Which clause cannot stand alone and depends on an independent clause?

Which clause cannot stand alone and depends on an independent clause?

• A. Independent Clause
• B. Subordinate Clause
• C. Coordinate Clause
• D. Relative Clause

Answer: (B)

A clause that cannot stand alone is a dependent clause—the meaning isn’t complete without the rest of the sentence from an independent clause. A subordinate clause often begins with words like because, when, if, although, who, which, that, and it relies on the main clause to complete the thought. For example, Because it rained, we postponed the game. The part “Because it rained” cannot stand alone; we need “we postponed the game” to finish the idea. That broad category—the clause that cannot stand alone and depends on an independent clause—is called a subordinate clause. An independent clause, by contrast, can stand alone as a complete sentence. A coordinate clause is a clause of equal weight that is joined to another by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or); each part can usually stand alone. A relative clause is a specific kind of dependent clause that modifies a noun (for example, “the book that you lent me”). It also cannot stand alone, but the general term for the nonstandalone type is subordinate clause, which is why that option fits the question best.

A clause that cannot stand alone is a dependent clause—the meaning isn’t complete without the rest of the sentence from an independent clause. A subordinate clause often begins with words like because, when, if, although, who, which, that, and it relies on the main clause to complete the thought. For example, Because it rained, we postponed the game. The part “Because it rained” cannot stand alone; we need “we postponed the game” to finish the idea. That broad category—the clause that cannot stand alone and depends on an independent clause—is called a subordinate clause.

An independent clause, by contrast, can stand alone as a complete sentence. A coordinate clause is a clause of equal weight that is joined to another by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or); each part can usually stand alone. A relative clause is a specific kind of dependent clause that modifies a noun (for example, “the book that you lent me”). It also cannot stand alone, but the general term for the nonstandalone type is subordinate clause, which is why that option fits the question best.