Which of the following best describes a dependent clause?

A dependent clause is best described as a clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence. This is because a dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, is crafted in such a way that it relies on an independent clause to provide a complete thought. For example, in the sentence "Although it was raining," the clause "Although it was raining" cannot function on its own as a complete sentence; it leaves the reader hanging and lacks a full idea.

In contrast, independent clauses are able to stand alone because they contain a complete thought. They do not depend on any additional information to make sense. While some dependent clauses may consist of a subject and a verb, this is not sufficient for them to convey a complete thought, which is why they cannot stand on their own. Thus, recognizing that the inability to function independently is the defining characteristic of a dependent clause is crucial for understanding sentence structure in English.