Understanding subordinate clauses is crucial for mastering complex sentence structures in English. These clauses add depth and nuance to your writing and speaking, allowing you to express intricate relationships between ideas.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to subordinate clauses, covering their definition, types, functions, and usage. Whether you’re an English language learner, a student preparing for exams, or simply someone looking to improve their grammar skills, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and practice you need to confidently use subordinate clauses.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of Subordinate Clause
- Structural Breakdown
- Types of Subordinate Clauses
- Examples of Subordinate Clauses
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition of Subordinate Clause
A subordinate clause, also known as a dependent clause, is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It depends on a main clause (also called an independent clause) to form a complete thought. Subordinate clauses begin with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun, which connects them to the main clause. The primary function of a subordinate clause is to provide additional information about the main clause, acting as a noun, adjective, or adverb within the sentence.
To further clarify, a clause, in general, contains a subject and a verb. However, unlike an independent clause that expresses a complete thought, a subordinate clause leaves the reader or listener expecting more information.
It is “subordinate” because it is of lesser importance or rank than the main clause. Understanding the difference between these two types of clauses is fundamental to constructing grammatically correct and complex sentences.
Subordinate clauses add complexity and depth to writing. They allow writers to express nuanced relationships between ideas, providing context, reasons, conditions, and additional details.
Without subordinate clauses, sentences would be shorter and simpler, potentially lacking the richness and precision needed to convey complex thoughts.
Structural Breakdown
The structure of a subordinate clause typically involves a few key components. These include a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun, a subject, and a verb. The subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun introduces the clause and establishes its relationship to the main clause. The subject performs the action, and the verb describes the action or state of being.
The following pattern illustrates the basic structure:
Subordinating Conjunction/Relative Pronoun + Subject + Verb (+ Object/Complement)
For example, in the sentence “Because it was raining, we stayed inside,” the subordinate clause is “because it was raining.” Here, “because” is the subordinating conjunction, “it” is the subject, and “was raining” is the verb. The main clause is “we stayed inside,” which can stand alone as a complete sentence.
Another key aspect of subordinate clauses is their placement within a sentence. They can appear before, after, or even within the main clause. When a subordinate clause comes before the main clause, it is usually followed by a comma. However, when it follows the main clause, a comma is generally not required, unless it’s a nonrestrictive clause (more on that later).
Consider these examples to illustrate the placement:
- Before: If you study hard, you will succeed.
- After: You will succeed if you study hard.
- Within: The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting.
Types of Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses are categorized based on their function within the sentence. There are three primary types:
- Noun Clauses
- Adjective Clauses (Relative Clauses)
- Adverb Clauses
Noun Clauses
A noun clause functions as a noun within a sentence. This means it can take the place of a subject, object, complement, or appositive. Noun clauses typically begin with words like that, what, who, whom, whoever, whomever, which, whichever, when, where, why, how, whether, or if.
Examples of noun clauses in different roles:
- Subject: What he said surprised everyone.
- Object: I don’t know what I should do.
- Complement: The problem is that we don’t have enough time.
- Appositive: My belief, that she is innocent, remains unchanged.
Adjective Clauses (Relative Clauses)
An adjective clause, also known as a relative clause, modifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause. It provides additional information about the noun it modifies. Adjective clauses usually begin with relative pronouns (who, whom, which, that, whose) or relative adverbs (where, when, why).
There are two types of adjective clauses: restrictive (essential) and nonrestrictive (nonessential). A restrictive clause is necessary to identify the noun it modifies, while a nonrestrictive clause provides extra information that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Nonrestrictive clauses are set off by commas.
Examples:
- Restrictive: The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting.
- Nonrestrictive: My sister, who lives in London, is a doctor.
Adverb Clauses
An adverb clause modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb in the main clause. It provides information about time, place, manner, cause, purpose, condition, result, or degree. Adverb clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions such as because, although, if, when, while, since, before, after, until, as, as if, as long as, so that, in order that, even though, unless, where, wherever.
Examples of adverb clauses indicating different relationships:
- Time: When the bell rings, the students leave the classroom.
- Place: You can sit wherever you like.
- Manner: He acted as if he owned the place.
- Cause: Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
- Purpose: We study hard so that we can pass the exam.
- Condition: If it rains, we will cancel the picnic.
- Result: It was so cold that the lake froze.
- Degree: He is as tall as his father.
Examples of Subordinate Clauses
To solidify your understanding, let’s explore more examples of each type of subordinate clause.
