Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
dependent clause
Noun
/dɪˈpɛndənt klɔːz/
Definition
A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Examples
- Although she was tired, she continued to work.
- If you finish your homework, you can go outside.
- Because it was raining, we stayed indoors.
Meaning
Dependent clauses rely on independent clauses to provide a complete meaning. They often begin with a subordinating conjunction such as ‘because,’ ‘although,’ or ‘if.’
Synonyms
- Subordinate clause
- Dependent phrase
