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LEARNING MODULE IN ELT TECHNICAL WRITING

Subject : ELT 9 Technical Writing
Term : First Sem., S.Y 2022-2023
Module :8
Week :8
Date : October 23, 2022
Topic : Phrase and Clause
Reference : https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/dependent_clause.htm
Objectives : Differentiate each type of dependent clause
What Is a Dependent Clause
A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete
sentence because it does not express a complete thought.

Like all clauses, a dependent clause has a subject and verb.

Examples of Dependent Clauses
Here are some examples of dependent clauses (shaded). Notice how the shaded clauses could
not stand alone as sentences. This is how a dependent clause differs from an independent
clause.
The crew could see the whale, which had surfaced only 50m behind them.
Do you know the butcher who went to court on Saturday?
I am not tidying the dishes unless Peter helps.
The excellence of a gift lies in how appropriate it is rather than how valuable it is.
Types of Dependent Clause
Dependent clauses can act as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns.
dependent clause
The Adjective Clause.
Here is an example of a dependent clause acting as an adjective:
The car that your wife sold me last week has broken down.
(The dependent clause that your wife sold me last week describes the car. It is an adjective
clause.)
The Adverbial Clause. Here is an example of a dependent clause acting as an adverb:
He literally stitched mail sacks until his fingers bled.
(The dependent clause until his fingers bled modifies the verb to stitch. It is an adverbial
clause.)
The Noun Clause.
Here is an example of a dependent clause acting as a noun:
Whoever turned the ovens off is keeping quiet.
(The dependent clause Whoever turned the ovens off is the subject of this sentence. It is a noun
clause.)
The Link between a Dependent Clause and an Independent Clause
When a dependent clause is used as an adjective or an adverb, it will usually be part of a
complex sentence (i.e., a sentence with an independent clause and at least one dependent
clause). The link between a dependent clause and an independent clause will often be a
subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. For example:
He literally stitched mail sacks until his fingers bled.
(subordinating conjunction in bold)
The car which your wife sold me last week has broken down.
(relative pronoun in bold)
Subordinating Conjunctions and Relative Pronouns Used with Dependent Clauses
Here are some more common subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns:
Common Subordinating Conjunctions Relative Pronouns
after
although
as
because
before
even if
even though
if
provided
rather than
since
so that
than
though
unless
until
whether
while
how
that
what
when
where
which
who
whom
whose
why
The relative pronouns above are the simple relative pronouns. You can also have compound
ones. A compound relative pronoun is formed by adding either ever or soever to a simple
pronoun.
whoever (who + ever)
whosever (whose + ever)
(Spelling rule: Don't allow ee.)
whosoever (who + soever)
whosesoever (whose + soever)
Why Dependent Clauses Are Important
Here are two common issues related to dependent clauses.
(Issue 1) Using a comma with a dependent clause
Writers are often unsure whether to offset dependent clauses with commas.

Here are the rules:

(Rule 1) If your dependent clause is a fronted adverb, offset it with a comma.

Th Adverb Clause
A dependent clause that starts with a subordinating conjunction (e.g., "when," "unless,"
"because," "until") will be functioning as an adverb. When the clause is positioned at start of
the sentence, offset it with a comma. If it ends the sentence, do not use a comma. In these
examples, the dependent clauses are shaded and the subordinating conjunctions are bold.
When the egg whites have the consistency of shaving foam, stop whipping and add the vanilla
essence.
(The dependent clause is at the start, so a comma is needed.)
Stop whipping and add the vanilla essence when the egg whites have the consistency of shaving
foam.
(The dependent clause is at the end, so a comma is not needed.)
Read more about subordinating conjunctions.
NB: This ruling also applies to adverbial phrases.

For example (adverbial phrases in bold):

At the stroke of midnight, the carriage will turn back into a pumpkin.
The carriage will turn back into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight.
(Rule 2) If your dependent clause is a nonessential adjective, offset it with a comma (or two
commas if it's mid-sentence).
When the dependent clause starts with a relative pronoun (e.g., "which," "who," "that"), it will
be functioning as an adjective. Do not use a comma before your relative pronoun if the clause is
essential for meaning (called a restrictive clause). But, use a comma if the clause is just
additional information (called a non-restrictive clause).

For example:
My auntie who lives in Australia was bitten by a snake.
(From this we can infer that there is at least one other auntie who doesn't live in Australia. The
clause is essential for meaning. It identifies what it modifies, i.e., it specifies which auntie. This
is an example of a restrictive clause.)
My auntie Sally, who lives in Australia, was bitten by a snake.
(This time, the clause is just additional information. It needs commas. This is an example of a
non-restrictive clause.)
Top Tip
If you'd happily put parentheses () around your clause, it needs commas.

(Commas, after all, are just a type of parenthetical punctuation.)

