What is Subordinate Clause
Clauses can be found in every sentence. A clause is a group of words with a subject and a predicate. Some clauses can express a complete idea whereas some clauses cannot. The clauses that can convey a complete thought are known as independent clauses whereas the clauses that cannot express a complete thought are known as dependent clauses or subordinate clauses.
A subordinate clause can be defined as a group of words that contain a subject and predicate but doesn’t express a complete thought. Since it does not give a complete meaning, it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. This is why a subordinate clause is always combined with an independent clause to form a meaningful sentence.
A subordinate clause generally begins with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. It is this combination that makes the clause incomplete.
Example 1:
He laughed at me. ⇒ Independent Clause
When he laughed at me, ⇒ Subordinate/Dependent Clause
I got angry when he laughed me.⇒ Independent Clause + Subordinate/Dependent Clause
Example 2:
He won the first prize. ⇒ Independent Clause
That he won the first prize, ⇒ Subordinate/Dependent Clause
He told me that he won the first prize. ⇒ Independent Clause + Subordinate/Dependent Clause
Given below are some conjunctions and pronouns that appear at the beginning of a subordinating clause.
|
after |
no matter |
when |
|
although |
since |
whenever |
|
as |
so that |
where |
|
because |
supposing |
whereas |
|
before |
than |
wherever |
|
but that |
that |
whether |
|
if |
though |
which |
|
in order that |
till |
while |
|
how |
unless |
why |
|
lest |
what |
who |
Types of Subordinate Clauses
A subordinate clause can act as a noun, adjective or an adverb. Here are some examples of these different types of subordinate clauses.
Adjective Clause:
The girl who won the race received a grand prize.
We entered the cinema as the lights went out.
Adverb Clause:
We stayed at the beach until the sun went down.
You are safe from him while you have the gold cross.
Noun Clause:
Whatever you do makes no difference.
We have to found out who let the cat out of the bag.
We stayed at the beach until the sun went down.
Examples of Subordinate Clause
Given below are some more examples of subordinate clauses
The class becomes silent when the teacher arrives.
I don’t understand why you’re doing this.
When she smiled with me, everyone started laughing.
We helped him to get out because he was a kind man.
She didn’t understand how he got elected as the president.
If the house is for sale, I’d like to buy it.
This necklace, which was given to me by grandmother, is five hundred years old.
I’ll have to do this myself since no one else volunteered for it.
Subordinate Clause – Summary
- A subordinate clause is a group of words that contain a subject and predicate but doesn’t express a complete thought.
- It cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
- A subordinate clause is also known as a dependent clause.
- A subordinate clause begins with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.
- A subordinate clause can act as a noun, adjective or an adverb.
