The Subordinate Clause

(They are also called dependent clauses.)

Let's start by talking about the definition of a clause.

Clauses are groups of words with a subject and a verb.

Remember that subjects tell us whom or what the sentence is about, and verbs show an action or a state of being.

Here are some examples of clauses:

You probably noticed that while each of those clauses had a subject and a verb, not all of them could stand alone.

Those last two examples didn't really make sense all by themselves. That is because they are dependent or subordinate.

Subordinate means that they can't stand alone. They are not complete sentences - they are sentence fragments.

So, if you put the definitions together, you'll see that a subordinate clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb that cannot stand alone.

Both of these are clauses, so both of these are groups of words with a subject and a verb.

So, how are they different?

Dependent clauses cannot stand alone, and independent clauses can stand alone. That is the only difference.

Here are some independent clauses:

Here are some dependent clauses:

Did you notice in the examples above that all I did was add one word at the beginning of the independent clause, and I made it a dependent clause?

If you didn't, check it out now.

Those words that I added (until, if, whenever...) are called subordinating conjunctions and (who, that, which...) relative pronouns.

Basically, their job is to join a dependent clause to an independent clause.

Since dependent clauses can't stand alone, they need independent clauses.

These two clauses are joined together with a subordinating conjunction.

Whenever = subordinating conjunction

Whenever I eat spinach = subordinate clause

I feel like I can conquer the world. = independent clause

These two clauses are joined together with a relative pronoun.

that = relative pronoun

that is on the shelf = subordinate clause

The book is my favorite Victor Hugo novel. = independent clause

Dependent clauses act in certain ways. They can act in three different ways to be precise.

1. Adjective (Relative) Clause

2. Adverb Clause (Elliptical Clause)

3. Noun Clause

As you might guess, an adjective clause is a dependent clause that acts as an adjective. These are introduced by relative pronouns.

That was an adjective clause. You can tell that it is an adjective because it is modifying the noun book.

An adverb clause is a dependent clause that acts as an adverb. These are introduced by subordinating conjunctions.

That adverb clause is modifying the verb read.

A noun clause is a dependent clause that acts as a noun.

That noun clause is acting as the direct object in the sentence. It is the direct object of the verb knows. It is acting as a noun.

There you go! Now you know all about dependent clauses!

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