Subordinate Clauses

Definition

Subordinate clauses are dependent clauses that cannot stand alone as complete sentences. They provide additional information to the main clause and usually begin with subordinating conjunctions.

Related terms

Independent Clauses: Clauses that can stand alone as complete sentences.

Complex Sentences: Sentences that contain both an independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses.

Relative Pronouns: Words such as "who," "whom," "whose," "which," and "that" used to introduce subordinate clauses.