We all learned in school that every sentence requires a subject (usually a noun) telling who or what the sentence is about and a predicate (usually a verb) telling what the subject is or does. But does that tell the whole story?

Are these Sentences?

Take, for example, these words:

Although the dance started late

There is a subject, dance. And there is a predicate, started. Yet we instinctively know that this is not a sentence. Ditto with sets like:

· Because he lost his keys

· When we get home

· That I loaned you.

They have the Holy Grail of subject and predicate, but they lack what grammarians call “the sound of completeness.” We sense that these words are hanging, waiting to be completed by another set of words. So what does that make them?

It makes them clauses, specifically, dependent clauses.

What is a clause? A clause is a group of words that has a subject and predicate. There are many kinds of clauses (none of them Santa!). In this Writamin we discuss two clause categories: independent clauses and dependent (subordinate) clauses. The names say it all. An independent clause is a short sentence. In addition to its required noun and verb, it can stand alone. Dependent clauses rely on independent clauses to gain a sense of completeness.

For example, in the cases above, we could write,

· Although the dance started late, everyone had a great time.

· Because he lost his keys, he could not enter his apartment.

· I’ll give you a drink when we get home.

· This is the book that I loaned you.

Notice that each of these sentences contains two sets of subjects and predicates. In the first, dance-started is a subject-predicate combination, but so is everyone-had. The first set is part of a dependent clause, the second set is part of an independent clause. The independent clause makes the whole sentence work.

Dependent clauses become dependent because they are introduced by subordinating words like which, that, who, since, although, when, and their cousins. Take away the subordinating word and shazam! Your independent clause shines through. Going back to our examples,

Although the dance started late becomes the dance started late when we delete the word although.

Because he lost his keys becomes he lost his keys when we delete the word because.

And so forth.

Dependent or Independent? You Be the Judge

As a writer, you choose whether to increase your words’ impact by making them part of an independent clause or to subordinate them into a dependent clause. Both kinds of clauses are useful; if our writing consisted only of independent clauses, it would be choppy and lack nuance.

For example, consider the clauses: The stock market crashed. Many people lost their fortunes. If you want to show a chronological connection between these independent clauses, you could subordinate the first and write,

When the stock market crashed, many people lost their fortunes.

But what if you want to keep the stock market clause independent and subordinate the second? Then you could write

The stock market crashed, which caused many people to lose their fortunes.

Both rewritten versions are fine – but they say slightly different things. Choosing when and how to use subordinate clauses is an art you develop through practice.

Now that you know what a sentence is, you can decide which clauses will declare their independence and which will stay subordinate. Your dependent clauses can contribute richness as long as the final product sounds complete.

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Did you miss the last Writamin on “As Simple as Possible but No Simpler? See it here.​
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To see Elizabeth Danziger’s recent Inc.com columns:

​Take Your Language Beyond Words Through NonVerbal Communication​

​Three Ways to Avoid Digital Distraction​

​Five Ways to Cut Through the Noise and Reach Distracted Readers​

About Worktalk

Worktalk prepares teams to write clearly and confidently amid the pressures of constant communication. Our trainings and webinars equip individuals with the mindset and tactics to strengthen credibility, increase influence, and generate new possibilities.
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If you’re wondering how Worktalk might make a difference in your organization, call Liz Danziger at 310.396.8303 or email lizd@worktalk.com.