Subordinate Clause

By

** Dependent/Subordinate Clause:

>A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is one that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought.

>Like all clauses, a dependent clause has a subject and verb.

>Subordinate Conjunction + Subject + Verb = Incomplete Thought.

>Example:

  • Whenever lazy students whine. (Whenever = subordinate conjunction; students = subject; whine = verb).
  • As cola spilled over the glass and splashed onto the counter. (As = subordinate conjunction; cola = subject; spilled, splashed = verbs).
  • Because my dog loves pizza crusts. (Because = subordinate conjunction; dog = subject; loves = verb).
  • Pinku comes to me when he has time.
  • Dina wanted a pen which was costly.
  • He is so weak that he can not walk.
  • The old man prayed that I might live long.
  • This is what he said.
  • The crew could see the whale, which had surfaced only 50m behind them.
  • Do you know the butcher who went to court on Saturday?
  • I am not tidying the dishes unless Peter helps.
  • The excellence of a gift lies in how appropriate it is rather than how valuable it is.

>The Link between a Dependent Clause and an Independent Clause:

When a dependent clause is used as an adjective or an adverb, it will usually be part of a complex sentence (i.e., a sentence with an independent clause and at least one dependent clause). The link between a dependent clause and an independent clause will often be a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. For example:

  • He literally stitched mail sacks until his fingers bled. (subordinating conjunction in bold)
  • The car which your wife sold me last week has broken down. (Relative pronoun in bold)

>Here are some more common subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns:

Common Subordinating Conjunctions Relative Pronouns
after
although
as
because
before
even if
even though
if
provided
rather than
since
so that
than
though
unless
until
whether
while		 how
that
what
when
where
which
who
whom
whose
whyThe relative pronouns above are the simple relative pronouns. You can also have compound ones. A compound relative pronoun is formed by adding either ever or soever to a simple pronoun.whoever (who + ever)
whosever (whose + ever)
(Spelling rule: Don’t allow ee.)
whosoever (who + soever)
whosesoever (whose + soever)

>More Example:

  • He asked me if I would go with him.
  • The boy who came here is my brother.
  • I do not know why he came here.
  • She will dance whenever her sister will come.
  • Since your father died you had to earn for your family.
  • We eat that/so that/in order that we may live.
  • Unless you respect him he will not respect you.
  • He will be appointed provided/that he is an M.A.
  • I can go with you condition that you will give me money.
  • Go where you want to go.
  • Go back to remain sitting where I am.
  • Do you want to go to whence I came?
  • Read while you read.
  • what is the matter that you shout so loudly?
  • He did the work such that his manager rebuked him.
  • Save as you want to invest.
  • You will fail unless you study.
  • There is no success unless there any effort.
  • Supposing that he passes the M.A. but will he get a job?
  • Though he is poor he is honest.
  • Even if you beg excuse now he will not be kind.
  • Even if you pay the money now, he will not consider the product.
  • Though he came last he completed first.
  • This is the same book as that.
  • Akber was as strong as lion.
  • We want such the boy as will be active.

>Types of Dependent Clause:

  • Nouns.
  • Adjectives.
  • Adverbs.

>The Noun Clause. Here is an example of a dependent clause acting as a noun:

  • Whoever turned the ovens off is keeping quiet.
      (The dependent clause-Whoever turned the ovens off is the subject of this sentence. It is a noun clause.)

>The Adjective Clause. Here is an example of a dependent clause acting as an adjective:

  • The car which your wife sold me last week has broken down.
      (The dependent clause- which your wife sold me last week, describes the car. It is an adjective clause.)

>The Adverbial Clause. Here is an example of a dependent clause acting as an adverb:

  • He literally stitched mail sacks until his fingers bled.
      (The dependent clause- until his fingers bled, modifies the verb to stitch. it is an adverbial clause.)

# Link:

Leave a comment