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

• A. Independent clause
• B. Dependent (or subordinate) clause
• C. Relative clause
• D. Noun clause

Answer: (B)

In sentence structure, a clause that cannot stand alone is a dependent (or subordinate) clause. It makes sense only when it’s attached to an independent clause that provides the main idea. For example, in “Because I arrived late, I missed the bus,” the part “Because I arrived late” is a dependent clause—it leaves you hanging and depends on the rest of the sentence to complete the thought.

The term describes any clause that cannot stand alone. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence, so it’s not the correct label here. A relative clause is a type of dependent clause that adds information about a noun (like “the book that I read”), and a noun clause functions as a noun within a sentence. But the general term for a clause that cannot stand alone is dependent (or subordinate) clause.