If you’ve ever tried to help your child with their English homework, you might have come across the term “subordinate clause” and wondered what on earth it means. Don’t worry, you’re not alone!
Subordinate clauses are one of those grammar rules that sound more complicated than they are. But they’re quite common. In fact, once you get the hang of them, you’ll start spotting them everywhere.
Whether your child is focusing on 11 Plus exams and SATs or working towards their GCSEs, AS or A Levels, understanding subordinate clauses is essential. In this blog, we’ll break them down step-by-step. We’ve got plenty of simple examples as well as tips to make teaching and understanding them easier.
In this article:
What is a subordinate clause?
Here’s a great way to understand subordinate clauses. Think of a subordinate clause like a puzzle piece. On its own, the piece looks interesting but doesn’t show the full picture. It needs the rest of the puzzle (the main clause) to complete the image and make sense. The subordinate clause gives us details and extra information. But without the main clause, it’s incomplete.
A subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that adds extra information but can’t stand alone as a complete sentence. It needs a main clause to make sense.
For example: “I went to the shop because we ran out of milk.”
- Main Clause: “I went to the shop”
- Subordinate Clause: “because we ran out of milk.”
See how the second part doesn’t make sense on its own? That’s the subordinate clause, telling us why the person went to the shop.
What is a subordinate clause example?
Let’s take a look at a few more examples, to make things even clearer.
- Subordinate Clause: “Even though it was raining,”
- Main Clause: “we went to the park.”
In this case, the subordinate clause adds a bit of drama (and maybe soggy sandwiches) to the story. But you can’t say “Even though it was raining” on its own. It needs the main clause to make sense.
Subordinate clauses can add time, reasons, conditions or contrasts to sentences. They pop-up at the start, middle (known as “embedded”) or the end of sentences, bringing your ideas to life.
Here are a few more examples.
- Subordinate Clause: “When she finished her homework,”
- Main Clause: “she went out to play.”
This time-related subordinate clause tells us when something happened.
- Embedded Subordinate Clause: “The woman, frustrated because she left her keys, stood outside.”
This cause-and-effect subordinate clause explains why something happened. Can you see how it’s “embedded” in the middle of the sentence?
- Subordinate Clause: “If you need any help,”
- Main Clause: “just let me know.”
This conditional subordinate clause adds a possible situation (“if you need any help”) that depends on the main clause.
- Main Clause: “She stayed up to finish the book,”
- Subordinate Clause: “even though she was tired.”
Here, the subordinate clause sets up a contrast between feeling tired and making the decision to keep reading.
How do you explain subordinate clauses to a child?
When explaining tricky concepts to a child, it’s best to use examples from everyday life. So for subordinate clauses, you could say something like:
“A subordinate clause is like the part of a sentence that explains more, but it can’t go off on its own. A bit like you when we’re crossing the road! Imagine you’re saying something, but then you add ‘because,’ ‘if,’ or ‘when’. That’s a clue you’re about to use a subordinate clause.”
Then, try using simple sentences to show how the subordinate clause depends on the rest of the sentence:
- “When I get home, I’ll call you.”
- “Although it’s late, I’m not tired yet.”
- “Since you like pizza, let’s order some for dinner.”
- “Unless you hurry, we’ll miss the bus.”
- “While she was sleeping, her phone rang.”
It helps to create examples together and spot them during reading too. Make it fun!
Looking for more help with creative writing? Don’t miss our guides to powerful adjectives, ambitious vocabulary and the best ways to describe a person to supercharge your stories.
What are the three types of subordinate clauses?
Now this is where things get more technical. Subordinate clauses come in three main types: adverbial clauses, relative clauses and noun clauses.
Sounds tricky? Don’t worry. Here’s a simple explanation and examples of all three.
1. Adverbial Clauses
These clauses add extra information about the verb (think: adding to the verb, ad+verb), telling us how, when, where or why something happens. They act like adverbs.
For example:
“After we ate dinner, we watched a movie.” The adverbial clause “After we ate dinner” tells us when the movie-watching happened.
2. Relative Clauses
These give more details about a noun in the sentence, often using words like which, who, or that. They’re like little side notes that relate to the noun and help describe it.
For example:
“The car, which was red, zoomed past.” The relative clause “which was red” gives extra information about the car.
3. Noun Clauses
These act as the subject or object in a sentence, just like a regular noun. They often start with words like that, what, who, or whether.
For example:
“I didn’t know that you were coming.” The noun clause “that you were coming” is the object of the verb know, functioning as the “thing” being known.
How to Tell Clauses and Sentences Apart: The Difference
Is a clause always a sentence?
No, a clause isn’t always a sentence. A clause can be a sentence, but only if it’s a main clause that stands on its own.
A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. It contains a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a verb (what the subject is doing or being). A sentence makes sense on its own, unlike a clause that sometimes depends on other parts to form a complete idea.
For example, “The cat slept.” is a simple sentence with a subject (the cat) and a verb (slept). It’s also a main clause.
But a subordinate clause isn’t a complete sentence on its own. If you just said “Because the cat was tired,” you’d be left hanging, waiting for more information to complete the thought.
