2.2 SUBORDINATE CLAUSES A DEPENDENT (SUBORDINATE) CLAUSE IS PART OF...

1.2.2 Subordinate clauses

A dependent (subordinate) clause is part of a sentence; it contains a subject and

verb but does not express a complete thought. They can make sense on their

own, but, they are dependent on the rest of the sentence for context and

meaning. They are usually joined to an independent clause to form a complex

sentence.

Dependent clauses often begin with a subordinating conjunction or relative

pronoun (see below) that makes the clause unable to stand alone.

Ex: The door opened because the man pushed it.

A group of words that has both a subject and a verb but (unlike an independent

clause) cannot stand alone as a sentence. Subordinate clauses include adverb

clauses and adjective clauses.

A subordinate clause will follow this pattern:

[Subordinate conjunction + subject + verb = incomplete thought.]

Ex: She stays at home because her mother was ill

Dependent clauses can be nominal, adverbial or adjectival