DMW

by Chris Engelsma
A DMW (Dependent Marker Word) is a word that begins or marks out a dependent clause. For example:

After we fell off the roof, we ran to the house.

“After” is the DMW. “After we fell off the roof” is the dependent clause.

There are two kinds of DMWs:

  1. subordinating conjunctions, and
  2. relative pronouns.
The important point is this:

When the DMW is an subordinating conjunction, then the clause is functioning adverbially.
When the DMW is a relative pronoun, the clause is generally acting adjectivally.

Here is a list of common subordinating conjunctions:
after, although, if, unless, as, inasmuch, until, as if, in order that, when, as long as, lest, whenever, as much as, now that, where, as soon as, provided (that), wherever, as though, since, while, because, so that, before, than, even if, that, how, till ( or ’til), even though, though

There are only six relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, that, what. You can also add “-ever?” to some of these and they are still relative pronouns; e.g. whoever, whichever, etc.

 

In Greek, οτι is a common DMW. In Hebrew, אשר and כי are common DMWs.

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