Dependant Clauses and Phrases

Knowing how to distinguish a dependent clause or a phrase from an

independent clause will help you to use punctuation correctly and construct
proper sentences. A dependent clause or a phrase can not stand alone as a
sentence. It is therefore dependent on other words being added to it to create
a sentence. An independent clause, by contrast, can stand alone as a
sentence, or it can be combined with one or more other clauses or phrases to
form a complex sentence, through the proper use of punctuation and
conjunctions.

1. Dependent Clauses Not Constituting a Sentence ("Sentence
Fragments") -- Students sometimes write a dependent clause when they
think they are writing a sentence. This is one of the worst writing errors
one can make. Dependent clauses left standing alone are often referred
to as sentence fragments. While they contain a subject and a verb, they
nonetheless represent incomplete thoughts. Be sure that you
understand the difference between a dependent clause and a sentence.
The following are examples of dependent clauses that, like all such
clauses, do not constitute sentences.

Before the trial ended.
Because the judge takes a narrow view of statutory
construction.
Although it could be reversed on appeal.
2. Turning Dependent Clauses into Sentences. One generally can turn
any dependent clause (or a series of dependent clauses) into a
sentence by combining it with an independent clause and one or more
punctuation marks or conjunctions.

Incorrect: Before the trial ended.
Incorrect: Before the trial ended but after the judge ruled on
the defense motion.
Correct: Before the trial ended, but after the judge ruled on
the defense motion, defense counsel preserved her objection
for appeal.
Incorrect: The trial court's ruling constituted a final order.
Although it could be reversed on appeal.
Correct: The trial court's ruling constituted a final order,
although it could be reversed on appeal.
Incorrect: The plaintiffs are unlikely to succeed. Because the
judge takes a narrow view of statutory construction.
Correct: The plaintiffs are unlikely to succeed because the
judge takes a narrow view of statutory construction.
3. Phrases Not Constituting a Sentence. A phrase is different from a
dependent clause because unlike the dependent clause it generally
lacks a subject. However, like a dependent clause, it can not stand
alone and is dependent on a clause being added. The following are a
few examples of phrases.

Affirming the trial court's ruling [Lacks a subject for the verb
"affirming"]
Having tried the case [Lacks a subject for the verb "having"]
4. Turning Phrases into Sentences. One generally can turn any phrase
into a sentence by combining it with an independent clause and one or
more punctuation marks or conjunctions.

Incorrect: The appellate court held that the evidence was
inadmissible. Affirming the trial court's ruling.
Correct: The appellate court held that the evidence was
inadmissible, affirming the trial court's ruling.
5. Do not connect two independent clauses with a comma ("comma
splice"). Two independent clauses, by definition, can each stand alone
as a sentence. However, they can not be pieced together with a
comma. Instead, either use a semicolon or separate the clauses out as
two sentences.

Incorrect: One can not separate the emergency function from
the other functions of a flight attendant, it is inherent in the
job.
Correct: One can not separate the emergency function from
the other functions of a flight attendant. It is inherent in the
job.

Also Correct:

