Have you ever found yourself reading a sentence and wondering why some parts just don’t seem to stand alone? That’s the magic of subordinate clauses.
They’re like the supporting actors of a sentence, adding depth, information, and context, but never quite taking center stage. If you’ve ever struggled with understanding these complex sentence structures, you’re not alone.
In this post, I’m going to dive deep into subordinate clauses what they are, how they function, and provide you with 11 detailed examples that’ll help you master them.
I’ll walk you through different types of subordinate clauses, provide step-by-step instructions on how they work, and even share my personal insights to help you grasp these essential parts of sentence construction.
By the end, you’ll be able to confidently spot subordinate clauses and use them in your own writing.
What is a Subordinate Clause?
To kick things off, let’s break down the concept of a subordinate clause.
A subordinate clause, also known as a dependent clause, is a part of a sentence that cannot stand alone. It’s not a complete thought and relies on the main clause (independent clause) to give it meaning. You’ll find that subordinate clauses add extra details, like time, reason, condition, or place, but they don’t have the full structure to be a sentence by themselves.
For example:
- “Although it was raining, I decided to go for a walk.”
The phrase “Although it was raining” is a subordinate clause. It provides context, but on its own, it doesn’t make complete sense.
Types of Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses come in various forms, and understanding their different types can help you spot them easily. Here are the most common types:
- Adverbial Clauses
- These clauses act like adverbs, providing information about how, when, where, why, or under what condition something happens.
Example: 1
- “I’ll stay home because I’m feeling sick.”
(“because I’m feeling sick” is the adverbial clause explaining the reason for staying home.) - Relative Clauses
- Relative clauses modify nouns, often introduced by relative pronouns like “who,” “which,” or “that.”
Example: 2
- “The book that I borrowed is on the table.”
(“that I borrowed” modifies “the book.”) - Noun Clauses
- Noun clauses act as nouns in a sentence. They can be subjects, objects, or complements.
Example: 3
- “What she said surprised me.”
(“What she said” is a noun clause acting as the subject.) - Conditional Clauses
- These clauses describe situations that might happen or depend on something else (often introduced by “if” or “unless”).
Example: 4
- “If it rains, we’ll stay inside.”
(“If it rains” is a conditional clause.) - Comparative Clauses
- Comparative clauses are used to compare two things or actions.
Example: 5
- “She runs faster than I do.”
(“than I do” is a comparative clause.)
How to Identify a Subordinate Clause
Identifying a subordinate clause can seem tricky at first, but once you understand its key features, it becomes easier. Here are some tips:
- Look for Subordinating Conjunctions
Words like “although,” “because,” “if,” “while,” and “when” are often used to introduce subordinate clauses. - Check for a Subject and Verb
Every subordinate clause contains at least one subject and one verb, but it still can’t stand alone as a complete thought. - Determine Dependence on the Main Clause
A subordinate clause relies on a main clause to form a complete idea. Without the main clause, it sounds incomplete or fragmented.
11 Examples of Subordinate Clauses in Action
Now, let’s explore 11 examples that cover different types of subordinate clauses. Each example will help you understand how they function within sentences.
1. Adverbial Clause of Time
- Example:
“We left the house when the sun began to set.”
The subordinate clause, “when the sun began to set,” provides context about the time.
2. Adverbial Clause of Reason
- Example:
“She was late because her car broke down.”
The clause “because her car broke down” explains why she was late.
3. Adverbial Clause of Condition
- Example:
“If you study hard, you will pass the exam.”
The subordinate clause “If you study hard” sets a condition for passing the exam.
4. Adverbial Clause of Concession
- Example:
“Although he was tired, he finished his homework.”
The clause “Although he was tired” introduces a concession to the main action.
5. Relative Clause Defining
- Example:
“The teacher who loves books is my favorite.”
“Who loves books” modifies and defines the noun “teacher.”
6. Relative Clause Non-defining
- Example:
“My sister, who lives in New York, is visiting us this weekend.”
