The bedrock of sophisticated English lies not just in choosing the right words, but in assembling them with precision and nuance. Subordinate clauses are the master keys to achieving this linguistic elegance, allowing us to weave intricate webs of meaning, establish hierarchies of information, and express complex relationships between ideas. Without a firm grasp of their function and application, our writing remains simplistic, our arguments lack depth, and our communication falls short of its full potential. This guide will meticulously dismantle the mechanics of subordinate clauses, providing actionable insights and concrete examples to empower you to wield them with absolute mastery.
The Foundation: Understanding the Building Blocks
Before we delve into the intricacies, let’s establish a clear understanding of what a subordinate clause is and how it differs from its independent counterpart. A clause, at its core, is a group of words containing both a subject and a predicate.
An independent clause (also known as a main clause) can stand alone as a complete sentence because it expresses a complete thought.
- The dog barked loudly. (Subject: dog, Predicate: barked loudly)
- She finished her homework. (Subject: she, Predicate: finished her homework)
A subordinate clause (or dependent clause) also contains a subject and a predicate, but it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It depends on an independent clause to make sense. It functions as a single part of speech within the main sentence, adding detail, context, or explanation. The defining characteristic of a subordinate clause is the presence of a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun that introduces it.
- Because it was raining, (Subject: it, Predicate: was raining; introduced by “Because”)
- Who lives next door, (Subject: who, Predicate: lives next door; introduced by “Who”)
These fragments, when isolated, leave the reader hanging. They require the completion offered by an independent clause.
The Pillars of Subordination: Types of Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses primarily function in three distinct ways within a sentence: as adverbs, as adjectives, or as nouns. Each type performs a specific grammatical role, adding a different layer of meaning and complexity. Mastering these distinctions is crucial for precise communication.
1. Adverbial Clauses: The When, Where, Why, and How of Your Sentences
Adverbial clauses, as their name suggests, function like adverbs. They modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb in the main clause, providing information about time, place, manner, cause, purpose, condition, concession, or result. They are always introduced by a subordinating conjunction.
Common Subordinating Conjunctions for Adverbial Clauses:
- Time: when, while, as, before, after, until, till, since, as soon as, whenever, by the time
- Place: where, wherever
- Manner: as, as if, as though, like
- Cause/Reason: because, since, as, now that
- Purpose: so that, in order that
- Condition: if, unless, provided that, as long as, in case, on condition that
- Concession/Contrast: although, though, even though, while, whereas
- Result: so…that, such…that (often linked within the main clause)
Actionable Use Cases and Examples:
- Time: Specifying the temporal relationship.
- We started the project when the new team member arrived. (When did we start?)
- I will review the document after you have made the revisions. (When will I review?)
- The crowd cheered as the runner crossed the finish line. (When did they cheer?)
- Place: Pinpointing location or general area.
- You can find the best coffee where the old bookstore used to be. (Where can you find coffee?)
- She followed him wherever he led. (Where did she follow?)
- Manner: Describing how an action is performed.
- He spoke as if he knew all the answers. (How did he speak?)
- She decorated the room as though it were a royal palace. (How did she decorate?)
- Cause/Reason: Explaining the motive or origin.
- I decided to stay home because I felt unwell. (Why did I decide to stay?)
- Since the weather improved, we went for a hike. (Why did we go for a hike?)
- He couldn’t answer the question as he hadn’t studied. (Why couldn’t he answer?)
- Purpose: Stating the objective of an action.
- We study diligently so that we can pass the exam. (Why do we study?)
- She saved money in order that she might buy a new car. (Why did she save money?)
- Condition: Setting prerequisites or possibilities.
- If you finish early, you can leave. (Under what condition can you leave?)
- I won’t attend the meeting unless my presence is absolutely necessary. (Under what condition won’t I attend?)
- You can borrow the car provided that you fill the tank. (Under what condition can you borrow?)
- Concession/Contrast: Introducing contrasting or unexpected information.
- Although he was tired, he continued working. (Despite being tired, he worked.)
- She accepted the challenge, even though it seemed impossible. (Despite impossibility, she accepted.)
- I prefer tea, whereas my brother prefers coffee. (Contrast between preferences.)
- Result (often linked with ‘so’ or ‘such’ in main clause): Indicating the outcome of an action or state.
- He was so tired that he fell asleep at his desk. (What was the result of his tiredness?)
- It was such a fascinating book that I couldn’t put it down. (What was the result of the book’s fascination?)
Punctuation Note for Adverbial Clauses:
- When an adverbial clause precedes the independent clause, it is usually followed by a comma.
- Because it was raining, we stayed indoors.
- When an adverbial clause follows the independent clause, a comma is generally not needed unless the clause is non-essential or creates ambiguity.
- We stayed indoors because it was raining. (No comma needed)
2. Adjectival Clauses (Relative Clauses): Adding Descriptive Power
Adjectival clauses, also known as relative clauses, function like adjectives. They modify a noun or pronoun in the main clause, providing additional, specific information about that noun or pronoun. They are always introduced by a relative pronoun or a relative adverb.
