Sentences can be divided into two types of clauses: independent and dependent. Independent clauses express a complete thought and can exist independently from any other clause. Dependent clauses on the other hand cannot exist without the help of another clause. If we leave dependent clauses hanging in our writing, not only is our reader confused, but we are writing sentence fragments, or pieces of sentences that are incomplete.

Think about it this way–dependent clauses are like wireless headphones. They are completely pointless unless you connect them to a source of power that can stream the music into your headphones. Sure, you can play music back on your phone or laptop, but the headphones are still useless without that essential bluetooth connection.

Similarly, dependent clauses are pretty useless without independent clauses. However, once a connection is made between the two, the dependent clause makes sense and extra meaning is added to the independent clause. 

There are many ways to both identify dependent clauses and connect them to independent clauses. While this post will focus on dependent clauses, check out this post on the Albert blog to learn more about independent clauses. When you’re ready, test yourself with a quiz  and practice with our high-quality, standards-aligned questions here.

The Basics of Dependent Clauses

What is a Dependent Clause? 

A dependent clause does not express a complete thought and therefore depends on an independent clause in order to make sense. 

For example: 

• Which is one of our favorite childhood memories. 

Does the clause above feel like a complete thought? Of course not! Reading something like this probably makes you frustrated because the writer only gave you a piece of a sentence, or a fragment. Once the dependent clause above is added to an independent clause, the sentence makes much more sense:

• We laughed together as we reminisced wading in the creek behind our house, which is one of our favorite memories.

What are the three types of dependent clauses? 

Adverbial Dependent Clauses 

Adverbial dependent clauses act like adverbs, which means that as a clause, they give more information about the main verb that is found in the independent clause. Just like you would not think that a single adverb could make up an entire sentence on its own, these clauses also cannot exist by themselves in your writing. 

Adverbial dependent clauses start with subordinating conjunctions such as after, even though, because, if, as soon as, etc. 

If you are unsure whether the dependent clause is acting like an adverb, see if it answers one of these questions: where, why, how, when, or to what degree was the action performed?

For example: 

• After our trip to the mountains, I realized just how brave black bears can be.

This adverbial clause answers the question, when did the subject realize the bravery of bears? 

Relative Dependent Clauses

Relative dependent clauses act like adjectives and give more detail about a noun that is included in the independent clause. This noun could be the subject or an object, but it has to be in the independent clause.

Relative dependent clauses start with relative pronouns such as that, which, who, whom, or whose. 

If you are not sure whether the dependent clause is acting as an adverb or as an adjective, ask if the clause answers one of these two questions: which one or what kind? 

For example: 

• The quaint bookstore that is located downtown has the fluffiest shop cat in residence.

Noun Dependent Clauses 

Noun dependent clauses are a little different than adverb or relative clauses. Noun clauses can take the role of literally any noun in the sentence, so we have to be careful when identifying these clauses. 

If the noun clause is acting as the subject of the sentence, it is not dependent. However, if the noun clause is taking the place of an object, it is a dependent clause. 

Noun clauses can begin with either interrogative pronouns (who, what, when, where, how, why) or expletives (that, whether, if). 

For example: 

• The Red Queen demanded to know who painted the roses red. 

In the sentence above, the underlined noun clause is acting as the direct object of the verb, demanded.

Here is an example where a noun clause is not dependent:

• What he had done was irreversible. 

Since the noun clause, what he had done is acting as the subject of the sentence, the entire sentence is one independent clause.

How do dependent clauses connect to independent clauses? 

Dependent clauses can come either before or after an independent clause in a sentence. Depending on where they are in the sentence, there are specific ways that they have to be connected with punctuation. 

If the dependent clause comes before the independent clause in the sentence, a comma must connect it to the independent clause. 

Writers do this to help guide readers to the main action of the sentence. When readers see the comma after the dependent clause, they realize that the first part of the sentence was merely an introduction to the most important information. 

