DEPENDENT CLAUSE Meaning and
Definition
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A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, is a grammatical unit in a sentence that does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. It relies on an independent clause to provide complete meaning and make sense.
A dependent clause adds additional information or modifies the independent clause in a sentence. It often begins with subordinating conjunctions such as "although," "because," "when," "if," "since," "while," or "unless." These conjunctions help establish the relationship between the dependent clause and the independent clause.
Dependent clauses come in different forms, including adverbial, adjectival, and nominal. Adverbial dependent clauses function as adverbs, modifying verbs, adjectives, or adverbs and answering questions like "when," "why," "where," or "how." Adjectival dependent clauses act as adjectives, providing more information about an noun or pronoun in the independent clause. Nominal dependent clauses act as nouns, functioning as subjects, objects, or complements in a sentence.
In constructing a sentence, a dependent clause must be paired with an independent clause to create a complete thought. It cannot stand alone as a sentence because it lacks a subject and predicate necessary for conveying a complete idea. Understanding and using dependent clauses correctly enhances the complexity and variety of sentence structure, contributing to effective communication and coherent writing.
Common Misspellings for DEPENDENT CLAUSE
- sependent clause
- xependent clause
- cependent clause
- fependent clause
- rependent clause
- eependent clause
- dwpendent clause
- dspendent clause
- ddpendent clause
- drpendent clause
- d4pendent clause
- d3pendent clause
- deoendent clause
- delendent clause
- de-endent clause
- de0endent clause
- depwndent clause
- depsndent clause
- depdndent clause
Etymology of DEPENDENT CLAUSE
The word "dependent" comes from the Latin word "dependēre", which means "to hang down" or "to be dependent on". The word "clause" comes from the Latin word "clausula", which means "a separate section or provision of a document".
Therefore, the etymology of "dependent clause" suggests that it is a clause that hangs down from or relies on another clause or independent clause to convey a complete thought.
Similar spelling word for DEPENDENT CLAUSE
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