One can not separate the emergency function from the other
functions of a flight attendant; it is inherent in the job.
Cross References: Commas, Semicolons
http://www.kentlaw.edu/academics/lrw/grinker/LwtaDependant_Clauses_and_Phrases.htm
Clauses
HOT GRAMMAR TIP
A dependent clause begins with a subordinate conjunction, so if you recognize the common subordinate conjunctions, you
will be able to determine if a clause is dependent or independent.
Click here to see a common list of subordinate clauses.
What is a clause?
A clause is a group of words in a sentence that explains more about the core parts of the
sentence.
What is a dependent clause?
A dependent clause is a group of words that cannot stand by itself, but needs an independent
clause to make a sentence.
What is an independent clause?
An independent clause is a group of words that can stand by itself to make a complete
sentence.
Example #1
Since I have been in college
Explanation: This is a dependent clause because it cannot stand on its own. It is not a complete
sentence.
Example #2
I have learned so much.
Explanation: This is an independent clause because it can stand on its own. It is a complete sentence
because it contains a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
Putting Clauses Together
When a sentence begins with a dependent clause, it is ALWAYS followed by an independent clause, and
there is ALWAYS a comma in between the two clauses.
On the other hand, if a sentence begins with an independent clause, it need not be followed by a
dependent clause although it may be. If it IS followed by a dependent clause, there is no comma
between the two clauses.
Example #1
Dependent clause + a comma + an independent clause.
Since you went away, I feel sad.
Because I am late, I will not bother running an errand.
If I don't talk to you tonight, I will call you tomorrow.
Example #2
Dependent clause + an independent clause.
I feel sad since you went away.
I will not bother running an errand because I am late.
I will call you tomorrow if I don't talk to you tonight.
http://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/clauses.htm
Dependent phrases and clauses often require special punctuation. Listed below are general guidelines
for
punctuating phrases and clauses.
INTRODUCTORY ELEMENTS
Use commas after introductory words, phrases, and clauses.
WORDS
Use commas after introductory words such as well, sure, yes, and no.
EXAMPLE: No, I dont think Margaret will be able to come.
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
Use commas after introductory prepositional phrases of more than three words.
EXAMPLE: During the summer at the lake, Grandpa taught us to sail.
PARTICIPIAL PHRASES
Use commas after introductory participial phrases that modify the subject.
EXAMPLE: Jumping over the last hurdle, Tom raced to the finish line.
INFINITIVE PHRASES
Use commas after introductory infinitive phrases.
EXAMPLE: To arrive on time, we must leave the house by 6:00 p.m.
WORDS
Use commas after introductory adverb clauses
EXAMPLE: While we were waiting for Mom, we started our homework.
NONESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Use commas to set off nonessential information.
EXAMPLE: My father, who was born in southern Utah, is 83 years old. (The adjective clause is not
necessary to identify my father.)
EXAMPLE: Officer Jones, chasing after the thief, grabbed the gun. (The participial phrase is not
necessary to identify Officer Jones.)
EXAMPLE: Lacrosse, a sport played hundreds of years ago, is still popular. (Appositive phrases,
which explain or rename the nouns preceding them, are set off with commas.)
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Do not use commas with essential information.
EXAMPLE: My sister who lives in Massachusetts is coming to visit. (Because the writer may have
more than one sister, the clause is necessary to distinguish which sister the writer is
referring to.)
EXAMPLE: One of the policemen chasing after the thief grabbed the gun. (The participial phrase is
necessary to identify which policemen the writer is discussing.)
EXAMPLE: The committee reached a decision that was not popular. (Adjective clauses that begin
with that are always essential.)
http://www.uvu.edu/owl/infor/pdf/grammar_usage/punctuating_phrases.pdf
Types of Phrases and their Functions
Noun Phrase
A noun phrase contains a noun and its modifiers and functions as a noun within a sentence.
Examples:
The tree with the purple blossoms hangs over the sidewalk, sprinkling flowers along the path.
He decided to wear the yellow shirt.
Notice that the noun phrase in the first sentence is the subject of the sentence while the noun phrase in the second is
the object.
Appositive Phrase
An appositive phrase renames a noun and functions as a noun within a sentence.
Examples:
Carol, my friend from college, lives in San Francisco.
Margaret Atwood, bestselling author, wrote The Handmaids Tale.
Here, my friend from college renames Carol, just as bestselling author is another way to refer to Margaret Atwood.
Gerund Phrase
A gerund phrase contains an ing verb and its modifiers or complements. A gerund phrase functions as either the
subject or the object in a sentence.
Examples:
Playing tennis is one of Shannons favorite activities.
Cameron prefers watching TV.
In the first example, playing tennis is the subject of the sentence while in the second example watching TV is the
object.
Infinitive Phrase
An infinitive phrase contains a verb in its infinitive form (starting with to), and its modifiers or complements. Infinitive
phrases can function as nouns, adjectives or adverbs.
Examples:
Shannon likes to play tennis.
Exercising everyday is one way to increase your energy level.
To get to campus, take the 7th Street exit off of the 22.
The infinitive phrase in the first example functions as a noun and is the object of the sentence. In the second
example, the infinite phrase functions as an adjective modifying way, and in the third sentence the infinitive phrase
functions as an adverb modifying take.
Participial Phrase
A participial phrase contains a participle and its modifiers or complements. Remember that participles are verbs that
end in ing, -ed or en (except for some irregular verbs). Participial phrases function as adjectives within a sentence.
Examples:
The student sitting in the front row raised his hand to answer the question.
The sculpture, broken during the last earthquake, is no longer valuable.
You will notice that the participial phrase in the second example is set off by commas. This is because it is a
nonrestrictive phrase. That means that, while it modifies sculpture and adds detail to the sentence, if the clause were
removed the sentence would still have the same meaning.
Prepositional Phrase
A prepositional phrase contains a preposition, a noun or pronoun, and possibly one or more adjectives. Prepositional
phrases can function as nouns, adjectives or adverbs within a sentence.
Examples:
My birthday is on Monday.
The tree with the purple blossoms hangs over the sidewalk, sprinkling flowers along the path.
In the first example, on Monday functions as a noun and serves as a complement. In the second example, with the
purple blossoms functions as an adjective modifying tree, while both over the sidewalk and along the path function as
adverbs modifying hangs and sprinkling, respectively.
Absolute Phrase:
An absolute phrase most often contains a noun or pronoun, a participle, and modifiers; however, rather than
modifying one single element of a sentence, absolute phrases modify the entire sentence. Youll notice that absolute
phrases (again, most often) have a subject modified by a participle but no verb. You can think of absolutes as
almost sentences because adding was or were to most of them creates an independent clause. A second way
to identify an absolute phrase is to look for a possessive pronoun (my, his, her, its, our, their) at the beginning of the
phrase. Youll find absolute phrases not only at the beginning of sentences, but also as subject-verb splits and
sentence closers.
Examples:
His study habits thorough, Alex earned an A in the class.
Lauren, her mouth watering, waited for the pasta to cool before taking a bite.
The players staggered into the locker room defeated, their faces showing disappointment.
In the first sentence, the absolute phrase modifies the entire independent clause Alex earned an A in the
class. Likewise, the absolute phrase in the second example also modifies the entire independent clause rather than
one single element of it.

