What Are Subordinate Clauses Examples

Decoding Subordinate Clauses: A Comprehensive Guide with Examples

Understanding subordinate clauses is crucial for mastering grammar and writing complex, nuanced sentences. This comprehensive guide will delve into the world of subordinate clauses, providing clear explanations, diverse examples, and practical exercises to solidify your understanding. We'll explore different types of subordinate clauses, their functions within sentences, and how they contribute to clear and effective communication.

What are Subordinate Clauses?

A subordinate clause, also known as a dependent clause, is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. Unlike independent clauses, which can stand alone as sentences, subordinate clauses rely on an independent clause to complete their meaning. They are “subordinate” because they depend on another clause for their grammatical completeness. Think of them as the supporting players in a sentence, adding detail and complexity to the main idea.

Key Characteristics of Subordinate Clauses:

• Incomplete thought: They cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
• Subject and verb: They always contain a subject (who or what performs the action) and a verb (the action itself).
• Subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun: They are typically introduced by a subordinating conjunction (e.g., because, although, if, since, while, unless) or a relative pronoun (e.g., who, whom, whose, which, that).

Types of Subordinate Clauses

Subordinate clauses are broadly categorized based on their function within a sentence. The main types are:

1. Adverbial Clauses: These clauses modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They answer questions like when, where, why, how, to what extent, and under what conditions.

• Examples:

  • Time: After the rain stopped, we went for a walk. (After the rain stopped modifies "went.")
  • Place: We found the lost puppy where the fence was broken. (where the fence was broken modifies "found.")
  • Reason/Cause: Because it was raining, we stayed inside. (Because it was raining modifies "stayed.")
  • Condition: If it snows tomorrow, we'll build a snowman. (If it snows tomorrow modifies "will build.")
  • Contrast/Concession: Although it was cold, we enjoyed the picnic. (Although it was cold modifies "enjoyed.")
  • Purpose: She studied hard so that she could pass the exam. (so that she could pass the exam modifies "studied")
  • Result: It rained so hard that the streets flooded. (that the streets flooded modifies "rained")
  • Manner: He spoke as if he knew everything. (as if he knew everything modifies "spoke")

2. Adjective Clauses (Relative Clauses): These clauses modify nouns or pronouns. They provide additional information about the noun or pronoun they describe. They are often introduced by relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) or relative adverbs (where, when).

• Examples:

  • Defining/Restrictive: The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting. (that I borrowed from the library is essential to identifying which book.)
  • Non-Defining/Non-Restrictive: My car, which is a bright red convertible, is my pride and joy. (which is a bright red convertible adds extra information but isn't crucial to identifying which car.)
  • Using relative pronouns: The woman who lives next door is a doctor. (who lives next door modifies "woman.")
  • Using relative adverbs: The house where I grew up is now a museum. (where I grew up modifies "house.")

3. Noun Clauses: These clauses function as nouns in a sentence. They can act as subjects, objects, complements, or appositives. They are often introduced by words like that, what, whether, if, who, whom.

• Examples:

  • Subject: That the earth is round is a well-established fact. (That the earth is round is the subject of the sentence.)
  • Direct Object: I believe that he is innocent. (that he is innocent is the direct object of "believe.")
  • Subject Complement: The problem is that we lack resources. (that we lack resources is the subject complement.)
  • Object of a Preposition: She is worried about what might happen next. (what might happen next is the object of the preposition "about.")

Identifying Subordinate Clauses in Sentences

To identify a subordinate clause, look for these key elements:

1. A subject and a verb: Does the group of words have a subject performing an action?
2. A subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun: Is the clause introduced by a word like because, although, if, who, which, that?
3. Incomplete thought: Can the group of words stand alone as a complete sentence? If not, it's likely a subordinate clause.

Examples of Subordinate Clauses in Complex Sentences

Let's examine some more complex sentences to illustrate how subordinate clauses enhance meaning and structure:

• "While the sun shone brightly, we played in the park." Here, "While the sun shone brightly" is an adverbial clause of time, modifying the verb "played."

• "The car, which I bought last year, needs a new battery." "Which I bought last year" is a non-restrictive adjective clause modifying "car."

• "I know that you are telling the truth." "That you are telling the truth" is a noun clause functioning as the direct object of the verb "know."

• "Because the dog barked, the burglar ran away." "Because the dog barked" is an adverbial clause of reason.

• "Although she felt tired, she finished her work." "Although she felt tired" is an adverbial clause of concession.

• "Wherever you go, I will follow." "Wherever you go" is an adverbial clause of place.

Advanced Applications of Subordinate Clauses

Mastering subordinate clauses allows for sophisticated sentence construction, enabling you to express complex ideas with clarity and precision. Consider these advanced applications:

• Embedding Clauses: You can embed subordinate clauses within other subordinate clauses, creating intricate sentence structures (although this should be used sparingly to avoid overly complex and confusing sentences).

• Parallelism with Clauses: Maintain parallel structure when using multiple subordinate clauses within a sentence for clarity and readability.

• Using Different Types of Clauses: Combining different types of subordinate clauses can add depth and richness to your writing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Comma Splices: Don't join two independent clauses with only a comma. Use a semicolon, a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet), or separate them into two sentences.

• Run-on Sentences: Avoid creating excessively long and confusing sentences by overusing subordinate clauses. Break down complex ideas into shorter, more manageable sentences.

• Misplaced Modifiers: Ensure that your subordinate clauses clearly modify the intended words to avoid ambiguity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the difference between a subordinate clause and a phrase?

A: A phrase is a group of related words that does not contain a subject and a verb. A subordinate clause does contain a subject and a verb.

Q: Can a subordinate clause stand alone?

A: No, a subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It needs an independent clause to complete its meaning.

Q: How many subordinate clauses can I have in one sentence?

A: You can have multiple subordinate clauses in a sentence, but it's important to keep the sentence clear and concise. Overusing subordinate clauses can lead to complex and confusing sentences.

Q: What happens if I don't use commas correctly with subordinate clauses?

A: Incorrect comma usage can lead to comma splices, run-on sentences, or misinterpretations of your meaning.

Conclusion

Subordinate clauses are essential tools for constructing complex and nuanced sentences. Understanding their various types and functions empowers you to express yourself with precision and clarity. By mastering the art of using subordinate clauses effectively, you can enhance your writing and communication skills significantly. Practice identifying and using subordinate clauses in your own writing to solidify your understanding and develop a more sophisticated writing style. Remember to always prioritize clarity and conciseness. While complex sentences can be impressive, they shouldn’t come at the cost of readability and understanding.