Noun Clause Examples
The following table provides a variety of sentences using noun clauses in different grammatical functions. Study each example carefully to understand how the noun clause operates within the larger sentence structure.
| Sentence | Noun Clause | Function |
|---|---|---|
| What she said made me think. | What she said | Subject |
| I don’t know why he left. | why he left | Object |
| The question is whether we should go. | whether we should go | Complement |
| Her concern, that the project might fail, was valid. | that the project might fail | Appositive |
| Whoever wins will receive a prize. | Whoever wins | Subject |
| I will give it to whomever needs it most. | whomever needs it most | Object |
| She asked if I was going to the party. | if I was going to the party | Object |
| That he is innocent is obvious. | That he is innocent | Subject |
| I believe that honesty is the best policy. | that honesty is the best policy | Object |
| The truth is that I was wrong. | that I was wrong | Complement |
| How he did it remains a mystery. | How he did it | Subject |
| Tell me what you want. | what you want | Object |
| This depends on what you decide. | what you decide | Object |
| What happens next is crucial. | What happens next | Subject |
| I am interested in where she’s from. | where she’s from | Object |
| That he will succeed is my hope. | That he will succeed | Subject |
| He knows who is coming to the party. | who is coming to the party | Object |
| The reason is why she left early. | why she left early | Complement |
| My fear, that I’ll fail the test, is constant. | that I’ll fail the test | Appositive |
| We need to determine when the project is due. | when the project is due | Object |
| What you need is a good rest. | What you need | Subject |
| They discussed how to solve the problem. | how to solve the problem | Object |
| Their concern was what would happen to their jobs. | what would happen to their jobs | Complement |
| The rumour, that he’s resigning, is spreading. | that he’s resigning | Appositive |
| Whatever she decides is fine with me. | Whatever she decides | Subject |
Adjective Clause Examples
Adjective clauses provide essential or nonessential information about a noun or pronoun. The table below demonstrates the use of both restrictive and nonrestrictive adjective clauses, highlighting the difference in punctuation and meaning.
| Sentence | Adjective Clause | Type | Modified Noun |
|---|---|---|---|
| The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting. | that I borrowed from the library | Restrictive | book |
| My sister, who lives in London, is a doctor. | who lives in London | Nonrestrictive | sister |
| The man whom I saw yesterday is my teacher. | whom I saw yesterday | Restrictive | man |
| This is the house where I grew up. | where I grew up | Restrictive | house |
| The reason why he left is still unknown. | why he left | Restrictive | reason |
| The student whose essay won the prize is very talented. | whose essay won the prize | Restrictive | student |
| The car, which is very old, still runs well. | which is very old | Nonrestrictive | car |
| She is the woman who helped me. | who helped me | Restrictive | woman |
| The city where I was born is beautiful. | where I was born | Restrictive | city |
| My friend, who is a musician, plays the guitar. | who is a musician | Nonrestrictive | friend |
| The movie that we watched last night was amazing. | that we watched last night | Restrictive | movie |
| The teacher, whom everyone respects, is retiring. | whom everyone respects | Nonrestrictive | teacher |
| The time when we met was unforgettable. | when we met | Restrictive | time |
| The painting, which was very expensive, was stolen. | which was very expensive | Nonrestrictive | painting |
| He is the person who saved my life. | who saved my life | Restrictive | person |
| The park where we had our picnic is lovely. | where we had our picnic | Restrictive | park |
| My cat, which is very fluffy, loves to sleep. | which is very fluffy | Nonrestrictive | cat |
| The song that I heard on the radio is stuck in my head. | that I heard on the radio | Restrictive | song |
| The author, whose books I admire, is giving a lecture. | whose books I admire | Nonrestrictive | author |
| The day when I graduated was a happy one. | when I graduated | Restrictive | day |
| The building, which is very tall, is a landmark. | which is very tall | Nonrestrictive | building |
| She is the artist who painted this masterpiece. | who painted this masterpiece | Restrictive | artist |
| The restaurant where we had dinner is excellent. | where we had dinner | Restrictive | restaurant |
| My dog, which is very playful, loves to fetch. | which is very playful | Nonrestrictive | dog |
| The idea that he proposed is innovative. | that he proposed | Restrictive | idea |
Adverb Clause Examples
Adverb clauses modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs, providing context related to time, place, manner, cause, purpose, condition, result, or degree. This table illustrates the diverse functions of adverb clauses and the subordinating conjunctions that introduce them.
