Which description defines a dependent clause?(1 point)
Responses
It contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone.
It contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone.
It expresses a complete thought.
It expresses a complete thought.
It is a group of words containing a subject or a verb but not both
It is a group of words containing a subject or a verb but not both
It can stand alone as a sentence
It contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone.
The correct answer is: It contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone.
The correct description that defines a dependent clause is:
"It contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone."
To understand why this is the correct answer, let's break down the characteristics of a dependent clause.
A dependent clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb, but it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It relies on an independent clause to form a complete thought. In other words, a dependent clause depends on an independent clause to make sense.
For example, consider the dependent clause "when he arrived." This clause has a subject ("he") and a verb ("arrived"), but on its own, it does not express a complete thought. It needs to be connected to an independent clause to form a complete sentence, such as "He left when he arrived."
So, when identifying a dependent clause, look for a group of words with a subject and a verb that cannot stand alone as a sentence.