Clause Types
Independent & Dependent and
Laurie Miller
George Mason University
| Last updated April 2013
Lets start with a simple sentence
I bought a book.
This sentence has the three basic elements required of either a simple sentence or a clause:
Subject = I Verb = bought Object = a book
Now, lets add another clause
While my mother drank her coffee, I bought a book.
Now we have a two clause sentence, but these clauses are not the same. The original clause I bought a book can stand on its own as a simple sentence. It expresses a complete thought by itself. Therefore, it is called an independent clause.
Independent Clause (IC)
An independent clause is a S + V / O bject or C omplement or A dverbial unit that expresses a complete thought and could stand on its own as a simple sentence. Whether you find an independent clause by itself as a simple sentence or joined with other clauses, you will be able to identify it because it:
is a S+V/ unit that expresses a complete thought
But what about the other clause?
While my mother drank her coffee, I bought a book.
If we only consider the first clause,
mother drank her coffee, we are left with a
question in our minds, What happened while your mother drank her coffee?! This clause can not stand on its own as a simple sentence. It requires another clause to a complete its meaning. Therefore, it is called an dependent clause.
while my
Dependent Clause (DC)
A dependent clause is a S + V / O bject or C omplement or A dverbial
unit that does not express a complete thought and can not stand on its own as a simple sentence. A dependent clause must always be connected to an independent clause. You will be able to identify it because it: is a S+V/ unit that does not express a complete thought on its own
Dependent Clauses
There are
3 different types of dependent clauses.
Noun Clause (NC) Adjective Clause (AdjC) Adverb Clause (AdvC)
Noun Clause (NC)
[S+V/] that acts like a noun
Example: I think [you are sick].
S V O
Objects are nouns; this entire clause acts like a singular noun, so it is a noun clause.
NCs follow verbs as objects or complements or come before verbs as subjects Answers the question What? Example: Q: What do you think? A: I think Spiderman is the best superhero.
Noun Clause (NC) -- continued
NCs can begin with that or other subordinating words that join it to an IC make the clause they begin a part of another clause, such as an object or a subject.
that is often omitted by native speakers when the NC has another noun that works as a subject:
Example: I think think Spiderman that Spiderman isbest the best superhero. I is the superhero.
Adjective Clause (AdjC)
[S+V/] that acts like an adjective
Example: The story [that am reading] reading] is sad. [that I am
S
relative pronoun
AdjCs follow nouns
This entire clause acts like an adjective, so it is an adjective clause.
Often start with relative pronouns or relative adverbs
but the relative pronoun/adverb can be omitted
if the clause has another noun to serve as the subject
EX: The story [I am reading]is sad.
Adverb Clause (AdvC)
[S+V/] that acts like an adverb Example: [After we drove to the mall] , we looked
for a bookstore.
This clause gives information about how or why the action happened, so it acts like an adverb.
AdvCs always begin with a subordinating conjunction after although if as since because unless before until
even though when
