Understanding Subordinate Clauses in Grammar

Adjectival Subordinate Clauses

Adjectival subordinate clauses are propositions whose function is equivalent to that of adjectives in simple sentences, usually serving as a nominal complement to which they refer.

Types of Adjectival Clauses

• Specify: These form a single phonetic group with the noun they relate to and limit its field of application.
• Explanatory: Framed between two pauses, these express a characteristic or provide clarification.

Key Characteristics of Adjectival Clauses

1. The relative pronoun "which" can be confused with the conjunction "that". To distinguish them, try replacing "which" with "that" (or vice versa). If the change is grammatically acceptable, it is likely a subordinate adjective clause.
2. An adjectival clause almost always functions as a nominal complement (CN) to the noun that serves as the antecedent of the relative pronoun.
3. The connector (nexus) of an adjectival clause is a relative pronoun, which also performs a syntactic function within the clause itself.

Adverbial Subordinate Clauses

Subordinate adverbial clauses are propositions that function as adverbs in compound sentences, usually serving as circumstantial complements.

Key Characteristics of Adverbial Clauses

1. Do not confuse adverbs that introduce adverbial clauses with relative adverbs that introduce subordinate adjectival clauses. In the latter case, the adverb will have an antecedent. For example, in "This is the place where I'll wait," "where" introduces an adjectival clause modifying "place." In "I'll wait where you tell me," "where" introduces an adverbial clause of place.
2. Adverbial clauses are classified into two groups:
   • Proper Adverbial Clauses: These can be replaced by a single adverb. This group includes clauses of time, manner, and place.
   • Improper Adverbial Clauses: These propositions cannot be replaced by a single adverb but maintain a logical relationship with the main clause.
3. Adverbial clauses are often introduced by conjunctions (e.g., if, but), conjunctive phrases (e.g., and therefore), or adverbs (e.g., while, when).

Common Connectors for Adverbial Clauses

• Place: for (with or without preposition)
• Time: when, while, before, after, as soon as...
• Manner: how, according to, as if...
• Causal: because, since, as...
• Consecutive: therefore, then, so, consequently...
• Final: so that, in order that, in order to...
• Conditional: if...
• Concessive: although, even though...
• Comparative: links of the type (more... than, less... than, as... as)