dependent clause

British  

noun

1. grammar another term for subordinate clause

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dependent clause Cultural  

1. A clause that does not stand alone as a sentence but depends on another clause to complete its meaning: “When I get my braces off, I will be very happy.” Dependent clauses are also known as subordinate clauses. (Compare independent clause.)

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Example Sentences

"Interestingly, low scoring essays showed the highest level of complexity in finite adverbial dependent clauses," the linguist writes in her paper.

From Science Daily

It is true that she often burdens her sentences with more dependent clauses than they can bear, and verbatim transcripts of her extemporaneous remarks can sometimes be hard to follow.

From Washington Post

But mostly the denizens of this encampment stand around cogitating, in long sentences heavy with metaphors and dependent clauses, and have few articulated motivations or desires.

From New York Times

Dozens of students have therefore been spared his infamously terrifying drills on antecedents and appositives, dependent clauses and dangling participles.

From Washington Post

But nestled among his layer cakes of dependent clauses was a clear-eyed assessment of what he had accomplished and left unaccomplished — and what was left for others to do.

From Los Angeles Times