Final answer:
The type of clause comprising a noun and accompanying words is a noun clause. Noun clauses function as nouns within a sentence, whereas relative clauses provide additional information about a noun and are dependent on an independent clause to provide a complete thought. The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of clause that contains a noun and any words that accompany it is known as a noun clause. A noun clause can function as a subject, an object, or a complement within a sentence. It not only contains a noun but also includes any related adjectives, verbs, or adverbs that describe or modify the noun, which can sometimes be a noun phrase. An important characteristic of a noun clause is that it can stand in for a noun in a sentence and is itself a type of dependent clause. Unlike relative clauses, which provide additional information about a noun and cannot stand alone, or nonsense clauses, which do not exist as a grammatical term, noun clauses have the important function of acting as a noun within the larger sentence structure.
Relative clauses, on the other hand, usually follow the noun they are modifying and start with a relative pronoun like 'who', 'which', or 'that'. In contrast to noun clauses, relative clauses cannot replace a noun but rather qualify an existing noun in the sentence.
To further illustrate, let's examine a dependent clause. This type of clause, as mentioned, cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It must be attached to an independent clause to make sense. For example:
'Although he worked hard' (DC) would not be complete without adding an independent clause like 'he did not pass the test' (IC) to provide a complete thought: 'Although he worked hard, he did not pass the test.'