| Sentence | Adverb Clause | Type |
|---|---|---|
| When the bell rings, the students leave the classroom. | When the bell rings | Time |
| You can sit wherever you like. | wherever you like | Place |
| He acted as if he owned the place. | as if he owned the place | Manner |
| Because it was raining, we stayed inside. | Because it was raining | Cause |
| We study hard so that we can pass the exam. | so that we can pass the exam | Purpose |
| If it rains, we will cancel the picnic. | If it rains | Condition |
| It was so cold that the lake froze. | that the lake froze | Result |
| He is as tall as his father. | as his father | Degree |
| Although he was tired, he kept working. | Although he was tired | Concession |
| I will call you after I arrive. | after I arrive | Time |
| He went where he could find peace. | where he could find peace | Place |
| She sings as beautifully as an angel. | as beautifully as an angel | Manner |
| Since you asked, I will tell you the truth. | Since you asked | Cause |
| They exercise regularly in order that they stay healthy. | in order that they stay healthy | Purpose |
| Unless you hurry, you will miss the bus. | Unless you hurry | Condition |
| The music was so loud that we couldn’t hear each other. | that we couldn’t hear each other | Result |
| She is as smart as her brother. | as her brother | Degree |
| Even though it was difficult, he succeeded. | Even though it was difficult | Concession |
| I will leave before it gets dark. | before it gets dark | Time |
| We will meet where the river flows. | where the river flows | Place |
| He speaks as if he knows everything. | as if he knows everything | Manner |
| As he was late, he missed the meeting. | As he was late | Cause |
| She saved money so that she could travel. | so that she could travel | Purpose |
| Provided that you agree, we will proceed. | Provided that you agree | Condition |
Usage Rules
Several rules govern the correct usage of subordinate clauses. These rules pertain to punctuation, verb tense agreement, and the choice of appropriate subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns.
- Punctuation: As mentioned earlier, use a comma after a subordinate clause that comes before the main clause. If the subordinate clause follows the main clause and is essential to the meaning (restrictive), do not use a comma. If it’s nonessential (nonrestrictive), use commas to set it off.
- Verb Tense Agreement: Ensure that the verb tenses in the main clause and the subordinate clause are logically consistent. For example, “I knew that he was coming” (both verbs in the past tense).
- Subordinating Conjunctions and Relative Pronouns: Choose the correct conjunction or pronoun to accurately convey the intended relationship between the clauses. For instance, use “because” to indicate cause, “if” to indicate a condition, and “who” to refer to people.
Consider these examples illustrating proper punctuation:
- Correct: Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
- Correct: We stayed inside because it was raining.
- Correct: My sister, who lives in London, is a doctor.
- Correct: The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting.
And these examples show correct tense agreement:
- Correct: I think that he will arrive tomorrow.
- Correct: I thought that he would arrive the next day.
- Incorrect: I think that he arrived yesterday. (Tense disagreement)
Common Mistakes
Several common mistakes can occur when using subordinate clauses. These include incorrect punctuation, misuse of conjunctions or pronouns, and errors in verb tense agreement.
Recognizing these mistakes can help you avoid them in your own writing.
Here are some examples of common errors and their corrections:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Because it was raining we stayed inside. | Because it was raining, we stayed inside. | Missing comma after the subordinate clause. |
| I don’t know that should I do. | I don’t know what I should do. | Incorrect use of “that” instead of “what.” |
| The reason why he left is because he was angry. | The reason why he left is that he was angry. OR He left because he was angry. | Redundant use of “reason why” and “because.” |
| The book who I borrowed is interesting. | The book that I borrowed is interesting. | Incorrect use of “who” instead of “that” for objects. |
| If I would have known, I would have told you. | If I had known, I would have told you. | Incorrect conditional structure. |
| Although he is rich, but he is unhappy. | Although he is rich, he is unhappy. OR He is rich, but he is unhappy. | Avoid using “but” after “although.” |
| She asked that if I was coming. | She asked if I was coming. | Do not use “that” and “if” together. |
| I will go to the store, after I finish my work. | I will go to the store after I finish my work. | No comma needed when the adverb clause follows the main clause and is restrictive. |
| The man, who’s car was stolen, was upset. | The man whose car was stolen was upset. | Confusing “who’s” (who is) with “whose” (possessive). |
| He said that he will come. | He said that he would come. | Incorrect tense agreement. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of subordinate clauses with these practice exercises. Identify the subordinate clauses in each sentence and determine their type (noun, adjective, or adverb).
Then, fill in the blanks with appropriate subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns.