Read more about restrictive and non-restrictive clauses.
Read more about relative pronouns.
(Issue 2) Don't start a declarative sentence with "which."
You cannot start a declarative sentence (i.e. a statement) with "who" or "which." For example:
I hate mowing the grass. Which isn't good because I have a huge lawn.
Of course, "who" and "which" can be used to start a sentence that is a question (i.e., to start an
interrogative sentence).
Read more about using "who" and "which" to create questions.
Key Points
If your dependent clause is a fronted adverb, offset it with a comma.
Until the bleeding stops, keep applying pressure to the wound.
If your dependent clause is at the back, don't use a comma.
Keep applying pressure to the wound until the bleeding stops.
If your dependent clause is an essential adjective, don't use commas.
The boy who stole your bike wants to borrow our pump.
(The clause "who stole your bike" identifies the boy. The clause is essential. That's why it is not
offset with commas.)
If your dependent clause is a nonessential adjective, use commas.
Jack Johnson, who stole your bike, wants to borrow our pump.
(This time, "who stole your bike" does not identify the person (we know it's Jack Johnson). The
clause is non-essential. It's just additional information. That's why it is offset with commas. We
could also have used parentheses () or dashes or even deleted the clause.)
Don't start a sentence with "which" unless it's a question.

MORE EXAMPLES
Noun Clauses
Adverbial Clauses
Adjective (Relative) Clauses
Before we look at each of these, it's important to understand what dependent clauses, also
known as subordinate clauses, are.

Subordinate Clauses Definition and Types

A clause is a group of sentences that has a subject and verb combination. The two types are
independent and dependent. This sentence has both an independent and dependent clause:
He had to give up work because he injured his back

Independent Clause + Dependent (subordinate) Clause

Both clauses have a subject and verb:
He had
He injured
But only the first one expresses a complete thought and can stand alone:

He had to give up work (complete thought)

Because he injured his back (incomplete thought)
The second clause does not make sense if it is used without the first one, and so it is dependent
on the first clause. It is therefore a dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause.

Noun Clauses
This type of dependent clause is used in two main ways. The first way is using question word
conjunctions (e.g. where, what, when) or if and whether to create implicit questions.

The noun clause usually follows the main independent clause:

Implicit Questions:
I'm not sure where he went.
They don't know when they will arrive.
Can you recall if you picked up my wallet?
I'm wondering whether I should go or not.
The other way that noun clauses are used is in that clauses, usually to express some kind of
mental state, necessity, possibility, or truth.
'That' is often left out:

That Clauses:
I'm disappointed (that) you aren't coming
The Prime Minister is convinced (that) she'll win the election
I think (that) it was the right thing to do
It's essential (that) you study hard
It's likely (that) it will rain tomorrow
She is certain (that) her money was stolen

Adverbial Clauses
These types of dependent clauses act as adverbs and tell us something about the information
that is in the main (independent) clause.

These are some of the common purposes of adverbial causes and common subordinating
conjunctions:

Condition: if, unless

Reason: because, since, as
Time: before, after, while, as soon as, when, since, until
Purpose: in order to, so that
Concession: although, though, even though, while, whereas
With adverbial clauses, the dependent clause can go before or after the independent clause.
Here are some examples of adverbial clauses:

Examples:
I will go if you go as well
As it's his birthday, let's book a nice restaurant
You will lose weight as soon as you change your diet
In order to improve hospitals, there must be more investment
He's upset he failed the test even though it's his own fault

Adjective / Relative Clauses

The third type of dependent clause is the adjective or relative clause. It is acting as an adjective
because it modifies a noun or pronoun.
The clause will start with a relative pronoun e.g. which, who, that, whom, where, or whose.
it usually comes directly after the noun it's modifying so unlike adverbial clauses, the position
where it appears in the independent clause will vary.
In these examples of adjective clauses, the noun being modified is underlined:

Examples:
The church, which is from the 14th Century, is very beautiful

He's the one who stole the car

The student that spoke in class was placed in detention
Bristol is the city where I grew up
Ian, whose house is at the end of the street, hates living here.

EXERCISES
1. What the girl on the train did was not very helpful to the passengers.
2. We have finally finished his novel, after months of research and hard work.
3. The champion’s trophy goes to the team who performs the best in the tournament.
4. While all the members of the family were asleep , the dog knocked over the plant.
5. It is a fact that a helium nucleus has two protons, whereas hydrogen has only one.
6. Where is the ice cream and chocolates that I kept in the freezer?
7. After Julia sneezed all over the pizza, no one wanted to eat.
8. The town where I was born is on the east coast.
9. I was unable to figure out what she was trying to say.
10. The football team will do whatever is necessary to win the game.
11. The author, whom I met at the literature fest, was very cordial.
12. The new authors who were standing in the last row are the nominees.
13. You can play outside with your friends until the street lights come on.
14. The dogs and cats that you found in the garden belongs to the Smiths.
15. Whenever I go to New York, I will visit Samuel.
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