Which term describes a clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence?

Which term describes a clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence?

• A. Independent clause
• B. Phrase
• C. Dependent clause
• D. Clause fragment

Answer: (C)

In sentence structure, clauses can either stand alone as complete sentences or rely on another clause to complete their meaning. A clause that cannot stand alone is a dependent clause because its thought is incomplete on its own. It usually begins with a word that signals dependence—like because, when, although, who, that, and so on—which shows it needs an independent clause to finish the idea. The best term for this is dependent clause: it contains a subject and a verb but cannot form a complete sentence by itself. For example, “Because it was raining” isn’t a sentence alone, but it becomes one when paired with an independent clause: “Because it was raining, we canceled the picnic.” An independent clause, by contrast, can stand alone as a sentence. A phrase isn’t a clause at all, since it lacks a complete subject-verb structure. A clause fragment is an incomplete clause, but the standard label for a clause that cannot stand alone is simply a dependent clause.

In sentence structure, clauses can either stand alone as complete sentences or rely on another clause to complete their meaning. A clause that cannot stand alone is a dependent clause because its thought is incomplete on its own. It usually begins with a word that signals dependence—like because, when, although, who, that, and so on—which shows it needs an independent clause to finish the idea.

The best term for this is dependent clause: it contains a subject and a verb but cannot form a complete sentence by itself. For example, “Because it was raining” isn’t a sentence alone, but it becomes one when paired with an independent clause: “Because it was raining, we canceled the picnic.”

An independent clause, by contrast, can stand alone as a sentence. A phrase isn’t a clause at all, since it lacks a complete subject-verb structure. A clause fragment is an incomplete clause, but the standard label for a clause that cannot stand alone is simply a dependent clause.