What’s the difference between a clause and a sentence?
The main difference between a clause and a sentence is that a sentence expresses a complete thought and can stand alone, while a clause may only be part of a sentence.
- A main clause can act as a sentence because it has a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a verb (the action being done), making it a complete idea.
- A subordinate clause adds extra information but cannot stand alone. It relies on a main clause to make sense.
Essentially, all sentences contain at least one main clause, but not all clauses are complete sentences.
Is a subordinate clause a simple sentence?
No, a subordinate clause cannot be a simple sentence.
- A simple sentence consists of just one main clause and stands on its own as a complete thought.
- A subordinate clause relies on a main clause to make sense. It can’t function independently.
Think of subordinate clauses as a supporting act in a show. While they add depth and interest, they can’t go solo without the star of the sentence (the main clause), to complete the idea. So, while a simple sentence is self-sufficient, a subordinate clause is not!
What are ten examples of clauses?
Here are ten sentences showcasing a mix of subordinate, main, adverbial, relative and noun clauses.
Each of these examples shows how clauses are used to add detail, explain reasons, and expand on the main action of the sentence. Identifying them gets easier with practice, we promise. So have a go!
- Subordinate Clause: “She went to bed early because she was tired.” – “because she was tired” adds the reason, but can’t stand alone.
- Main Clause: “We’ll go to the park if it stops raining.” – “We’ll go to the park” can stand alone as a complete sentence, while the subordinate clause “if it stops raining” adds a condition.
- Relative Clause: “The book that you lent me was really interesting.” – “that you lent me” gives more information about “the book” and begins with the relative pronoun “that.”
- Adverbial Clause: “They played football until the sun went down.” – “until the sun went down” tells us when they played and modifies the verb “played.”
- Noun Clause: “What you said surprised me.” – “What you said” acts as the subject of the sentence, functioning like a noun.
- Main Clause: “She loves dancing, especially at parties.” – “She loves dancing” stands alone, while the extra detail “especially at parties” adds more information.
- Subordinate Clause: “I’ll call you after I finish my homework.” – “after I finish my homework” tells us when the call will happen but can’t stand alone.
- Relative Clause: “The car, which was brand new, broke down on its first trip.” – “which was brand new” adds information about “the car” and begins with the relative pronoun “which.”
- Adverbial Clause: “He stayed home because it was raining.” – “because it was raining” gives the reason and modifies the verb “stayed.”
- Noun Clause: “I don’t know what she’s thinking.” – “what she’s thinking” functions as the object of the verb “know” and acts like a noun in the sentence.
How to Learn Clauses Easily: Identifying Clauses in Practice
How do you tell a subordinate clause?
One helpful trick for spotting a subordinate clause is to look for connecting words, called “subordinating conjunctions”. These include words like because, although, if, but, when, since and while. These little words introduce the subordinate clause and show how it links to the main clause.
To identify a subordinate clause, you can also ask yourself a few questions:
- Does the clause provide extra information? If it adds details but doesn’t make sense on its own, it’s likely a subordinate clause.
- Can it stand alone? If you can’t say the clause by itself (without it feeling incomplete), then it’s subordinate.
For example:
- “When the sun sets, we’ll light the fire.” Here, “When the sun sets” is the subordinate clause, introduced by the conjunction when.
- “If you finish your dinner, you can have dessert.” In this case, “If you finish your dinner” is the subordinate clause, marked by the conjunction if.
How do you identify a main clause and subordinate clause?
If you’re still unsure how to identify main clauses and subordinate clauses, try thinking of it this way.
- A main clause is the leader. It can stand alone as a complete sentence: “I went to the beach.”
- A subordinate clause follows its lead but can’t stand alone: “because it was sunny.”
The subordinate clause gives extra information, but if you try to make it go solo, it just doesn’t make sense.
Another top tip for identifying clauses? Practice, practice, practice. Go through lists (like the ones we’ve featured in this blog) and highlight all the subordinate clauses you can find. We promise, with familiarity, it gets easier.
What’s the easiest way to identify phrases and clauses?
To finish off, here’s a quick tip to tell phrases and clauses apart.
A clause always has a verb, while a phrase does not.
A phrase is a group of words that work together to convey a concept but lack a subject-verb combination, meaning they can’t stand alone as a complete thought.
For example:
- “Under the table” is a phrase. It has no verb and is just a group of words.
- “She slept under the table” is a clause. It has a subject (she) and a verb (slept), making it a complete thought.
So in short, if you see a verb, you’ve got a clause on your hands. If there’s no verb, it’s likely just a phrase!
Does your child need help with their English studies?
Understanding subordinate clauses might seem tricky at first, but once you’ve got the hang of them, they’re easy to spot – and even easier to explain! Remember, subordinate clauses add detail and extra information. Keep practising and, before long, you’ll be a pro at spotting them.
If you’d like expert help with your child’s English, we offer tuition in everything from 11 Plus preparation to SATs and GCSE English, as well as wider reading and library support. Reach out to our friendly team today to find out more.
