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