For example: 

• Whenever I go for a walk, I like to say, “good morning”, to every dog that I meet. 

In the sentence above, the dependent clause simply lets the reader know when the subject greets her furry friends. Without it, the sentence would still make sense, but it is nice to know these extra details. 

However, if the dependent clause comes after the independent clause in the sentences, a comma is not needed to connect the two clauses together. 

This is because the reader already understands what the main action of the sentence is, so anything that comes after the main subject and verb is likely to simply be additional details. 

• For example: My mom would not let me get a pet tiger even though I really wanted one.

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3 Tips for Understanding Dependent Clauses

Here are some important tips to help you understand dependent clauses: 

Tip #1. Dependent clauses cannot exist alone; they must connect to an independent clause in order to make sens

For example:

• I will never understand how the classic film, The Goonies, received a poor rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The dependent clause underlined above is a noun clause acting as a direct object. It is an enormous clause, but it is still dependent on the four words that make up the independent clause before it.

Tip #2. Dependent clauses take the role of adverbs, adjectives, or nouns in sentences

For example: 

• Relative clause (answers the question, which one?): Do you know the muffin man who lives on Drury Lane?
• Adverb clause (answers the question, when?): After Jack and Jill rolled down the hill, Jack broke his crown.
• Noun clause: (takes the role of the direct object): Do you know how a raven is like a writing desk?

Tip #3. While dependent clauses are helpful in adding more information to a sentence, they are not essential in creating a complete thought

For example: 

• Although we were in Florida for over a week, we never saw an alligator.

The independent clause, we never saw an alligator, does not need the underlined clause to make grammatical sense; however, it does add some helpful information about both when and where the alligator was not seen by the subject.

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Applying the Basics: Dependent Clause Review & Practice

Now that you understand how dependent clauses function in sentences, review the anchor chart below and complete the review to fully understand how to use and recognize dependent clauses. 

The Ultimate List of Clauses

Refer to the graphic below to learn the different types of Clauses:

This list, obviously, does not include all possible examples of clauses; however, it is meant to be used as a guide while identifying sentence clauses.

Dependent Clauses Exercises and Review 

Now that you know how to identify dependent clauses, test your ability to find these in sentences.

Select the dependent clause(s) in the sentences below. Remember, a dependent clause can act as an adverb, an adjective, or a noun, but it cannot express a complete thought without connecting to an independent clause.

1. The White Rabbit, who always wore a large, round pocket watch, led Alice down the rabbit hole. 

In this sentence, who always wore a large, round pocket watch is the dependent clause. This clause is acting like an adjective because it modifies the subject of the sentence, the White Rabbit. 

2. After the Red Queen destroyed his village, the Mad Hatter swore vengeance on her and her wicked kingdom. 

In this sentence, the dependent clause is after the Red Queen destroyed his village. This clause is acting like an adverb because it modifies the verb, swore, and tells the reader when and why the Mad Hatter “swore vengeance” on the queen.

3. Alice was chosen to fight the Jabberwocky even though she had never fought before. 

In this sentence, even though she had never fought before is a dependent clause because it begins with a subordinating conjunction and is not separated from the independent clause through the use of a semicolon and a comma. 

4. Alice did not know how she ended up in Wonderland. 

In this sentence, how she ended up in Wonderland is a dependent clause that takes the place of the noun direct object in the sentence. 

5. As the Cheshire cat smiled, his body began to disappear, and soon all that was left was his cheesy grin. 

In this sentence, the clause as the Cheshire Cat smiled is dependent because it acts like an adverb that shows when the cat disappeared. 

Pro tip: Remember, dependent clauses take the place of an adverb, an adjective, or a noun in a sentence and cannot express a complete thought without the help of an independent clause.

For additional practice, check out Dependent Clauses content on Albert.

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Try for Yourself: Dependent Clauses Quiz 

Feeling confident in your understanding of Dependent Clauses? 