Exercise 1: Identifying Subordinate Clauses
Identify the subordinate clause in each sentence and classify it as noun, adjective, or adverb.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Because it was cold, I wore a jacket. | Subordinate Clause: Because it was cold; Type: Adverb |
| 2. The book that I read last night was fantastic. | Subordinate Clause: that I read last night; Type: Adjective |
| 3. I don’t know what he wants. | Subordinate Clause: what he wants; Type: Noun |
| 4. If it rains, we will stay home. | Subordinate Clause: If it rains; Type: Adverb |
| 5. The house where I grew up is still there. | Subordinate Clause: where I grew up; Type: Adjective |
| 6. What she said surprised me. | Subordinate Clause: What she said; Type: Noun |
| 7. He left before I arrived. | Subordinate Clause: before I arrived; Type: Adverb |
| 8. The movie that we saw was scary. | Subordinate Clause: that we saw; Type: Adjective |
| 9. I wonder why he is late. | Subordinate Clause: why he is late; Type: Noun |
| 10. Although he tried hard, he failed. | Subordinate Clause: Although he tried hard; Type: Adverb |
Exercise 2: Filling in the Blanks
Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with an appropriate subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. I will go to the party _______ I finish my work. | after |
| 2. The man _______ helped me was very kind. | who |
| 3. I don’t know _______ he is coming or not. | whether |
| 4. _______ it rains, we will cancel the trip. | If |
| 5. This is the place _______ I met my wife. | where |
| 6. _______ he was tired, he kept working. | Although |
| 7. I will give it to _______ needs it most. | whoever |
| 8. The reason _______ he left is still unknown. | why |
| 9. He studies hard _______ he can pass the exam. | so that |
| 10. The book _______ I borrowed from you is very interesting. | that |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, there are more complex aspects of subordinate clauses to explore. These include:
- Elliptical Clauses: These are clauses where some words are omitted but understood from the context. For example, “Although tired, he kept working” (Although he was tired…).
- Reduced Relative Clauses: These are adjective clauses where the relative pronoun and auxiliary verb are omitted. For example, “The book written by Hemingway is a classic” (The book that was written by Hemingway…).
- Nominal Relative Clauses: These are clauses that combine the functions of a relative clause and a noun clause. They begin with “what” or “whatever.” For example, “I’ll give you what I have.”
Understanding these advanced concepts can further refine your ability to use subordinate clauses effectively and precisely.
FAQ
- What is the difference between a clause and a phrase?
A clause contains a subject and a verb, while a phrase does not. A clause can be either independent (able to stand alone as a sentence) or dependent (subordinate). A phrase functions as a single part of speech, such as a noun phrase or a verb phrase.
- How can I identify a subordinate clause in a sentence?
Look for a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It will usually begin with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.
- What are some common subordinating conjunctions?
Common subordinating conjunctions include because, if, when, while, since, although, though, unless, before, after, until, as, so that, in order that, even though.
- What are the relative pronouns?
The relative pronouns are who, whom, which, that, and whose. They introduce adjective clauses and relate them to the nouns they modify.
- Can a subordinate clause come before the main clause?
Yes, a subordinate clause can come before the main clause. When it does, it is usually followed by a comma.
- Is it always necessary to use a comma with a subordinate clause?
No. If the subordinate clause comes after the main clause and is essential to the meaning of the sentence (restrictive), a comma is not needed. Commas are used with nonrestrictive clauses, regardless of their position.
- What is the difference between a restrictive and a nonrestrictive adjective clause?
A restrictive clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence and identifies the noun it modifies. A nonrestrictive clause provides additional, nonessential information and is set off by commas.
- How do I choose the correct relative pronoun?
Use who or whom to refer to people, which to refer to things, that to refer to people or things, and whose to show possession.
- What is an elliptical clause?
An elliptical clause is a clause where some words are omitted but understood from the context. For example, “While walking, I saw a bird” (While I was walking…).
- How can I improve my ability to use subordinate clauses correctly?
Practice identifying and using subordinate clauses in your own writing. Read widely and pay attention to how authors use them. Review grammar rules and seek feedback on your writing.
Conclusion
Mastering subordinate clauses is essential for developing sophisticated and nuanced communication skills in English. By understanding their definition, types, functions, and usage rules, you can significantly enhance your writing and speaking abilities.
Remember to pay attention to punctuation, verb tense agreement, and the correct choice of conjunctions and pronouns. Practice identifying and using subordinate clauses regularly, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different sentence structures to add depth and complexity to your expression.
With consistent effort and attention to detail, you can confidently incorporate subordinate clauses into your everyday communication.