What makes a subordinate clause a dependent clause?

A subordinate clause or dependent clause is a clause that can’t exist as a sentence on its own. Like all clauses, it has a subject and a predicate , but it doesn’t share a complete thought. A subordinate clause only gives extra information and is “dependent” on other words to make a full sentence.

When do you make a mistake with a subordinate clause?

To avoid mistakes with subordinate clauses, always remember: a subordinate clause is never a full sentence on its own. Therefore, the most common mistake you can make is a fragment sentence (an incomplete sentence). That’s because a subordinate clause doesn’t express a complete thought. For example: Whoever gave the dog popcorn.

Which is the subordinate clause in the sentence Laura smiled?

1 ‘Laura smiled’ is the major clause. It makes sense all on its own. 2 ‘because dancing was fun!’ is the subordinate clause. It adds additional information to the main clause and wouldn’t make sense on its own. 3 ‘because’ is the subordinating conjunction. It helps to add the extra information to explain why Laura was smiling.

Can a top clause stand alone as a subordinate clause?

The top clause can stand alone as a complete idea, but the bottom clause cannot. The bottom clause is subordinate. Subordinate means that it can’t stand alone. It needs to be connected to an independent clause in order to make sense.

When to use a subordinate clause in a sentence?

When a subordinate clause is used as an adjective or an adverb, it will usually be part of a complex sentence(i.e., a sentence with an independent clause and at least one subordinate clause). The link between a subordinate clause and an independent clause will often be a subordinating conjunctionor a relative pronoun. For example:

When to use a comma in a subordinate clause?

If you’re starting the sentence with a subordinate clause, use a comma. (That was an example in itself, but I’ve included another below). While Emily built a sandcastle, James swam in the ocean. When you’re adding the subordinate clause after your main clause, you don’t need punctuation.

Which is an example of a subordinate conjuction?

“Who” (pronoun acting as subject) + “ate” (verb) is an adjective clause that describes the dog. c. Adverb clause An adverb clauseis a group of words that work as an adverb in a sentence, answering questions asking “where?”, “when,” “how?” and “why?” They begin with a subordinate conjuction. The dog ran until he got to the county fair.

When to use relative clauses in a sentence?

Punctuating subordinate clauses only gets tricky when they begin with relative pronouns such as that, which, who, when, where, and whose. Conveniently, this type of subordinate clause can be referred to as a relative clause. There are two types of relative clauses: restrictive and nonrestrictive.