Final answer:
A dependent clause contains both a subject and a verb but relies on an independent clause to complete its meaning. It cannot stand alone as a complete thought. Examples include clauses starting with 'who' or 'which' that act as descriptive information for nouns mentioned in the independent clause.
Step-by-step explanation:
A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a complete thought. It must be connected to an independent clause to form a complete sentence. For example, in the sentence 'Janis spent her vacation in Goa, which is on the west coast of the Indian subcontinent,' the portion in italics is a dependent clause, providing additional information about 'Goa' and starting with the relative pronoun 'which'.
Dependent clauses can start with subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns such as 'who' or 'which'. They function as part of the sentence that enhances or clarifies the meaning of the independent clause. They cannot exist alone and make sense, making them different from independent clauses that can stand alone as complete sentences.
An example of a dependent clause when it starts with 'who': 'She is the person who is best qualified for the job.' This clause cannot stand alone as a sentence; it is providing extra information about the person referred to as 'she'.