Subordinate Clause: Rules,

Definition, and Examples

Subordinate Clause Takeaways:

 A subordinate clause contains a noun and a verb.

 This type of clause is also called a dependent clause since it doesn’t make
sense by itself.

 One easy trick for remembering the difference is to look at the prefix (“sub”
means under or below).
 On the other hand, independent clauses do make sense by themselves. In
fact, they work as stand-alone sentences (not “sub” or below any other
clause).
 As a part of speech, subordinate clauses can be nouns, adverbs, and
adjectives.
 Subordinating conjunctions connect subordinate clauses with main
clauses. Examples include because, while, and although.
 You can start a sentence with a subordinating clause.

Examples of a Subordinate Clause

1. After she braided her hair…

2. Providing you let the dog out…
3. Within the allotted time…
4. Given her regular schedule…
5. While Elena played…
6. …because she’s sleeping
How Do You Identify a Main Clause and a Subordinate
Clause in a Sentence?

The main clause or the independent clause is a group of words that expresses a
complete thought. It has a subject and a predicate that together allow it to stand on
its own.
On the other hand, a subordinate clause depends on another clause for it to mean
something. It is normally joined to the main clause with a subordinating
conjunction like while, but, or because. Since a subordinate clause needs another
clause for it to make sense to readers, it is also referred to as a dependent clause.

Below are examples of sentences containing a main clause and a subordinate

clause. The subordinate clauses will be highlighted in bold text.

 Like a bullet speeding through the air, Jake took all of his belongings
and ran out of the house.
 Dorothy went to church after school because her mom asked her to.
 My uncle, who lives in a nearby town, is coming for Thanksgiving.

1. Independent (Main) Clauses: don’t need another clause to make sense and
can stand alone as a complete sentence.
2. Subordinate Clauses: need another clause to make sense and can’t stand
alone as a complete sentence.

Can You Start a Sentence with a Subordinate

Clause?
You can start a sentence with a subordinate clause (Since I was up early, I
decided to go for a long walk). Or, it can go later in the sentence (I decided to go
for a walk since I was up early). Other than the position of the clause, you’ll notice
that the main difference between these two constructions is a comma; If the
subordinate clause comes at the beginning of the sentence, you need to place a
comma after it. However, if the subordinate clause comes later, you don’t need a
comma with this clause.
While she cooks, my mother loves to play high-energy music.

My mother loves to play high-energy music while she cooks.

Do You Put a Comma Before a Subordinate

Clause?
You don’t need to put a comma before a subordinate clause (We love cooking
with garlic even though it’s an intense flavor). However, when it comes at the
beginning of sentence, you do need a comma after the subordinate clause (Even
though it’s an intense flavor, we love cooking with garlic).

How Do You Identify a Subordinate

Clause in a Sentence?
To identify a subordinate clause in a sentence, look for a clause that 1) starts
with a subordinating conjunction (like because, while, and considering) or a
relative pronoun (like who, whoever, whenever); 2) contains a noun and a verb; 3)
doesn’t form a complete sentence. They can appear at the beginning or later on in a
sentence, but subordinate clauses always have a few key elements in common.
🤔 Like all clauses, subordinate clauses have a subject and a verb. However, unlike
some clauses, subordinate clauses don’t form a complete sentence.
Subordinate clauses are easy to spot. They begin with subordinating conjunctions
or dependent pronouns (also called relative pronouns), and they contain both a
subject and a verb. Instead of forming complete sentences by
themselves, subordinate clauses contribute information to main (or independent)
clauses.
The subordinating conjunction and dependent pronouns in all the
following examples of subordinate clauses are bold to make them easier to spot.
📝 Relative pronouns are also called dependent pronouns.

First, you’ll see the subordinate clause example. Then, we’ll join this example
with an independent clause to form a full sentence.
After Jill stepped out

Ben slammed the door after Jill stepped out.

As though he felt ill

Paul made a face as though he felt ill.

Rather than running away

Rather than running away, why not stay for cake?

Whoever leaves last

Whoever leaves lastmust shut the door.

Whichever comes first

I’ll walk until I get tired or the light fades, whichever comes first.