A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a verb. A subject is a person, place
or thing. A verb expresses action.

A clause with both a subject and a verb that is complete in itself, and doesn't need any more
wording to make it complete, is called an independent clause.

However, you can have a clause with a subject and a verb, but it will only be part of a sentence. It
can't stand on its own. That's a dependent clause.

Within the realm of dependent clauses, there are two more kinds of
clauses:adjectival and adverbial clauses.

No, there are no Santa Clauses . . . at least not in grammar.

Let's look at these four:

An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence expressing a complete thought,
or it can be part of a longer sentence:

We bought the dog.

We bought the dog in the same place we bought the cat.

A dependent clause - also called "subordinate" - cannot stand alone. It does not express a
complete thought and isn't a complete sentence, even though it may contain a subject and a verb. Here,
for example, the second "we" is a subject and the second "bought" is a verb, but the underlined words
aren't a full sentence, so they form a dependent clause:

We bought the dog in the same place we bought the cat.

The remaining two major types of clauses are both dependent clauses:

Adjectival clause: a dependent clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun. It can't stand alone. It
usually starts with "who," "which" or "that."

She's the one who wanted to buy the dog.

Adverbial clause: a dependent clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. It also
can't stand alone as a sentence. It usually answers the questions "where," "when," "how," "why," "to what
extent," or "under what condition."

We bought the dog after we bought the cat.
Four Sentence Classifications
There are four classifications for sentences:
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1. Simple
2. Compound
3. Complex
4. Compound/Complex
Each type of sentence contains a different distribution of clauses.
Clauses in Simple Sentences
A simple sentence consists of one independent clause and contains no dependent clauses, as in the previous
example: Tom danced. A simple sentence may, however, contain a compound subject and/or a compound verb, but
it is still only one clause, for example:
Tom and Bob went hiking last Saturday and soon became lost. (Tom and Bob is the compound subject;
went and got is the compound verb.)
Clauses in Compound Sentences
A compound sentence is composed of two independent clauses that are linked with either a coordinating conjunction
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or a conjunctive adverb (however, nevertheless, moreover, etc.), for example:
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
The Different Kinds of Verbal Phrases in the English Language
The Forms and Functions of Clauses in English
The Role of Adjective Clauses in the English Language
Tom and Bob went hiking last Saturday, but they soon became lost.
Tom and Bob went hiking last Saturday; however, they soon became lost.
Clauses in Complex Sentences
A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent (or subordinate) clause, for
example:
When Tom and Bob went hiking last Saturday (dependent), they soon became lost and are still wandering
around in the woods (independent).
Clauses in Compound-Complex Sentences
A compound/complex sentence is made up of at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause,
for example:
Tom and Bob went hiking last Saturday (independent); however, they soon became lost (independent)
because Tom insisted on using his new compass (dependent).
Adjectival, Adverbial, and Noun Clauses
Dependent (subordinate) clauses can be adverb clauses, noun clauses, or adjective clauses.
A noun clause usually fills a noun slot within the sentence, meaning that it acts in the following roles:
Subject
Direct object
Indirect object
Object of a preposition
Subject complement
An adjective clause modifies a noun, and answers these questions:
Which one?
What kind?
How Many?
Whose?
An adverb clause modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb and answers these questions:
How or in what manner?
When?
Where?
How often?
To what extent or degree?
The Role of Relative Clauses
An adjective clause that is introduced by a relative pronoun (this, that, who, whom, whoever, whomever, whose,
which, what, whichever, whatever) is also called a relative clause. The relative pronouns are used to introduce
subordinate clauses, for example:
The Atlanta Falcons, which happens to be Toms favorite team, is playing the New Orleans Saints this
weekend at Atlanta Stadium. (The clause beginning with which is an adjectival clause modifying Atlanta
Falcons and answering the question, Which team is Toms favorite?)
When the weather permits, Tom likes to grill hamburgers on the deck. (The introductory clause beginning
with when is an adverbial clause modifying the verbal phrase likes to grill by answering the question:
When does Tom like to grill?)
Some writers might wonder why its important to understand the different types of clauses and their functions within
sentences; however, many grammarians argue that writers who possess such knowledge are better equipped to
imbue words with power and authority than those who believe it inconsequential.


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