Dependent Clause
A dependent clause (or subordinate
clause) is one that cannot
stand alone as a complete sentence, because it does not express a complete
thought.
Examples:
 The
crew could see the whale, which had surfaced only 50m behind them.
  
independent clause
dependent clause
(i.e.,
could stand alone)
(i.e., could not stand alone)
Which had surfaced only 50m behind them. (This is wrong. It is not a complete
thought or a sentence. It should be a dependent clause.)
Interactive example:
|
Do you know the butcher that went
to court on Saturday? [show
me the dependent
clause] |
You cannot start a sentence with who or which unless it is a
question.
I enjoy weeding.
Which is helpful, because I have a large garden. 
|
See also:
Glossary of grammatical terms
|
