Download Types of Subordinate Clauses

The Subordinate Clause
Are you ready to learn about the subordinate clause? You can also call
thesedependent clauses. Let's start by talking about the definition of a clause.
A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb. Subjects tell us whom or
what a sentence is about and verbs tell us what the subject is or does. Here are
two clauses.
I sharpened my pencil.
Whenever I sharpened my pencil
Both of those clauses have a subject (I) and a verb (sharpened). The top clause
can stand alone as a complete idea, but the bottom clause cannot.
The bottom clause is subordinate. Subordinate means that it can't stand alone. It
needs to be connected to an independent clause in order to make sense.
A subordinate clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb, that cannot
stand alone. Here's the important thing to know about these guys. Are you ready?
* They act as single parts of speech. *
That was short and sweet. You'll want to remember that because it's important.
They can act as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns.
Types of Subordinate Clauses
Dependent clauses act in certain ways. They can act in three different ways to be
precise.
1. Adjective (Relative) Clause
2. Adverb Clause
3. Noun Clause
We'll briefly go over each type of clause below. Click on the links to learn more!
1. Adjective Clauses (Relative Clauses)
As you might guess, an adjective clause is a dependent clause that acts as an
adjective. They are introduced by special words called relative pronouns or relative
adverbs.
The woman who looked happy danced.
Who looked happy is a dependent adjective clause. It is a group of words with a
subject (who) and a verb (looked), and the whole clause is functioning as an
adjective modifying the noun woman, which is the subject of the independent
clause.
2. Adverb Clauses
An adverb clause is a dependent clause that acts as an adverb. These are
introduced by special words called subordinating conjunctions.
I read because I love stories.
Because I love stories is a dependent adverb clause. It has a subject (I) and a verb
(love), and the whole clause is functioning as one adverb modifying the
verb read in the independent clause.
Elliptical clauses are types of clauses that have some implied words. Most of the
time, they are adverb clauses.
David is faster than his brother.
Than his brother is an elliptical clause. It's as if the clause says:
David is faster than his brother (is) (fast).
Than his brother (is) (fast) is a dependent adverbial elliptical clause. Wow! That's a
mouthful!
It is a group of words with a subject (brother) and a verb (is), and the whole clause
is acting as an adverb modifying the adjective faster in the independent clause.
3. Noun Clauses
A noun clause is a dependent clause that acts as a noun.
Sometimes, these are introduced by certain kinds of words called noun clause
markers, and sometimes they don't have any introductory word at all.
Whatever you want is fine with me.
Whatever you want is a dependent noun clause is acting as the subject of the
sentence. It is a group of words with a subject (you) and a verb (want), and it is
functioning as a noun. It is performing the job of the subject.