Take this short six-question quiz to see what you’ve learned:

1. Can a dependent clause start with a relative pronoun?

• Answer: Yes
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! A dependent clause can start with a relative pronoun because relative pronouns have to “relate” or connect back to another noun in the sentence. This “other noun” is always found in the independent clause, and since dependent clauses rely on independent clauses, it is perfectly logical that a dependent clause could begin with a relative pronoun.
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, dependent clauses can begin with relative pronouns, interrogative pronouns, expletives, or subordinating conjunctions. 

2. Do you need to use a comma after the dependent clause if it comes after the independent clause in a sentence?

• Answer: No
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! If dependent clauses come before the independent clause in a sentence, a comma is necessary to separate the two. If the dependent clause comes after the independent clause, a comma is not needed.
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, If a dependent clause comes before the independent clause in a sentence, a comma is necessary to separate the two. If the dependent clause comes after the independent clause, a comma is not needed.

3. In this sentence, is the underlined clause independent or dependent? 

Although I missed the bus this morning, I still made it to school on time. 

• Answer: Dependent
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The underlined clause is dependent because it begins with a subordinating conjunction and does not express a complete thought.
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, dependent clauses can start with a subordinating conjunction, a relative pronoun, an interrogative pronoun, or an expletive, and these clauses cannot express a complete thought.

4. In this sentence, is the underlined clause independent or dependent?  

She has always disliked trying new foods; however, today she decided to try sushi for the first time. 

• Answer: Independent
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The underlined phrase is independent for two reasons: first, it expresses a complete thought. Secondly, even though it begins with a subordinating conjunction, this conjunction is set apart from the clause by both a semicolon and a comma, making it independent.
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, while some dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions, when the conjunction is set apart from the clause through the use of a semicolon and a comma, the clause is independent.

5. In this sentence, is the underlined clause independent or dependent? 

She named her cat Mrs. Norris because she is such a huge Harry Potter fan. 

• Answer: Independent
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! In this sentence, the underlined clause is independent because it expresses a complete thought and can stand on its own without the rest of the sentence.
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, independent clauses can express a complete thought without the help of any other clauses in the sentence.

6. In this sentence, is the underlined clause independent or dependent? 

If Disney World reopens, we will visit late this year.  

• Answer: Dependent
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The underlined clause if Disney World reopens is a dependent clause that introduces the independent clause.
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, dependent clauses can start with a subordinating conjunction, a relative pronoun, an interrogative pronoun, or an expletive, and these clauses cannot express a complete thought. 

For additional practice with Dependent Clauses, check out our practice on Albert: Dependent Clauses.

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Teacher’s Corner for Dependent Clauses

Many students understand that a complete sentence contains a subject and a verb, but what if that sentence does not create a complete thought? Dependent clauses may look a whole lot like independent clauses, but they are only meant to complement the independent clause and not stand on their own. 

Therefore, it is important for students to know how to identify both independent and dependent clauses and how to use these different clauses in their writing. The Common Core English Language Progressive Skills Chart is a useful resource for teachers working with a wide variety of students on different grammatical skill levels. 

For specific standards on the different types of clauses including dependent clauses, check out the Common Core State Standards website. 

Albert’s Dependent Clause Practice offers several different practices to scaffold students as they become more comfortable with identifying different types of clauses. Albert also provides cumulative assessments and shorter topic quizzes that can be utilized by educators to measure student progress.

Summary for Dependent Clauses

Dependent clauses do not express a complete thought. They depend on at least one independent clause in order to make sense and create a complete sentence.

There are three types of dependent clauses:

1. Adverbial clauses

• They answer one of these questions: where, why, how, when, or to what degree was the action performed?

2. Relative clauses

• They answer one of these two questions: which one or what kind? 

3. Noun clauses

• They act as subjects or objects and can begin with either interrogative pronouns (who, what, when, where, how, why) or expletives (that, whether, if).

Be sure to check out our grammar course for more Dependent Clause practice. 

You can also access over 3,400 high-quality questions that address nearly every grammatical concept.

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