subordinate clause

(noun)

A clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence but that functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb in a larger sentence.

Related Terms

Examples of subordinate clause in the following topics:

  • Using Varied Sentence Lengths and Styles

    • The two main categories of clauses are independent clauses and subordinate (or dependent) clauses.
    • A simple sentence consists of a single independent clause with no subordinate clauses.
    • A compound sentence consists of multiple independent clauses with no subordinate clauses.
    • A complex sentence consists of at least one independent clause and one subordinate clause.
    • This sentence contains two independent clauses (one before and one after the comma) and each independent clause contains a subordinate clause ("what you eat" and "what you are").

  • Introduction to Pronouns

    • As you can see, relative clauses can be useful in streamlining your writing and improving your flow.
    • Relative pronouns introduce what are called subordinate clauses.
    • Subordinate clauses are phrases within a sentence that modify the subject of the sentence.
    • For example, in the phrase "The girl who wore a yellow dress," the subordinate clause "who wore a yellow dress" helps to modify the subject of "the girl."
    • Similarly, in the phrase "The desk that fell apart," the subordinate clause "that fell apart" helps to identify which desk the writer is talking about.

  • Structure of a Sentence

    • A simple sentence consists of a single independent clause with no subordinate clauses.
    • A compound sentence consists of multiple independent clauses with no subordinate clauses.
    • A complex sentence consists of at least one independent clause and one subordinate clause.
    • In this case, the subordinate clause, "who eat chocolate cake" is in the middle of the sentence.
    • Here, the subordinate clause is, "since he's been eating neighborhood cats."

  • Components of a Sentence

    • (adjective clause)
    • The following are examples of clauses:
    • The following are independent clauses:
    • By contrast, dependent (also called subordinating) clauses cannot stand on their own.
    • The following are dependent clauses:

  • Variations in Orality

    • Oral cultures avoid complex ‘subordinative' clauses.

  • Conjunctions: Coordination, Correlation, Conjunction, and Subordination

    • In English grammar, a conjunction is a part of speech that connects two words, sentences, phrases, or clauses.
    • Coordinating conjunctions are conjunctions that join, or "coordinate," two or more items (such as words, clauses, or sentences) of equal importance.
    • Subordinating conjunctions are conjunctions that join two separate clauses.
    • The most common subordinating conjunctions in the English language include after, although, as, as far as, as if, as long as, as soon as, as though, because, before, even if, even though, every time, if, in order that, since, so, so that, than, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, whereas, wherever, and while.
    • A correlative conjunction is just one type of conjunction, which is a part of speech that connects two words, sentences, phrases, or clauses.

  • Common Comma Mistakes

    • Do not use a comma before a dependent clause that comes after an independent clause.
    • Do not use a comma to set off quotations that occupy a subordinate position in a sentence, often signaled by the words "that," "which," or "because."
    • Or, you can add a word to one clause to make it dependent.
    • If you locate a run-on sentence and find where the two independent clauses "collide," you can decide how best to separate the clauses.
    • Or, you can add a word to one clause to make it dependent.

  • Moods in Dependent Clauses

  • Subordinating Conjunctions

  • The Establishment Clause: Separation of Church and State

    • The Establishment Clause in the First Amendment to the Constitution states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. " Together with the Free Exercise Clause ("... or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"), these two clauses make up what are called the "religion clauses" of the First Amendment.
    • Incorporation of the Establishment Clause in 1947 has been tricky and subject to much more critique than incorporation of the Free Exercise Clause.
    • Critics have also argued that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment is understood to incorporate only individual rights found in the Bill of Rights; the Establishment Clause, unlike the Free Exercise Clause (which critics readily concede protects individual rights), does not purport to protect individual rights.
    • One main question of the Establishment Clause is: does government financial assistance to religious groups violate the Establishment Clause?
    • Distinguish the Establishment Clause from other clauses of the First Amendment