A dependent clause can act as which part of speech within the structure of a sentence? A. verb B. pronoun C. adjective D. conjunction

Break Down the Problem

1. Identify what a dependent clause is.
2. Determine the functions of dependent clauses in a sentence.
3. Analyze the options provided to see which part of speech a dependent clause can be.

Relevant Concepts

A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and functions as part of a larger sentence. It can modify a noun or a verb, but it inherently does not function as a standalone part of speech.

Analysis and Detail

1. Option A: verb - A dependent clause contains a verb, but it itself does not act purely as a verb.
2. Option B: pronoun - While dependent clauses can contain pronouns, they do not function as pronouns.
3. Option C: adjective - A dependent clause can act to modify a noun, similar to how an adjective would.
4. Option D: conjunction - While dependent clauses often begin with conjunctions (e.g., because, although), they do not function as conjunctions.

Verify and Summarize

Upon analyzing the options, the best choice is that a dependent clause can act as an adjective since it modifies a noun within the sentence structure.

Final Answer

C. adjective