English
What is a subordinate clause?
Quick answer
A subordinate clause is a clause that adds extra information to a main clause but cannot stand alone as a sentence, like because it was raining or who lives next door.
In one sentence
A subordinate clause is a clause with its own verb that depends on a main clause to make complete sense.
Explained
Say When the film ended and then stop. It feels unfinished; your listener is waiting for what happened. That is the sign of a subordinate clause. It has a verb (ended), but it leans on a main clause to finish the thought: When the film ended, everyone clapped.
"Subordinate" means "lower in rank". The subordinate clause adds information, such as when, why, where, under what condition or which one, while the main clause carries the core message.
Most subordinate clauses start with a subordinating conjunction:
- time: when, while, before, after, until, as soon as
- reason: because, since, as
- condition: if, unless
- contrast: although, even though, whereas
A special kind, the relative clause, starts with a relative pronoun (who, which, that, whose) or where and describes a noun: the book that I borrowed, my aunt, who is a pilot,.
Subordinate clauses can go in three places:
- After the main clause: We'll go out if it stops raining.
- Before it, with a comma: If it stops raining, we'll go out.
- Inside it (embedded), between commas: My aunt, who is a pilot, flew to Dubai.
In the US this is usually called a dependent clause, and a sentence with one is a complex sentence. More on the basics in clauses.
umbrella
rain
cloud
Examples
- I brushed my teeth before I went to bed.
- Although the hill was steep, Kemi cycled to the top.
- You can't play unless you finish your homework.
- The shop where we buy bread is closed today.
- Our teacher, who loves frogs, brought in tadpoles.
Common mistakes
- Leaving it alone. Because I was tired. is a fragment; add a main clause.
- Missing the comma when the subordinate clause comes first.
- Forgetting the second comma around an embedded clause: My dog, who is old, sleeps a lot.
Quick quiz
Subordinate clauses
Check what you know with 4 quick questions.
Question 1 of 4
Find the subordinate clause: We stayed in because it was raining.
Practise it
Try it
For grown-ups
Related topics
Clauses
A clause is a group of words that contains a verb and usually a subject. A main clause makes sense on its own; a subordinate clause needs a main clause to complete it.
Conjunctions
A conjunction is a joining word that links words, phrases or clauses, such as and, but, or, so, because, when, if and although.
Commas
A comma is a punctuation mark that shows a short pause or separates parts of a sentence, such as items in a list, a fronted adverbial, or extra information.
Fronted adverbials
A fronted adverbial is a word, phrase or clause at the start of a sentence that tells how, when, where or why, followed by a comma, as in Later that night, the owl hooted.
Sentences
A sentence is a group of words that makes complete sense on its own. It starts with a capital letter, ends with a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark, and usually has a verb.
Adjectives
An adjective is a word that describes a noun, telling you what kind, which one or how many, like a huge elephant, a sour lemon or three red balloons.