Subordinate clauses
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Summary
Subordinate clauses
In a nutshell
Subordinate clauses are those that depend on a main clause. They do not make sense on their own. Rather, they add more information about a subject / main clause.
What is a subordinate clause?
There are two things that make a subordinate clause a subordinate clause:
- It can't stand by itself or make sense on its own.
- It needs to be combined with a main clause in order to make sense in a sentence (it "depends on" the main clause).
Subordinate clauses are often used to give extra information, for example about the time or place something happens, or about the subject of the sentence.
Examples
Jack, who is ten years old, ...
When I go to secondary school, ...
Paris, which is in France, ...
As you can see, the clauses highlighted in bold do not make sense on their own as a full sentence.
Complex sentences
Complex sentences are ones that contain both a main clause and a subordinate clause, separated by a comma or a pair of commas. Take a look back at the previous examples and turn them into full, complex sentences.
Examples
| Key: | = main clause | = subordinate clause |
1. | Jack, who is ten years old, climbed the tree. |  |
2. | Paris, which is in France, is the most visited city in the world. |  |
3. | When I go to secondary school, I will start learning German. |  |
- Sentences (1.) and (2.) are separated by a pair of commas, with the subordinate clause "sandwiched" between the main clause. This is because it's giving more information about the subject – Jack and Paris. Notice how the main clause (in blue) makes sense on its own – the subordinate clause (in green) "interrupts" the flow of the main clause.
- Sentence (3.) has the subordinate clause and the main clause separated by one comma. This is because it contains a subordinating conjunction ("When", here).
Definitions
| Main clause | A phrase that make sense on its own inside a sentence. |
| Subordinate clause | A phrase that depends on another main clause to make sense. |
| Subordinating conjunction | A word/phrase that introduces a subordinate clause. ExamplesWhen, because, although. |
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
What is a subordinating conjunction?
A subordinating conjunction is a word/phrase that introduces a subordinate clause.
What is an example of a subordinate clause?
In "Jack, who is ten years old, climbed the tree", the subordinate clause is "who is ten years old".
What is a subordinate clause?
Subordinate clauses are those that depend on a main clause. They do not make sense on their own. Rather, they add more information about a subject / main clause.