But only the first one expresses a complete thought and can stand alone:
The second clause does not make sense if it is used without the first one, and so it is dependent on the first clause. It is therefore a dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause.
This type of dependent clause is used in two main ways. The first way is using question word conjunctions (e.g. where, what, when) or if and whether to create implicit questions.
The noun clause usually follows the main independent clause:
I'm not sure where he went.
They don't know when they will arrive.
Can you recall if you picked up my wallet?
I'm wondering whether I should go or not.
The other way that noun clauses are used is in that clauses, usually to express some kind of mental state, necessity, possibility, or truth.
'That' is often left out:
I'm disappointed (that) you aren't coming
The Prime Minister is convinced (that) she'll win the election
I think ( that) it was the right thing to do
It's essential (that) you study hard
It's likely (that) it will rain tomorrow
She is certain (that) her money was stolen
These types of dependent clauses act as adverbs and tell us something about the information that is in the main (independent) clause.
These are some of the common purposes of adverbial causes and common subordinating conjunctions:
With adverbial clauses, the dependent clause can go before or after the independent clause. Here are some examples of adverbial clauses:
I will go if you go as well
As it's his birthday, l et's book a nice restaurant
You will lose weight as soon as you change your diet
In order to improve hospitals, there must be more investment
He's upset he failed the test even though it's his own fault
The third type of dependent clause is the adjective or relative clause. It is acting as an adjective because it modifies a noun or pronoun.
The clause will start with a relative pronoun e.g. which, who, that, whom, where, or whose.
it usually comes directly after the noun it's modifying so unlike adverbial clauses, the position where it appears in the independent clause will vary.
In these examples of adjective clauses, the noun being modified is underlined:
The church, which is from the 14th Century, is very beautiful
He's the one who stole the car
The student that spoke in class was placed in detention
Bristol is the city where I grew up
Ian, whose house is at the end of the street, hates living here.
Can you identify the dependent clauses in this online quiz
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