Common Relative Pronouns and Adverbs for Adjectival Clauses:
- Relative Pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, that
- Who/Whom: refers to people. Who for subjects, whom for objects.
- Whose: indicates possession.
- Which: refers to things or animals.
- That: refers to people, things, or animals (and is often interchangeable with which for things in restrictive clauses).
- Relative Adverbs: where, when, why (less common than relative pronouns, but valid)
Actionable Use Cases and Examples:
Adjectival clauses are divided into two crucial types: restrictive (essential) and non-restrictive (non-essential). Understanding this distinction is paramount for both meaning and punctuation.
A. Restrictive (Essential) Adjectival Clauses:
These clauses are absolutely necessary to identify or define the noun or pronoun they modify. Without them, the meaning of the sentence would be vague or unclear. They do not use commas.
- The student who submitted the best essay received a scholarship. (Which student? The one who submitted the best essay. Without this clause, we don’t know which student.)
- I read the book that you recommended. (Which book? The one you recommended.)
- We visited the town where my grandparents were born. (Which town? The one where they were born.)
- This is the reason why I arrived late. (Which reason? The reason for my lateness.)
B. Non-Restrictive (Non-Essential) Adjectival Clauses:
These clauses provide additional, sometimes interesting, but non-essential information about the noun or pronoun. The meaning of the sentence would still be clear if you removed the clause. They are set off by commas.
- My brother, who lives in Canada, is a software engineer. (I only have one brother, so “who lives in Canada” just adds extra info. I know which brother you mean without it.)
- The Amazon River, which flows through South America, is the largest river by discharge volume. (The Amazon River is already uniquely identified. The clause merely adds a geographical fact.)
- Dr. Evans, whom I admire greatly, gave an inspiring speech. (I know who Dr. Evans is. The admiration is extra detail.)
- Her car, whose engine needed repairing, finally broke down. (Her car is specific. The engine detail is extra.)
Key Differences and Why They Matter:
Consider the difference in meaning:
- “The students who passed the exam celebrated.” (Restrictive: Only those specific students who passed celebrated. Others did not.)
- “The students, who passed the exam, celebrated.” (Non-restrictive: All the students celebrated, and a side note is that they passed the exam.)
Incorrectly using or omitting commas with relative clauses can drastically alter the meaning of your sentence, leading to miscommunication.
Usage Tips for Relative Pronouns:
- Who vs. Whom: Use who when it’s the subject of the relative clause. Use whom when it’s the object.
- He is the man who wrote the book. (He wrote the book – “who” is the subject of “wrote”)
- She is the person whom I met yesterday. (I met whom – “whom” is the object of “met”)
- Which vs. That: For restrictive clauses, that is generally preferred for things/animals, though which is acceptable. For non-restrictive clauses, which is always used. Never use that for non-restrictive clauses.
- The car that is parked illegally will be towed. (Restrictive, essential for identification)
- My old car, which is twenty years old, still runs well. (Non-restrictive, extra info)
- Omitting Relative Pronouns: In restrictive clauses, that, which, or whom can often be omitted if they are the object of the relative clause, especially in informal English.
- This is the book (that) I recommended.
- He is the person (whom) I saw yesterday.
3. Noun Clauses: Clauses That Act Like Nouns
Noun clauses function as a single noun within a sentence. They can serve as the subject of a verb, the object of a verb, the object of a preposition, or a subject complement (following a linking verb). Introduced by various words, they answer questions like “what?” or “who?”
Common Introducers for Noun Clauses:
- Subordinating conjunctions: that, whether, if
- Wh-words (interrogative pronouns/adverbs): who, whom, whose, what, which, where, when, why, how
Actionable Use Cases and Examples:
- Subject of a Verb: The noun clause performs the action of the main verb.
- What she said surprised everyone. (What surprised everyone? “What she said.”)
- That he managed to finish on time was a miracle. (What was a miracle? “That he managed to finish on time.”)
- Whether he will attend remains uncertain. (What remains uncertain? “Whether he will attend.”)
- Object of a Verb: The noun clause receives the action of the main verb.
- I know that you are capable. (I know what? “That you are capable.”)
- She asked who was responsible. (She asked what? “Who was responsible.”)
- He couldn’t decide which path to take. (He couldn’t decide what? “Which path to take.”)
- Please tell me when you will arrive. (Tell me what? “When you will arrive.”)
- Object of a Preposition: The noun clause follows a preposition.
- We are concerned about what might happen next. (Concerned about what? “What might happen next.”)
- They talked about how they would solve the problem. (Talked about what? “How they would solve the problem.”)
- Success depends on whether you are willing to work hard. (Depends on what? “Whether you are willing to work hard.”)
- Subject Complement (Predicate Nominative): The noun clause follows a linking verb (like is, am, are, was, were, seem, become) and renames or describes the subject.
- The main issue is that we lack funding. (The issue is what? “That we lack funding.”)
