuation.)

Types of Dependent Clauses

There are at least three types of dependent clauses:  noun clauses, adjective clauses, and adverbial clauses.

Noun clauses are, according to the Mayfield Handbook of Technical and Scientific Writing, "dependent clauses that act as nouns." They are often signalled with words such as that, which, what, who, whose, whatever, when, where, why, and how. For example:

How you write the proposal doesn't matter to me. (Notice that "you write the proposal" could be an independent clause.)

Lynn asked me what you did with the latest stress calculations.

Adjective clauses "modify nouns and pronouns in other clauses," according to the Mayfield Handbook. They often begin with which, who, that, when, and why. (Whether you use which or that often depends on whether or not the clauses is restricted or not.  See the lesson on commas for details.) For example:

The meeting, which took three hours, was a waste of company time.  (The dependent clause was made from "The meeting took three hours.")

The supervisor unfairly reprimanded the assistant, who was poorly trained in handling soil samples. (The dependent clause made from "The assistant was poorly trained.")

Adverb clauses "modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs" (Mayfield).  They often begin with words such as after, although, as, because, even though, unless, until, whether, and while. For example:

After the inspector uses a dye to reveal imperfections in the metal, she examines the turbine under a magnifying class and black light. (The dependent clause wasmade from "The inspector uses a dye to reveal imperfections in the metal.")

It's not so important that you memorize types of clauses. Rather, realize the options you have for creating various sentence patterns.

Exercise

The following exercise is designed to reinforce your knowledge of dependent clauses.

  1. Create three independent clauses
  2. Add a dependent marker to each of the three independent clauses, thus making them dependent.
  3. Add an independent clause to each of the three dependent clauses you made in Step 2, and identify each dependent clause as noun, adjective, or adverb.

Example 1:

  • Gil presented the testing results at yesterday's meeting.
  • ...who presented the testing results at yesterday's meeting
  • Gil, who presented the testing results at yesterday's meeting, will fly to Chicago tomorrow. (Adjective clause).

Example 2:

  • The inspector uses a dye to reveal imperfections in the metal.
  • After the inspector uses a dye to reveal imperfections in the metal ...
  • After the inspector uses a dye to reveal imperfections in the metal, she examines the turbine under a magnifying class and black light. (Adverb clause)

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last updated: 2003.12.23
originally created: 2000.12.22.
© Stuart Blythe | blythes@ipfw.edu