What is a dependent clause?

A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. A dependent clause
cannot be a sentence. They do not express complete thoughts, and thus cannot function as
sentences. They are usually marked by dependant marker words. It is a word that is added to the
beginning of an independent clause that makes it into a dependent clause. Dependent clauses are
dependent because of the presence of a:
1. Marker Word (because, after, before, since, in order to, although, though, whenever,
wherever, whether, while, even though, even if, etc.)
2. Conjunction (but, and, or, nor, yet, etc.)
For example: ‘When Ram left to buy supplies’ can not be a sentence because it is an
incomplete thought. What happened when Ram went to the shop? Here, ‘when’ functions as a
‘dependent marker word’; this term refers to words which, when added to the beginnings of
independent clauses or sentences, transform them into dependent clauses.

Other examples of dependent marker words are after, although, as, as if, because, before, if,
in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while.

Dependent clauses, thus, need to be combined with independent clauses to form full
sentences. For example: ‘When Ram left to buy supplies, Rohan snuck in and stole the money’ is a
complete sentence.

Because I woke up late this morning… (what happened?)

When we arrived in class… (what occurred?)
Because I forgot my homework, I got sent home.
David, who likes books, read a book.
I was just getting into the bath when the phone rang