A dependent clause is a clause that depends on another clause. It helps to link the clauses together and makes sure that the relationship between them is clear. In this article, we will discuss dependent clauses and how they can be used in student writing.
What is a dependent clause?
A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It depends on an independent clause to form a complete sentence. Dependent clauses often begin with words such as “because,” “since,” “although,” “while,” “if,” “who,” “which,” “that,” etc. They contain a subject and a verb but do not express a complete thought and cannot be a sentence on their own.
How can students use the dependent clause?
Students can use dependent clauses in a variety of ways to enhance their writing and improve their sentence structure. Here are a few examples:
Adding detail or explanation: A dependent clause can be used to provide additional information or explanation about the main idea expressed in the independent clause. For example, “The book was interesting because it provided a new perspective on the subject.”
Creating complex sentences: By combining an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses, students can create more complex sentences that convey multiple ideas or thoughts. For example, “Although I was tired, I decided to keep reading because the story was too good to put down.”
Showing cause and effect: Dependent clauses can also be used to show the cause-and-effect relationship between two ideas. For example, “Because the weather was so bad, the game was cancelled.”
Expressing contrast: Dependent clauses can be used to express contrast or to show a contrast between two ideas. For example, “Although he was very talented, he never received the recognition he deserved.”
By using dependent clauses in these ways, students can make their writing more interesting, varied and sophisticated.
Why do students use the dependent clause?
Students use dependent clauses to add complexity and depth to their writing. They can use dependent clauses to convey multiple ideas, show relationships between ideas, and provide additional detail and explanation. Here are a few reasons why students use dependent clauses in their writing:
To express more complex ideas: Dependent clauses allow students to convey multiple ideas in one sentence, making their writing more sophisticated and nuanced.
To connect ideas: Dependent clauses can be used to show relationships between ideas, such as cause and effect or contrast. This helps to make the writing more cohesive and logical.
To add detail and explanation: Dependent clauses can provide additional information or explanation about the main idea expressed in the independent clause.
To vary sentence structure: Using dependent clauses can help students vary their sentence structure, making their writing more interesting and engaging.
To improve writing skills: By using dependent clauses in their writing, students can improve their sentence structure, vocabulary and grammar, which will help them in their academic and professional writing.
In Summary:
AssignmentsHelp is a platform that provides academic assistance to students. We offer writing tutorials that explain the different types of dependent clauses and how to use them in writing. The tutorials provide examples and exercises to help students understand and practice using dependent clauses. We also offer a writing assistance service where students can submit their writing assignments to be reviewed and edited by professional writers. These writers can provide feedback on the use of dependent clauses in the student’s writing and suggest ways to improve them.