Purpose
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to distinguish independent and dependent clauses, and correctly identify restrictive versus non-restrictive dependent clauses.Lesson Explanation
A clause is any group of words containing both a subject and a predicate (Part 2, Lesson 1). Every clause is either independent or dependent, and this distinction underlies everything covered in Part 2, Lessons 2-3. An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence: “The dog barked.” A dependent clause also has a subject and predicate, but cannot stand alone — it depends on an independent clause to complete its meaning, typically because it begins with a subordinating conjunction (Part 1, Lesson 5) or a relative pronoun (Part 1, Lesson 2): “because the dog barked,” “which barked loudly.” Dependent clauses that begin with a relative pronoun are further divided into two genuinely important types, directly affecting punctuation: Restrictive clauses provide essential information that identifies which specific noun is meant, and take NO commas: “The dog that barked all night belongs to my neighbor.” (Removing “that barked all night” would leave ambiguous which dog is meant.) Non-restrictive clauses add extra, non-essential information about a noun already identified, and ARE set off with commas: “My neighbor’s dog, which barked all night, kept me awake.” (The dog is already identified as “my neighbor’s dog” — the clause adds a detail, but removing it wouldn’t create ambiguity.) A genuinely useful rule of thumb tied to Part 1, Lesson 2: “that” is reserved for restrictive clauses, while “which” is reserved for non-restrictive clauses in careful, formal writing — though this distinction is loosened considerably in casual usage.Practice Questions
1. What does every clause contain?
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A subject and a predicate.2. Can an independent clause stand alone as a sentence?
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Yes.3. Can a dependent clause stand alone as a sentence?
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No.4. What does a dependent clause typically begin with?
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A subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.5. What is a restrictive clause?
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A clause providing essential information that identifies which specific noun is meant.6. Does a restrictive clause take commas?
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No.7. What is a non-restrictive clause?
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A clause adding extra, non-essential information about an already-identified noun.8. Does a non-restrictive clause take commas?
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Yes, it is set off with commas.9. In careful, formal writing, which relative pronoun is reserved for restrictive clauses?
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That.10. In careful, formal writing, which relative pronoun is reserved for non-restrictive clauses?
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Which.11. In “My neighbor’s dog, which barked all night, kept me awake,” is the clause restrictive or non-restrictive?
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Non-restrictive — the dog is already identified.12. In “The dog that barked all night belongs to my neighbor,” is the clause restrictive or non-restrictive?