The Subordinate Clause and the Complex Sentence

The Subordinate Clause and the Complex Sentence

While a compound sentence is made by combining independent clauses, a complex sentence is made by combining an independent clause with one or more subordinate clauses (also called dependent clauses):

Example of a Complex Sentence:

If I finish work early, I'll go shopping.

Identifying Subordinate Clauses

A subordinate clause, like an independent clause, has a subject and a verb, but unlike an independent clause, it cannot stand alone as a sentence.  Subordinate clauses begin with certain words or short phrases called subordinating words (also known as dependent words, or subordinating/subordinate conjunctions).

If a clause begins with a subordinating word, that clause is a subordinate clause and cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Subordinating Conjunctions:

after                         if                         what

although                   in order that       whatever

as                             provided that      when

as if                          since                    whenever

as long as                so that                 where

because                   than                     whereas

before                     that                      wherever

even if                     though                 whether

even though           unless

ever since               until

Relative Pronouns are also subordinating words:

who                         which                          whomever

whom                      that                             whichever

whose                     whoever

Examples of subordinate clauses:

Although the weather didn't cooperate

As he was in a hurry

If you really want to go

who led the Metis in the North West rebellions