Table of Contents
A dependent clause does not state a complete thought. It begins with words like “because,” “as,” when,” “how,” “which.”
Dependent clauses
A dependent clause has a subject and a verb, just like an independent clause, but a subordinate conjunction (not a FANBOYS) has been added to make it incomplete.
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Subordinate conjunctions make dependent clauses. They subordinate the relationship between the two clauses: time (i.e., before, until, while, when, just as), cause and effect (i.e., although, because, in order that, even if, in case, unless), and place (i.e., where, wherever).
An independent clause completes the relationship with the dependent clause.
When the dependent clause comes first, separate it from the independent clause with a comma.
Examples:
- While Jill tumbled, Jack fell.
- (Conjunction = “while,” dependent clause, comma, independent clause)
- Although the rain poured down, the children ran outside to play.
- (Conjunction = “although,” dependent clause, comma, independent clause)
- Unless you arrive in two hours, I will go home at noon.
- (Conjunction = “unless,” dependent clause, comma, independent clause)
- Where the sun shines and the rain falls, grass grows.
- (Conjunction = “where,” dependent clause, comma, independent clause)
When the independent clause leads the way, do not follow it with a comma.
Examples:
- Jack fell while Jill tumbled.
- (Independent clause, conjunction = “while,” dependent clause)
- The children ran outside to play although the rain poured down.
- (Independent clause, conjunction = “although,” dependent clause)
- I will go home at noon unless you arrive in two hours.
- (Independent clause, conjunction = “unless,” dependent clause)
- Grass grows where the sun shines and the rain falls.
- (Independent clause, conjunction = “where,” dependent clause)
Essential vs Non-essential information
Commas separate introductory clauses/phrases, explanatory clauses/phrases, or nonrestrictive clauses/phrases from the rest of the sentence.
The information may be essential to the story, but it is not essential to the sentence.
A restrictive phrase/clause restricts the word before it to a specific one, defining it. Do NOT set it off with commas.
When “such as” offers essential information, it is NOT followed by a comma.
Example of restrictive:
- Restrictive (R): The boy who confessed to the crime was my neighbor.
- (subject = “boy,” “who confessed to the crime” defines which boy)
An introductory clause usually adds information as to when or where or why, but it is not necessary for the sentence itself. It should be separated by a comma.
Example of introductory:
- Introductory (I): In the meantime, the boy confessed to the crime.
- (“in the meantime” offers information as to when, but it does not define the boy)
An explanatory phrase/clause explains the word before it but does not define it. Commas around it indicate that the sentence conveys its meaning without the clause or phrase. The information in the phrase or clause is incidental to the sentence.
Example of explanatory:
- Explanatory (E): Tom, who confessed to the crime, was my neighbor.
- (“who confessed to the crime” adds information about Tom but does not define him)
The key to surrounding the phrase/clause with commas is to determine if the phrase/clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence.
Examples of restrictive, introductory, and explanatory:
- R: The planet that is the largest in our system is Jupiter.
- (Restrictive phrase, defines which planet)
- I: As the largest planet in our system, Jupiter is surrounded by dust rings.
- (Introductory phrase = “as the largest planet in our system, set off with a comma)
- E: Jupiter, the largest planet, is surrounded by rings, mostly formed of dust.
- (Explanatory phrase =” the largest planet,” surrounded by commas)
- E: Mrs. C. encouraged her students to study specific punctuation marks, namely, commas.
- (Explanatory phrase= “namely,” surrounded by commas)
- R: Horses such as thoroughbreds and Hanoverians tend to be more high-spirited than horses such as Quarter Horses or Morgans.
- (Restrictive phrase = “such as.” Leaving out the “such as” examples leaves the sentence as “Horses tend to be more high-spirited than horses. That does not make sense. No commas)
- I: However, the police arrived three minutes after the alarm sounded.
- (Introductory phrase = “however,” comma before independent clause)
- E: The police, informed of the activity, arrived three minutes after the alarm sounded.
- (Explanatory phrase = “informed of the activity,” surrounded by commas)
- R: The police who were informed of the activity arrived three minutes after the alarm sounded.
- (Restrictive clause. Only the police who had been informed of the activity arrived)
- I: In the meantime, the thieves gathered as much as they could.
- (Introductory phrase = “in the meantime,” set off with a comma)
- E: The thieves, wearing green masks, gathered as much as they could.
- (Explanatory phrase = “wearing green masks,” surrounded by commas. With commas, all the thieves were wearing green masks.)
Notice that the following two sentences without commas mean the same, but not the same as the sentence with the commas.
- R: The thieves who were wearing green masks gathered as much as they could.
- (Restrictive clause, indicating which thieves were gathering loot while the others stood around and watched, no commas)
- R: The thieves wearing green masks gathered as much as they could.
- (Restrictive phrase, indicating which thieves were gathering loot while the others stood around and watched, no commas)
Phrases such as “for example,” “that is,” “namely,” etc. should be surrounded by commas as explanatory.
Examples:
- E: Mrs. C. encouraged her students to study specific punctuation marks, namely, commas.
- (Explanatory phrase = “namely,” not essential to the sentence to know which specific punctuation marks the students should study)
- E: Trenton made several punctuation errors, for example, combining independent clauses with a simple comma.
- (Explanatory phrase= “for example,” not essential to the sentence to know which specific errors he made)
- E: Whenever we went to town, we went to the post office, that is, on weekdays when it was open.
- (Explanatory phrase = “that is,” not critical to the sentence)
This is tricky!
Examples:
- He had enough money, but of course, time was too short.
- (Normally, “of course,” would be set off by commas before and after, but it follows a FANBOYS)
- The cookie was soft, and what she liked best, it had chocolate chips.
- (Normally, “what she liked best,” would be set off by commas before and after, but it follows a FANBOYS)
- Writing sample sentences seems easy, yet to make them interesting, some of them should be funny.
- (Normally, “to make them interesting,” would be set off by commas before and after, but it follows a FANBOYS)
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