Here's why:
* Subject and Verb: Dependent clauses have a subject performing an action (or state of being) indicated by a verb.
* Incomplete Thought: They cannot stand alone as a sentence because they rely on an independent clause to convey a complete meaning.
Examples:
* Because the rain was falling (dependent clause) - This clause doesn't make sense on its own. You need to add an independent clause like "we stayed inside" to complete the thought.
* When the sun sets (dependent clause) - This clause is incomplete without an independent clause like "it gets dark."
Types of Dependent Clauses:
* Adverbial clauses: Modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (e.g., "Because it was raining, we stayed inside.")
* Adjective clauses: Modify nouns or pronouns (e.g., "The book that I borrowed from the library is fascinating.")
* Noun clauses: Act as nouns in a sentence (e.g., "What you said is very important.")