A01_RICH4603_04_SE_A01.QXD

dependency grammar

dependency grammar n

a grammatical theory in which the verb is considered to be the central and

most important unit. Verbs are classified according to the number of noun

phrases they require to complete a sentence. This number is called the valency

of the verb. The English verb blush, for instance, would have a valency of one:

The verb give, as in The salesgirl gave Jane the parcel would have a valency

of three:

This type of grammar has been developed mainly in France and Germany

and is different from many other grammars because of its verb-centred

approach.

see also case grammar

dependent clause n
also subordinate clause
a clause which must be used with another clause to form a complete gram-
matical construction. It depends on the other clause and is subordinate to it.
A clause which can be used on its own is called an independent clause.
For example:
When it rains, please bring in the washing.
dependent independent
clause clause
She told me that she was going abroad
independent dependent
clause clause
Dependent or subordinate clauses are often linked to independent clauses
by a subordinating conjunctionlike when,that, etc., or by a relative
pronoun like who,whose, etc.
An independent clause (also called a main clauseor a principal clause)
does not depend on another clause, although it may be linked to another
independent clause, or to a dependent clause. For example: