Subordinate Clause Lesson - Definition, Types & Examples

Lesson Overview

• What Is a Subordinate Clause?
• Types of Subordinate Clauses
• How Subordinate Clauses Are Structured
• Subordinate Clause vs. Dependent Clause
• Examples of Subordinate Clauses

A subordinate clause is like the supporting actor in a play; it may not stand alone, but it adds depth and meaning to the main performance. In this lesson, you will learn how subordinate clauses function, their different types, and how to use them effectively. You will learn through easy examples that will help you master this important aspect of sentence structure.

What Is a Subordinate Clause?

A subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that has a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone. It depends on the main clause to complete its meaning. It usually starts with words like because, when, if, although, or that.

Example:

• I stayed home because it was raining.
• The main clause is "I stayed home."
• The subordinate clause is "because it was raining."

Take This Quiz :

Independent And Subordinate Clauses Quiz

Types of Subordinate Clauses

Subordinate clauses can be divided into several types based on their function in a sentence. Let's learn about the main types of subordinate clauses:

1. Noun Clause

A noun clause functions as a noun in a sentence. It can act as a subject, object, or complement.

• Example as Subject:
  • "What you said" made me happy.
  • (The noun clause "What you said" is the subject of the sentence.)
• Example as Object:
  • I don't know "where she went."
  • (The noun clause "where she went" acts as the object of the verb "know.")
• Example as Complement:
  • The truth is "that she lied."
  • (The noun clause "that she lied" is the complement of the subject "truth.")
    
    

2. Adjective Clause

An adjective clause (or relative clause) modifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause, providing more details.

• Example:
  • The book "that I borrowed" is on the table.
  • (The adjective clause "that I borrowed" modifies the noun "book.")
    
    

3. Adverbial Clause

An adverbial clause modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It provides information about time, place, reason, condition, manner, etc.

• Example of Time:
  • We will leave "when the rain stops."
  • (The adverbial clause "when the rain stops" explains when we will leave.)
• Example of Condition:
  • "If you study hard," you will pass the test.
  • (The adverbial clause "If you study hard" shows the condition for passing the test.)
• Example of Reason:
  • She is late "because her car broke down."
  • (The adverbial clause "because her car broke down" explains why she is late.)
    
    

4. Relative Clause

A relative clause is another name for an adjective clause, and it usually begins with a relative pronoun like "who," "which," "that," etc.

• Example:
  • The person "who called you" is my friend.
  • (The relative clause "who called you" modifies "person.")
    
    

5. Conditional Clause

A conditional clause expresses a condition that must be met for something else to happen. It is often introduced by "if" or "unless."

• Example:
  • "If it rains tomorrow," we will stay indoors.
  • (The conditional clause "If it rains tomorrow" expresses the condition for staying indoors.)

Take This Quiz :

Subordinate Clauses Quiz: Grammar Test!

How Subordinate Clauses Are Structured

Subordinate clauses need an independent clause to form a complete thought. Here's a guide to understanding how subordinate clauses are structured, along with examples:

1. Understand the Purpose of a Subordinate Clause

• A subordinate clause adds more information to the sentence, but it cannot stand alone because it does not express a complete thought.
• It starts with a subordinating conjunction, which connects the clause to the independent clause.
  
  

2. Identify the Subordinating Conjunction

• A subordinate clause always begins with a subordinating conjunction (e.g., because, although, if, when, while, since, unless, etc.).
• The conjunction indicates the relationship between the subordinate clause and the main clause.

Example:

• "I stayed home because it was raining."
• "because" is the subordinating conjunction.
  
  

3. Look for the Subject and Verb

• Like an independent clause, a subordinate clause has both a subject and a verb.
• The subject of the clause is who or what the clause is about, and the verb tells what the subject is doing.

Example:

• "Although she was tired, she finished the race."
• "she" is the subject, and "was" is the verb.
  
  

4. Understand the Dependent Nature

• A subordinate clause cannot express a complete thought because it begins with a subordinating conjunction. It relies on the independent clause to make sense.
• The subordinate clause provides additional context, reason, condition, or contrast to the main clause.

Example:

• "I missed the bus because I woke up late."
• "because I woke up late" is a subordinate clause that provides the reason for missing the bus. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.
  
  

5. Combining Subordinate Clause with Independent Clause

• The subordinate clause is combined with an independent clause to create a complex sentence. The main clause can come before or after the subordinate clause.

Example 1 (Subordinate clause before):

• "Although it was cold, she went outside."
• "Although it was cold" is the subordinate clause, and it adds the reason why she went outside.

Example 2 (Subordinate clause after):

• "She went outside although it was cold."
• Here, the independent clause "She went outside" comes first, followed by the subordinate clause.

Take This Quiz :

Subordinate Clauses Quiz

Subordinate Clause vs. Dependent Clause

While the terms "subordinate clause" and "dependent clause" are often used interchangeably, they essentially refer to the same thing in grammar. Both types of clauses cannot stand alone as complete sentences and require an independent clause to form a complete thought. The main difference lies in terminology rather than function.

In a "subordinate clause vs dependent clause" discussion, it's important to recognize that a subordinate clause subordinates or "depends" on the main clause to make sense, whether it's called "dependent" or "subordinate." Both need the independent clause to provide context and meaning, forming a complex sentence when joined.

Take This Quiz :

Noun Subordinate Clause Quiz

Examples of Subordinate Clauses

Here are some subordinate clause examples: 

1. Adverbial Subordinate Clauses (show time, cause, condition, etc.)

• Time: "When the movie ends"
  • Example: Let's go for dinner when the movie ends.
• Cause/Reason: "Because I was tired"
  • Example: I went to bed early because I was tired.
• Condition: "If it rains tomorrow"
  • Example: We will cancel the picnic if it rains tomorrow.
• Contrast: "Although she was nervous"
  • Example: Although she was nervous, she gave an excellent presentation.
• Purpose: "So that I could help her"
  • Example: I studied hard so that I could help her.
    
    

2. Relative Subordinate Clauses (describe a noun in the independent clause)

• Example: The book that she borrowed was interesting.
  • Explanation: "that she borrowed" is a relative clause describing "the book."
• Example: I know the person who called you.
  • Explanation: "who called you" describes "the person."
    
    

3. Noun Subordinate Clauses (function as a subject, object, or complement)

• Subject: "What you did"
  • Example: What you did was amazing.
• Object: "Whether she will come"
  • Example: I wonder whether she will come.
• Complement: "That he is leaving"
  • Example: She didn't know that he is leaving.