COMPLEX SENTENCES

What are Independent and Dependent Clauses?

As we have mentioned in our lecture, an Independent Clause (IC) is just the same with a complete sentence—it has a
complete thought and can stand alone. On the other hand, a Dependent Clause (DC) is the opposite—it cannot stand alone, nor
does it have a complete thought. The DC, from the term itself, is “dependent” on the IC.

In our lecture, we have also mentioned that there are three forms when it comes to complex sentences:

1. IC + Noun Clause (NC)

2. IC + Adjective Clause (AdjC)
3. IC + Adverb Clause (AdvC)

What is a Noun Clause?

A Noun Clause (NC) has 4 common types:

1. Subject NC
2. Direct Object (DO) NC
3. Object of Preposition (OP) NC
4. Subjective Complement (SC) NC

An NC usually starts with a relative pronoun. Here are some commonly used relative pronouns you have to watch out for:

where why if that when whether who whom which what how
wherever whomever whenever whatever whichever whoever however

Example/s:

I think that corruption is wrong.

College students ought to know who discovered America.
That we tend to forget some information once recorded is a fact of life.
I don’t really care whoever wins.
Sometimes, I find myself wondering why do people cry.

What is an Adjective Clause?

An AdjC is a clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun. It is also known as a relative clause. Relative pronouns or relative
adverbs such as who, which, that, and where are found in relative clauses.

A library is a place where you can borrow books.

Global warming is a problem that needs to be solved.
Obesity, which is the condition of being overweight, affects millions of children around the world.
Home is the place where you relax.
The book that is on the floor should be returned to the library.

What is an Adverb Clause?

An AdvC usually modifies verbs, in which case, they may also appear anywhere in the sentence. They tell why, where,
under what conditions, or to what degree the action occurred or the situation existed. Unlike AdjCs, they are frequently movable
within the sentence.
AdvCs always begin with a subordinating conjunction. This kind of conjunction introduces clauses and expresses their
relation to the rest of the sentence.

Class, bear in mind that a subordinating conjunction is different from a coordinating conjunction. The latter is what we use
in compound sentences.

Here are some examples of subordinating conjunctions:

after although as as if as long as as much as as soon as

as though in order that lest provided unless until when whenever
where wherever while because

Example/s:

What you have just said is a lie because it is not true.

They have been studying since it started to rain.
We know the cake is done when the timer rings.
I don’t know when he will arrive.