what is a dependent clause

A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. It cannot stand alone as a sentence and needs to join an independent clause to form a complete sentence. Dependent clauses are also known as subordinate clauses. They can function as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns in a sentence. Dependent clauses are often marked by a dependent marker word, which is a word added to the beginning of an independent clause that makes it into a dependent clause. Some common dependent markers include after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while.