A subordinate clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it begins with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun. It depends on a main clause to make sense, which is why it is also called a dependent clause.
What Exactly Is a Subordinate Clause?
In grammar, clauses are classified by whether they can stand alone. An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can be a sentence by itself. A subordinate clause, by contrast, contains a subject and a predicate but begins with a word that signals incompleteness, such as because, although, when, if, that, which, or who. That introductory word ties the clause to the rest of the sentence and makes it dependent.
For example, in the sentence “She left early because she was tired,” the part “because she was tired” is a subordinate clause. It has a subject (she) and a verb (was), but it cannot stand alone as a meaningful sentence. The main clause “She left early” carries the core meaning.
Three Main Types of Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses do different jobs in a sentence. Knowing the type helps you punctuate and place them correctly.
- Adverb clauses modify a verb, adjective, or adverb, and usually answer questions like when, why, where, or under what condition. They begin with subordinating conjunctions such as after, although, because, if, unless, while. Example: “We stayed inside because it was raining.”
- Adjective (relative) clauses modify a noun or pronoun and begin with relative pronouns like who, whom, whose, which, or that. Example: “The book that you lent me is excellent.”
- Noun clauses act as a noun in the sentence – as subject, object, or complement. They often begin with that, whether, if, or a question word like what or why. Example: “I don’t know what she wants.”
How to Identify a Subordinate Clause in a Sentence
There is a simple test: try to read the clause alone as a sentence. If it sounds incomplete and leaves you asking “what?” or “so?”, it is subordinate. For instance, “Although he studied hard” is not a complete sentence; you expect more information. That incompleteness is the hallmark of a dependent clause.
Another clue is the presence of a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun at the start. Common subordinating conjunctions include after, although, as, because, before, if, once, since, than, that, though, unless, until, when, where, whether, while. Relative pronouns include who, whom, whose, which, that.
Be careful: some words like that can also introduce noun clauses, and when can begin an adverb clause. The function in the sentence determines the type, not just the word itself.
Punctuation Rules for Subordinate Clauses
Comma placement depends on where the subordinate clause appears.
- At the beginning of a sentence: Use a comma after the subordinate clause. Example: “Because it was raining, we stayed inside.”
- At the end of a sentence: Do not use a comma before the subordinate clause if it is essential to the meaning. Example: “We stayed inside because it was raining.”
- Non-essential relative clauses: If the clause adds extra, non-essential information, set it off with commas. Example: “My brother, who lives in Texas, is visiting.” If the clause is essential to identify the noun, do not use commas: “The man who lives next door is a doctor.”
These rules are standard in modern English style guides, but note that comma use can vary slightly by style (e.g., APA, Chicago, MLA). The key is consistency.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The most frequent error is the sentence fragment – writing a subordinate clause as if it were a complete sentence. For example, “Because I was late.” This is a fragment, not a sentence. To fix it, attach it to an independent clause: “Because I was late, I missed the bus.”
Another mistake is misplacing a relative clause, which can change meaning. Compare “The dog that bit the man was brown” (identifies which dog) with “The dog bit the man, who was brown” (implies the man was brown). Placement matters.
Finally, be careful with pronoun case in relative clauses. “The woman who called me” is correct; “The woman whom called me” is wrong because whom is the object form. In everyday speech, who is often used for both, but formal writing still distinguishes them.
Why Subordinate Clauses Matter for Writing Style
Using subordinate clauses makes your writing more sophisticated by showing relationships between ideas – cause, time, condition, contrast. Instead of a string of short sentences, you can combine them: “He was tired. He went to bed.” becomes “Because he was tired, he went to bed.” This improves flow and readability.
However, overusing subordinate clauses can create long, tangled sentences. A good rule is to vary sentence length and keep clauses close to the words they modify. Clear writing often has one main clause with one or two subordinate clauses per sentence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a subordinate clause and a phrase?
A clause has both a subject and a verb; a phrase does not. For example, “after the rain” is a phrase (no verb), while “after the rain stopped” is a subordinate clause (subject rain, verb stopped).
Can a subordinate clause be a complete sentence?
No. By definition, it cannot stand alone. It is a fragment if written as a sentence. However, in informal writing or dialogue, people sometimes use fragments for effect, but that is not grammatically correct in standard prose.
How do I know if a clause is essential or non-essential?
If removing the clause changes the core meaning of the sentence, it is essential (no commas). If it only adds extra detail and the sentence still makes sense without it, it is non-essential (use commas). For example, “The students who studied passed” – the clause is essential; “The students, who studied, passed” – the clause is extra.
What are subordinating conjunctions?
They are words that introduce adverb clauses and show the relationship between the dependent clause and the main clause. Common ones include because, although, since, unless, while, when, where, if, and after.
Is “that” always a subordinating conjunction?
No. “That” can be a relative pronoun introducing an adjective clause (“the book that I read”) or a subordinating conjunction introducing a noun clause (“I know that you are right”). It can also be a demonstrative pronoun (“that is mine”). Context determines its role.
Can a sentence have more than one subordinate clause?
Yes. A sentence can contain multiple subordinate clauses, each with its own function. For example: “When I got home, I saw that the door was open, which worried me.” Here, “When I got home” is an adverb clause, “that the door was open” is a noun clause, and “which worried me” is a relative clause.
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