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1997-03-31
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B3G3
Dependent vs. Independent Clauses
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An independent clause usually makes sense by itself and a
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dependent clause does not. However, you may not be able
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to depend on "sense" alone to distinguish between
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dependent and independent clauses. The grammatical
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definition is given below.
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A clause is independent unless it begins with a
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subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.
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Independent clause:
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he had a cat
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Dependent clause:
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before he had a cat
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Independent clause:
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I ran the race
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Dependent clause:
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while I ran the race
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Independent clause:
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the car stalls
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Dependent clause:
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if the car stalls
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The trick is to look at the first word in the clause. The
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subordinating conjunctions
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before
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,
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while
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, and
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if
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make the
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above clauses dependent.
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subordinating conjunctions
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after, although, as, as if, as much as, as though,
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because, before, even though, how, if, in order that,
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inasmuch as, provided, since, so that, than, that,
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though, unless, until, when, whenever, where,
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wherever, whether, while
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relative pronouns
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that, what, whatever, which, whichever, who, whoever,
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whom, whomever, whose, whosever
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Subordinating conjunctions are always the first word in a
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clause (never the second word, third word, etc.). This tip is
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particularly helpful because there is another group of words
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that is sometimes confused with subordinating conjunctions:
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conjunctive adverbs.
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conjunctive adverbs
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accordingly, also, anyhow, anyway, besides,
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consequently, finally, first, furthermore, hence, however,
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incidentally, indeed, instead, later, likewise, moreover,
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namely, nevertheless, otherwise, second, still, that is,
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therefore, too
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(phrases acting as conjunctive adverbs: as a result, for
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example, for instance, in addition, in conclusion, in fact,
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on the contrary, to be sure)
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Like subordinating conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs act as
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transitional devices in sentences. Unlike subordinating
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conjunctions, however, conjunctive adverbs are the most
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movable of words in English. Consider the examples below.
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However, we know what to do.
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We know, however, what to do.
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We know what to do, however.
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In the first example above, it may appear that the
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conjunctive adverb
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however
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begins a subordinate clause,
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but notice in the second two examples that
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however
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is not
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actually part of the clause at all.
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However
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can function
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equally well at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.
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Use this test of movability to aid in distinguishing
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subordinating conjunctions from conjunctive adverbs.
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Related topics
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Subordinating Conjunctions
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134
B3B3.htf
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Who vs. Whom (Relative Pronouns)
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175
B3D4.htf
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Semicolon
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54
B5J.htf
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