You can also join two independent clauses with a semicolon and conjunctive adverb - which is just an adverb that's able to connect two thoughts. We are going to school, in 10 minutes. Subordinate clauses add life and interest to the sentence (just as the guy crashing on your couch adds a little zip to the household). Since it is basically not a sentence, it cannot stand on its own, meaning you will not understand the context of a dependent clause ⦠In the sentence 'I drink soda when I'm sad,' for example, 'when I'm sad' is a dependent adverb clause, as the whole clause describes the verb 'drink,' with 'I' as the subject. Then, consider what the subordinating conjunction shows the reader: does it introduce a comparison to the main clause? study first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Both of these joined independent clauses could function fine as separate sentences, but the semicolon connects the action to suggest a more intimate relationship. Our writing would be very boring if every sentence was the same: 'We went to the movies. Create your account. Students will identify whether the underlined clauses are either independent clauses or dependent clauses (subordinate). To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. just create an account. Let's start with subordinate clauses that begin with subordinating conjunctions. Words That Begin Subordinate Clauses. first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. We were bored.' It's the man who was in jail. Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Compare and Contrast Essays, Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Great Reading Response Paper, Why Writing Skills Are More Important Than Ever, Tips for Writing an Effective Cover Letter, Make Your Writing Shine: Tips for Perfect Usage, Learn Writing in the Blogosphere: Top 10 Writing Blogs, Break that Block: Five Fun Writing Prompts, Behavior Therapist: Job Outlook & Career Information, Computer Animators: Employment Info & Career Requirements, Public Service Professions: Employment Info & Career Requirements, Financial Analyst Educational Requirements for Financial Analysts, Public Relations Professional: Occupational Outlook and Career Summary, Subordinate Clause: Examples & Definition, Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Writing: Standards, English 103: Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, CSET English Subtest IV (108): Practice & Study Guide, CLEP American Literature: Study Guide & Test Prep, CLEP College Composition: Study Guide & Test Prep, CLEP English Literature: Study Guide & Test Prep, Common Core ELA - Writing Grades 11-12: Standards, Common Core ELA - Language Grades 11-12: Standards, Common Core ELA - Speaking and Listening Grades 9-10: Standards, Common Core ELA - Speaking and Listening Grades 11-12: Standards, Practical Application: Writing a Thesis Statement for an Essay, Practical Application: Creating an Outline for an Essay, Informative Essay Example for College Composition I, Narrative Essay Example for College Composition I, Argumentative Essay Example for College Composition I, Quiz & Worksheet - Functions of Action, Linking and Auxiliary Verbs, Quiz & Worksheet - Possessive Pronouns & Contractions, Quiz & Worksheet - Agreement of Personal Pronouns and Antecedents, CPA Subtest IV - Regulation (REG): Study Guide & Practice, CPA Subtest III - Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR): Study Guide & Practice, ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner: Study Guide & Practice, Advantages of Self-Paced Distance Learning, Advantages of Distance Learning Compared to Face-to-Face Learning, Top 50 K-12 School Districts for Teachers in Georgia, Finding Good Online Homeschool Programs for the 2020-2021 School Year, Coronavirus Safety Tips for Students Headed Back to School, Those Winter Sundays: Theme, Tone & Imagery. Dependent clauses can also be connected by relative pronouns. 'After we returned from my mother's house', This subordinate clause is incomplete and would be considered a fragment if it appeared alone. Your new sentences need not use the exact wording presented below. 'Since you are driving by her house' is the subordinate clause. The subordinating ⦠Which type of subordinate clause modifies a noun? A subordinate clause is an essential part of a complex sentence. Consider the following sentence "When we go to the movies, we always buy popcorn." Also, each subordinate clause begins with either a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. Learn the difference between a clause, a subordinate clause and a relative clause. Noun Subordinate Clause. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. The new mayor is hoping to approve a new spending bill; the state congress is struggling to push the bill through the senate. However, just because two independent clauses can stand alone as their own sentence, that doesn't mean they have to. First, determine which idea should be subordinated; then, brainstorm a good subordinating conjunction to use that will clearly connect the two ideas; finally, write the two ideas as a complex sentence—one independent clause and one dependent clause. Anyone can earn just create an account. Like all clauses, a subordinate clause has a subject and verb. 'Because' is the subordinating conjunction. We have a complete sentence! Visit the English 104: College Composition I page to learn more. As you can see, this clause is independent because it has a subject and a verb, and it can stand alone as a complete thought. Which of the following actions is she likely to engage in to inf. I survived the shipwreck, as I am Aquaman. subordinate clauses can't be a complete sentence. A group of us went to the movie, and we agreed it was enjoyable. In this lesson, we will learn about the function of subordinate clauses, also known as dependent clauses, and examine a variety of examples in order to understand their role in our writing. "Subordinate clauses are 'grammatical juniors,' dependent on the main clause for complete sense. You may also notice that when your subordinate clause is in the middle of a sentence, it is normally separated by commas. Subordinate Clause A subordinate clause (or dependent clause) is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought. Show that the functions f(x)=5, \ \ g(x)=3-4x^2, and h(x)=2-3x^2 are linearly dependent on the real line. Amy has taught and tutored college-level English; she has a master's degree from Colorado State University in rhetoric and composition. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree, Independent & Dependent Clauses: Subordination & Coordination, What is a Noun Phrase? Each bullet point below has two ideas you need to communicate in your article. Susan has taught middle school English for five years and has a master's degree in teaching. Subordinate clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns, which both play a key role in making the clause subordinate. (Stick with me here.) What Is the Rest Cure in The Yellow Wallpaper? Independent Clauses Joined By a Coordinating Conjunction . 1. Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school. The word 'dependent' comes to mind. Independent clauses, on the other hand, can stand alone. 'Since' is the subordinating conjunction. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons Services. Independent Clauses and Subordinate Clauses student handout and worksheets. Subordinate clauses let us see the relation between different parts of the sentence and prevents our writing from sounding repetitive: 'We went to the movies because we were bored.'. Create an account to start this course today. Subordinating Conjunctions. © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. Relative pronouns are not conjunctions but act like other pronouns and take the place of a person, place or thing.