- Her biggest fear was that she would fail. (Her fear was what? “That she would fail.”)
- This is what I’ve been waiting for. (This is what? “What I’ve been waiting for.”)
Punctuation Note for Noun Clauses:
Noun clauses are generally not separated by commas from the rest of the sentence, regardless of their position, because they are integrated as a fundamental part of the sentence structure.
- I believe that honesty is the best policy. (No comma)
- What he did was wrong. (No comma)
Strategic Power-Up: Combining Clauses for Impact
The true power of subordinate clauses lies in their ability to allow writers to combine simple sentences into complex and sophisticated structures. This isn’t merely about making sentences longer; it’s about making them more precise, more informative, and more coherent.
From Simple to Sophisticated:
- Simple: The rain fell. We stayed indoors.
- Adverbial Clause: We stayed indoors because the rain fell. (Explains cause)
- Simple: The man helped me. He lives next door.
- Adjectival Clause: The man who lives next door helped me. (Identifies the man)
- Simple: I couldn’t remember. Where did I leave my keys?
- Noun Clause: I couldn’t remember where I left my keys. (Acts as object of “remember”)
By integrating subordinate clauses, you can avoid choppy, repetitive sentences and instead build flowing, logical arguments. You demonstrate complex thinking by explicitly outlining relationships between ideas: cause and effect, condition and consequence, description and identification.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls:
- Sentence Fragments: The most common error with subordinate clauses is treating them as independent sentences. Remember, they cannot stand alone.
- Incorrect: Because I was tired. I went to bed early.
- Correct: Because I was tired, I went to bed early.
- Misplaced Modifiers: Ensure your subordinate clause clearly modifies the intended word or phrase.
- Confusing: He read a book sitting on the park bench that was torn. (Was the book torn or the bench?)
- Clear: He read a book that was torn while sitting on the park bench.
- Ambiguous Pronoun Reference: Make sure the relative pronoun in an adjectival clause clearly refers to its antecedent.
- Confusing: The company announced the new policy to its employees, which caused confusion. (Did the policy cause confusion or the announcement itself?)
- Clear: The company announced the new policy to its employees, an action which caused confusion. (Or rephrase for clarity.)
- Overuse of Subordination: While powerful, too many subordinate clauses in one sentence can lead to convoluted prose. Aim for balance and clarity. Sometimes, two shorter sentences are better than one overly complex one.
- Overly Complex: The old house, which had been abandoned for decades, and which everyone said was haunted, and where strange noises were often heard, was finally demolished last week.
- Improved: The old house, abandoned for decades, was rumored to be haunted. Strange noises were often heard there. It was finally demolished last week. (Or break it into two complex sentences.)
Advanced Techniques: Nuance and Style
Beyond fundamental correctness, manipulating subordinate clauses can elevate your writing style and add significant nuance.
- Varying Clause Placement: While adverbial clauses often precede the main clause for emphasis or smooth transition, placing them after can create a more natural flow.
- Before you leave, please close the windows. (Emphasis on the condition)
- Please close the windows before you leave. (More casual flow)
- Using Relative Clauses for Conciseness: Sometimes, a relative clause can succinctly replace a more verbose phrase.
- Wordy: The person who is in charge of the project will contact you.
- Concise: The person in charge of the project will contact you. (Reduced relative clause)
- Crafting Parallel Structures: When using multiple subordinate clauses, especially for lists or comparative statements, ensure they maintain parallel grammatical construction for rhythm and clarity.
- He explained what had happened, why it happened, and how they would prevent it from happening again. (Parallel noun clauses)
- Employing Subordination for Persuasive Arguments: Subordinate clauses allow you to present conditions, counter-arguments, and justifications within a single coherent thought, making your arguments more robust.
- *Although some critics argue that the new policy is too restrictive, it is essential because it ensures greater security. (Acknowledges counter-argument while asserting necessity)
The Indispensable Role of Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses are not mere embellishments; they are the intellectual scaffolding of sophisticated writing. They enable us to:
- Express Complex Ideas: Moving beyond simple A+B statements to intricate webs of cause, effect, condition, and detail.
- Establish Relationships: Clearly defining how one idea relates to another (e.g., temporal sequence, logical consequence, descriptive attribute).
- Add Specificity and Detail: Providing crucial information without resorting to standalone, disconnected sentences.
- Improve Clarity and Cohesion: Weaving disparate pieces of information into a unified, flowing narrative or argument.
- Vary Sentence Structure: Breaking the monotony of simple sentences, making prose more engaging and readable.
- Enhance Persuasion: By allowing for qualification, concession, and detailed explanation within a single thought.
A masterful command of subordinate clauses transforms fragmented ideas into articulate, compelling prose. It’s the difference between merely stating facts and crafting an argument, between describing an event and painting a vivid picture. Your ability to integrate them seamlessly is a hallmark of linguistic proficiency and a cornerstone of effective communication, whether in academic writing, professional reports, or creative narratives. Embrace their power, practice their application, and watch your writing ascend to new levels of precision and impact.