Describe Types of Dependent Clauses

There are two different kinds of clauses that may be used in sentences: independent and dependent. Independent clauses are those that can stand on their own without the need for any additional support from any other clause. On the other hand, dependent clauses are those that cannot exist on their own without the assistance of another clause. If it’s left  hanging in the writing, not only it is causing confusion for the reader, but are also producing sentence fragments, which are bits of sentences that are not fully formed.

Because it does not represent an entire notion, a dependent clause must rely on the presence of an independent clause in order for the sentence to make sense.

Take, for instance:

• Which is one of our favorite childhood memories. 

It’s likely that reading anything like this leaves you feeling dissatisfied because the author provided you merely a portion of a sentence, often known as a sentence fragment. The statement makes a lot more sense if the previous dependent clause is joined to an independent clause, which is as follows:

• We laughed together as we reminisced wading in the creek behind our house, which is one of our favorite memories.

Different Kinds of Dependent Clauses Include

Adverbial dependent clauses

Adverbial dependent clauses function in the same way as adverbs, which means that, when taken together as a phrase, they provide additional information about the primary verb that is located in the independent clause. These clauses cannot exist on their own in your writing for the same reason that you would not suppose a single adverb could make up a whole sentence on its own. Clauses cannot exist on their own in sentences.

Adverbial dependent clauses often begin with a subordinating conjunction like “after,” “despite though,” “because,” “if,” “as soon as,” or another similar expression.

Check to determine whether the dependent clause provides an answer to one of the following questions if you are unclear if it is functioning as an adverb or not: where, why, how, when, or to what degree was the activity performed?

Take, for instance:

• After our trip to the mountains, I realized just how brave black bears can be.

When it comes to the question when did the subject realize the bravery of bears? 

This adverbial sentence provides the answer.

Relative Dependent Clauses

The function of a relative dependent clause is similar to that of an adjective in that it provides additional information about a noun that is present in the independent sentence. This noun must be included in the independent clause, and it can function either as the subject or as an object.

When constructing relative sentences, it is common practise to begin with a relative pronoun such as “that,” “which,” “who,” “whom,” or “whose.”

If it is unsure as to whether a dependent phrase is functioning as an adverb or an adjective, it may be tested hypothesis by inquiring if the clause provides a response to either of the following questions: which one or what kind?

Take, for instance:

• The quaint bookstore that is located downtownhas the fluffiest shop cat in residence.

Noun Dependent Clauses

When compared to adverb or relative clauses, noun dependent clauses have a few distinctive characteristics. Because noun clauses can play the part of virtually any noun in the sentence, we need to use caution when determining which clauses belong to which nouns.

It is not a dependent clause if the noun clause is performing the function of the subject of the sentence. On the other hand, a noun clause is considered to be a dependent clause if it operates in place of an object.

Either interrogative pronouns (who, what, when, where, how, and why) or expletives can serve as the first word of a noun clause (that, whether, if).

Take, for instance:

• The Red Queen demanded to know who painted the roses red. 

The noun phrase that has been underlined serves as the direct object of the verb needed in the sentence that was just presented.

Conclusion

The dependent clause does not include a whole notion, it cannot function independently. In order for a clause to function properly within a sentence, it must be related to either an independent clause or another dependent clause. A dependent clause, as opposed to an independent clause, begins with a subordinate conjunction, such as because, where, as, or when. Independent clauses begin with a subject-verb conjunction.

There are three distinct varieties of dependent clauses, which are referred to as relative clauses, noun clauses, and adverbial clauses respectively.

A dependent clause that serves the same purpose as an adjective, i.e., that modifies the noun of the sentence, is known as a relative clause. This type of phrase is also referred to as an adjective clause. Because it is a dependent clause, a relative clause will include a subject and a verb, but it will not contain a whole notion by itself. Words like “where” and “who” are indicators for writers that a clause is a relative clause since they start off the sentence.