The clause “who lives in New York” provides extra information but isn’t essential to identifying the noun “sister.”
7. Noun Clause as Subject
- Example:
“What you did was impressive.”
“What you did” functions as the subject of the sentence.
8. Noun Clause as Object
- Example:
“I don’t know what happened.”
“What happened” is the object of the verb “know.”
9. Noun Clause as Complement
- Example:
“The problem is that we don’t have enough time.”
“That we don’t have enough time” complements the subject “the problem.”
10. Conditional Clause
- Example:
“Unless you hurry, we’ll be late.”
The conditional clause “Unless you hurry” sets a condition for the main action.
11. Comparative Clause
- Example:
“This book is better than the one I read last week.”
“Than the one I read last week” is a comparative clause that compares the two books.
How Subordinate Clauses Improve Writing
Subordinate clauses are essential for crafting more complex and nuanced sentences. Here’s why they can be a game-changer for your writing:
- Add Detail and Depth
Subordinate clauses provide additional information that can make your writing more detailed and engaging. - Create Variety in Sentence Structure
They help you avoid overly simple, choppy sentences, allowing for smoother and more varied sentence structures. - Make Your Writing More Fluid
By connecting ideas, subordinate clauses can make your writing flow better, making it easier to follow. - Show Relationships Between Ideas
Subordinate clauses allow you to show the relationship between different actions or events in a sentence, like cause and effect or time relationships.
Types of Subordinate Clauses
| Type of Subordinate Clause | Example Sentence | Function |
| Adverbial Clause (Time) | “I’ll wait here until you return.” | Provides a time context |
| Adverbial Clause (Reason) | “She smiled because she was happy.” | Explains the reason |
| Relative Clause (Defining) | “The car that is parked outside is mine.” | Identifies the noun |
| Relative Clause (Non-defining) | “My brother, who is a doctor, lives abroad.” | Adds extra info about the noun |
| Noun Clause (Subject) | “What you said made me think.” | Acts as the subject |
| Conditional Clause | “If you try, you’ll succeed.” | States a condition |
Insights on Using Subordinate Clauses
In my experience, mastering subordinate clauses is like learning to paint with words. They allow you to add layers of meaning, nuance, and depth to your writing, making it feel more sophisticated without being overcomplicated. I’ve found that using a variety of subordinate clauses in my own writing helps to break up the monotony of simple sentences and keeps the reader engaged.
A quick tip from me: Start experimenting with one type of subordinate clause at a time. For instance, focus on adverbial clauses for a while, and once you’re comfortable, move on to relative clauses. Before you know it, you’ll be able to weave them together naturally.
Conclusion
To sum up, subordinate clauses are essential building blocks in writing that add complexity, detail, and depth to your sentences. By understanding and using them effectively, you can elevate your writing and make it more engaging for your readers.
So, the next time you’re writing a sentence, think about how you can add a subordinate clause to give it more meaning or context. Whether it’s describing a condition, offering a reason, or adding extra information about a noun, subordinate clauses make all the difference.
I hope this post helped clear up any confusion about subordinate clauses. What’s your favorite way to use them in writing? Let me know in the comments below, and if you found this article helpful, don’t forget to share it with others!
FAQs:
Q1: Can a subordinate clause be more than one sentence long?
A subordinate clause can consist of multiple words, but it will always be a fragment—it doesn’t form a complete sentence by itself. However, it can still be quite lengthy depending on how much detail it adds.
Q2: Are subordinate clauses the same as independent clauses?
No, subordinate clauses can’t stand alone as sentences, whereas independent clauses can. Independent clauses express complete thoughts, while subordinate clauses need support from the main clause to make sense.
Q3: Can a subordinate clause appear at the beginning of a sentence?
Yes, subordinate clauses can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. For example: “Because it was raining, we decided to stay indoors.”
It’s important to use commas appropriately if the subordinate clause comes at the start.