Subordinate clauses don’t appear in all sentences. Some sentences are made of
two (or more) independent clauses instead. When two clauses are equally
important, you use a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so) to
bring them together.
Subordinate clauses need another clause to make sense.
What are the 3 Subordinate
Clauses?
The three types of subordinate clauses are: noun, adverb and adjective clauses.
This basically means that we can treat a subordinate clause as an entire unit of a
sentence rather than just a noun and verb pieced together. When we do, this entire
unit can act as a noun, adverb, or even an adjective.

For instance, when a subordinate clause is the subject, direct object, prepositional
object, or predicate nominative, it’s a noun clause. Similarly, when it modifies
verbs, adverbs, and adjectives, it’s an adverb clause. Finally, when it modifies
nouns and pronouns, it’s an adjective clause.

The Three Types of Subordinate Clauses:

1. Noun clauses can be subjects, direct objects, prepositional objects, and
predicate nominatives (also known as subject complements).
2. Adverb clauses (also called adverbial clauses) modify verbs, adverbs, and
adjectives. They tell readers why, where, when, to what extent, or under
what circumstances something has happened.
3. Adjective clauses modify nouns and pronouns. They’re often introduced by
relative pronouns (for example that, which, who, whom, whose, what).

1. Noun Clause Examples

Whatever we do, we must arrive before nightfall. (noun clause as a subject)

I plant whatever I want to. (noun clause as an object)

2. Adverb Clause Examples

We can collect shells when the tide goes out. (adverb clause modifies the verb collect)
Once we finish dinner, we should play some chess. (adverb clause modifies play)

3. Adjective Clause Examples

I saw a woman who was singing. (adjective clause modifies the noun woman)

The ingredients that I bought for Julie’s birthday cake are on the counter. (adjective clause
modifies the noun ingredients)

How Do You Use Subordinate

Clause in a Sentence?
Use a subordinate clause in a sentence to provide more information or details
about the main clause. They don’t make sense by themselves. They need a buddy
— a main clause — to become part of a sentence. Connect a subordinate
clause with a main clause using either a subordinating conjunction (while,
although, since) or a dependent pronoun, like this:
Stella ran up the stairsbecauseshe forgot her violin.

After his music recital, Greg went to the bar.

Unless I store them in a cool place, the apples I picked will go rotten.

Jane scrubbed until the stain disappeared.

While the family slept, their new puppy destroyed dad’s slippers.

In each example, the subordinate clause tells us why the main clause happens, or
to whom or what the main clause applies.
(main clause) The dog howled.

(subordinate clause) After his owner left.

The dog howled after his owner left.

After his owner left, the dog howled.

(main clause) She fed the ducks.

(subordinate clause) Before returning home from the vegetable market.

She fed the ducks before returning home from the vegetable market.

Before returning home from the vegetable market, she fed the ducks.

Does a Subordinate Clause Need a

Verb?
Subordinate clauses need a noun and a verb. What’s more, they also need an
independent, or main, clause to make sense. This means that even though a
subordinate clause contains a noun and a verb, it can’t make a complete sentence
without a main clause.
(main clause) I adore coffee.

(subordinate clause) Because the smell is so captivating.

I adore coffee because the smell is so captivating.

Subordinate clauses are also known as dependent clauses.

What is a Subordination Clause?

A subordination clause is not the same thing as a subordinate clause. One one
hand, a subordination clause is a contractual provision that gives one claim on a
debt precedence over other claims that come later. This type of legal clause usually
appears in mortgage refinancing agreements. On the other hand, a subordinate
clause is a clause comprised of a noun and a verb. Unlike an independent
clause, subordinate clauses cannot stand alone as a sentence.

While there is some conceptual overlap, there is a clear difference between the
meanings and the usages of these words. For example, associate a subordination
clause with other debts being subordinate to the main one.
Similarly, associate subordinate clause with a clause being subordinate to the
main one.
There may be four different types of sentences: simple, compound, complex and
compound-complex, but they all have one thing in common; they’re all made of
clauses.

Some sentences contain just one independent clause, while others feature both
independent and dependent clauses.