What Is A Subordinate Clause? Examples & How To Spot One
What is a subordinate clause, and why should you care? At first glance, grammar topics like this might seem relevant only to English enthusiasts or linguists.
However, understanding grammar rules and the building blocks of English, including subordinate clauses, will significantly enhance your writing skills. It doesn’t matter if you’re composing an email, crafting a report, or working on a novel, mastering subordinate clauses will help you express complex ideas more clearly and effectively.
And besides this, you use English everyday so may as well understand the structure of what you’re saying right?!
Let’s get started!
TL;DR
- Subordinate clauses are groups of words with a subject and verb that can’t form a complete sentence.
- They provide extra information to main clauses.
- Three types: adverb, adjective and noun clauses
- You can spot them if they don’t make sense by themselves or by being next to subordinating conjunctions e.g although, because, if, when, since, unless, and while.
- Punctuation rules vary based on clause placement in the sentence,
What Is A Subordinate Clause?
A subordinate clause, also known as a dependent clause, is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It relies on the main clause to make sense and provide context. Here are some examples:
- Although I was tired
- When it rains
- because her flight departed soon.
Notice how each of these clauses leaves you wanting more information. Although I was tired… What happened next? When it rains… What occurs? Because her flight departed soon… What was the result or consequence?
These examples illustrate how subordinate clauses introduce an idea but don’t provide a complete thought on their own. They need to be connected to a main clause to form a complete, meaningful sentence. In other words, subordinate clauses set the stage, but it’s the main clause that completes the scene.
Subordinate clauses are usually introduced by subordinating conjunctions, such as because, although, if, when, and while. These conjunctions signal that the clause they introduce will not make sense by itself and needs to be connected to a main clause.
Key Points to Remember:
- A subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a sentence.
- It provides additional information to the main clause.
- It is introduced by a subordinating conjunction.
3 Ways To Spot A Subordinate Clause
1. Look for Subordinating Conjunctions
As I’ve mentioned, subordinate clauses often begin with subordinating conjunctions, which are words like although, because, if, when, since, unless, and while. These words signal that the clause is providing additional information to the main clause. For example:
- Although she was late, she still made it to the meeting.
- When he arrived, the party had already started.
2. Check for an Incomplete Thought
We’ve also covered that a subordinate clause does not express a complete thought on its own. It will leave you asking for more information. If you read a clause and it feels like it’s missing something to make sense, it’s likely a subordinate clause. For example:
- If you want to succeed… (What do you need to do?)
- Because it was raining… (What happened as a result?)
3. Identify the Clause Structure:
A subordinate clause will typically have both a subject and a verb, but it won’t stand alone as a complete sentence. For example:
- While she (subject) was reading (verb)…
- As he (subject) walked home (verb)…
Types of Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses come in various types, each serving a unique purpose in adding depth and detail to a sentence. The main types of subordinate clauses are adverbial, adjectival (or relative), and noun clauses. Let’s break down each one:
1. Adverb Clauses
Adverb clauses are dependent clauses that as the name suggests, function like adverbs. So they modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb in the main clause. They typically answer questions like when, where, why, how, and under what condition something happened and can be at the beginning, middle or end of a sentence. Adverbial clauses often begin with subordinating conjunctions such as because, after, as, though and since.
They essentially add more context or reason for the action, which a single adverb cannot fully convey.
In these examples, the adverb clause gives more detail about the action, while the adverb provides a more concise way to express a similar idea. If you can replace the dependent clause with an adverb, then you probably have an adverb clause!
Example 1:
She studied because she wanted to pass the exam. (adverb clause)
She studied diligently. (adverb)
Example 2:
He left the room after he finished his work. (adverb clause)
He left the room afterwards. (adverb)
Example 3:
They spoke so that they wouldn’t wake the baby. (adverb clause)
They spoke quietly. (adverb)
2. Adjective (Relative) Clauses
Adjective clauses, also known as relative clauses, act like adjectives by modifying a noun or pronoun in the main clause. They typically come after the noun and provide more information about it. These clauses usually start with relative pronouns like who, whom, whose, which, and that.
So a great way to tell if it is an adjective clause, is if it provides more details about the noun in the sentence. Let’s take a look;
Example 1: The book that you lent me was fascinating. The adjective clause it ‘that you lent me’ because it tells us more about the noun in the sentence, the book.
Example 2: Sophie, whose graduation is tomorrow, might not make dinner tonight. The adjective clause ‘whose graduation is tomorrow’ gives us more information about Sophie.
Example 3: The restaurant where we had our first date has closed down. ‘Where we had our first date’ tells us more about the restaurant and so is the adjective clause.
3. Noun Clauses
Noun clauses function as nouns within the sentence. They also must contain a subject and a verb. Noun clauses often begin with words like that, where, whoever, when, how, who, whom, whether, which and why.
Example 1: What he said was surprising. ‘What he said’ is the noun clause.
Example 2: I don’t know why she left early. The noun clause is ‘why she left early’.
Example 3: Her biggest fear is that she will fail. ‘that she will fail’ is the noun clause.
Tip! If you can replace the clause with a pronoun, it’s a noun clause. Let’s look at those examples again with a pronoun replacing the noun clause.
- She was surprising.
- I don’t know her.
- Her biggest fear is you.
So first ask yourself where the dependent clause is and then see if you can replace it with a pronoun to determine whether or not it is a noun clause.
How To Punctate A Subordinate Clause
When using subordinate clauses in a sentence, the placement of the clause in relation to the main clause affects punctuation. This can get complicated, especially when dealing with different types of clauses, so let’s break it down into a few rules.
1. When you start a sentence with a subordinate clause, use a comma to separate it from the main clause.
Example: Because she was late, she missed the bus.’
2. If the subordinate clause follows the main clause, do not use a comma.
Example: She missed the bus because she was late.
3. When the subordinate clause is inserted into the middle of the main clause and adds non-essential information, use commas on both sides.
Example: ‘The book, which was on the table, was a bestseller.’
4. No commas are needed if the subordinate clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence, whether it appears before or after the main clause.
Example: ‘The students who studied passed the test.’
Great Job! You Know All About Subordinate Clauses
If you’ve grasped the concept that a subordinate clause is a group of words that cannot form a complete sentence, then you’re already on your way to improving your writing.
These clauses might not stand alone like independent clauses, but they pack a punch by adding depth and context to your sentences. By using subordinate clauses effectively, you can create more engaging and dynamic prose. Good luck!
