Question

what would a dependent clause need in order to stand in its own as a sentence

Answer 1

A dependent clause cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought. In order for a dependent clause to stand alone as a sentence, it would need to be transformed into an independent clause. This typically involves removing the subordinating conjunction (such as "because," "although," "if," "when," etc.) that makes it dependent.

For example, take the dependent clause: "because it was raining." To stand on its own as a complete sentence, it could be transformed into an independent clause, such as: "It was raining."

In summary, a dependent clause needs to be restructured or combined with an independent clause in order to function as a complete sentence.