English Subordinate Clauses: Types and Functions

Understanding Subordinate Clauses in English Grammar

Subordinate clauses, also known as dependent clauses, are essential components of complex sentences. They cannot stand alone as a complete thought and must be connected to a main (independent) clause. These clauses add detail, context, and complexity to your writing. Let's explore their main types and functions.

Subordinate Noun Clauses

Noun clauses function as a noun within a sentence. They can act as the subject, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition, or a predicate nominative.

Example:

• Original: "I do not like football." (Simple sentence, "football" is the direct object.)
• Complex: "I do not like that he kicks the ball so hard." (Here, "that he kicks the ball so hard" is a noun clause functioning as the direct object of "like".)

A noun clause often begins with words like that, what, whatever, who, whoever, whom, whomever, whose, which, when, where, why, how, if, or whether.

Subordinate Adjective (Relative) Clauses

Adjective clauses, also called relative clauses, function like adjectives. They modify a noun or pronoun in the main clause, providing more information about it.

Example:

• Simple: "The handsome boy called Michael." ("handsome" is an adjective modifying "boy".)
• Complex: "The boy, who has entered, is called Michael." (Here, "who has entered" is an adjective clause modifying "boy". It's an explanatory clause, set off by commas, providing additional, non-essential information.)

Adjective clauses typically begin with relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) or relative adverbs (where, when, why).

Subordinate Adjective Clauses Without Antecedent (Free Relative Clauses)

These clauses are similar to adjective clauses but omit the explicit noun or pronoun they would normally modify. The clause itself acts as a noun, implying the antecedent.

Example:

• Instead of: "The person who entered is called Miguel."
• It becomes: "Whoever entered is called Miguel." (Here, "Whoever entered" functions as the subject of the sentence, implicitly referring to "the person who entered".)

Subordinate Adverbial Clauses

Adverbial clauses function like adverbs, modifying a verb, an adjective, or another adverb in the main clause. They provide information about time, place, manner, cause, consequence, condition, concession, or purpose. They can be classified as proper or improper.

Example:

• "We stayed where we ate last time." (The clause "where we ate last time" functions as a circumstantial complement of place, modifying "stayed".)

Types of Adverbial Clauses and Their Connectors:

• Subordinate Clauses of Place

  Mark a location connected with the main clause.

  Connectors: where, wherever, anywhere, everywhere

• Subordinate Clauses of Manner

  Indicate how the main action is performed.

  Connectors: as, as if, as though, the way, how

• Subordinate Clauses of Time

  Report something that occurs before, after, or concurrently with the main action.

  Connectors: when, while, as soon as, before, after, until, since, by the time, once

• Subordinate Comparative Clauses

  Establish a comparison with the main clause.

  • Equality: as...as, so...as, such...as
  • Superiority: more...than
  • Inferiority: less...than

• Subordinate Causal Clauses

  Explain the reason or cause for the main action.

  Connectors: because, since, as, given that, due to the fact that, now that

• Subordinate Consequence Clauses

  Express a result or consequence of the main action or an inference from it.

  Connectors: so...that, such...that, therefore, consequently, as a result

• Subordinate Conditional Clauses

  State a condition necessary for the main action to occur.

  Connectors: if, unless, provided that, as long as, in case, on condition that

• Subordinate Concessive Clauses

  Express something that could hinder or prevent the main action, but does not.

  Connectors: although, though, even though, while, whereas, despite, in spite of

• Subordinate Final Clauses

  Indicate the purpose or aim of the main action.

  Connectors: so that, in order that, for the purpose of, to + infinitive