What is the difference between a subordinate clause and a relative clause

What will happen if I can find my wallet? If a clause in your sentence leaves us hanging like this when set apart on its own, it is a subordinate clause. Subordinate clauses will often begin with subordinating conjunctions , which are words that link dependent clauses to independent clauses, such as for, as, since, therefore, hence, consequently, though, due to, provided that, because, unless, once, while, when, whenever, where, wherever, before, and after.

They can also begin with relative pronouns such as that, which, who, whom, whichever, whoever, whomever, and whose. Spotting these words can tip you off that you are dealing with a subordinate clause rather than a main clause. Now that you can identify a subordinate or dependent clause, you may wonder how this information can be helpful to you. The answer to that is simple. Knowing which clauses are main independent and which are subordinate dependent will help you organize your ideas and place your commas correctly.

The best part is, it is actually quite simple. When a subordinate clause begins a sentence, it has a comma after it. When the main clause begins the sentence, there is no comma to separate it from the dependent clause. If I can find my wallet we can all go for ice cream. We can all go for ice cream, if I can find my wallet.

If I can find my wallet, we can all go for ice cream. Punctuating subordinate clauses only gets tricky when they begin with relative pronouns such as that, which, who, when, where, and whose.

This also creates more sentence variety. When reducing a relative clause, it is necessary to delete the relative pronoun and either delete or change the verb. Here are some examples:. Didn't find what you need? Search our website or email us.

Read our website accessibility and accommodation statement. Grammar: Relative, Restrictive, and Nonrestrictive Clauses. Print Page Report a broken link. Relative Clauses and Relative Pronouns Relative Clause This is a clause that generally modifies a noun or a noun phrase and is often introduced by a relative pronoun which, that, who, whom, whose.

Here are a few examples: The book that she read was important for her literature review. Take this quiz on Grammar Diagnostic Quiz to test your understanding of relative pronouns.

Use relative clauses to create more sentence variety. Restrictive Clauses Restrictive Clause A restrictive clause restricts or defines the meaning of a noun or noun phrase and provides necessary information about the noun in the sentence.

Here are a few examples: The student who sits in the back of the room asks a lot of questions. The results that I obtained may invoke positive social change.

The journalist whose story I read yesterday has won prizes for her work. Here are a few examples: The results that I obtained may invoke positive social change. Dependent clauses often begin with a a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun see below that makes the clause unable to stand alone. Dependent clauses can be nominal , adverbial or adjectival. A nominal clause noun clause functions like a noun or noun phrase.

It is a group of words containing a subject and a finite verb of its own and contains one of the following: that if whether. An adverbial clause adverb clause is a word or expression in the sentence that functions as an adverb; that is, it tells you something about how the action in the verb was done. An adverbial clause is separated from the other clauses by any of the following subordinating conjunctions: after although as because before if since that though till unless until when where while.

Adverbial clauses can also be placed before the main clause without changing the meaning. Note - When an adverb clause introduces the sentence as this one does , it is set off with a comma.

An adjectival clause adjective clause or relative clause does the work of an adjective and describes a noun, it's usually introduced by a relative pronoun: who whom whose that which. This kind of clause is used to provide extra information about the noun it follows.

This can be to define something a defining clause , or provide unnecessary, but interesting, added information a non-defining clause. Information contained in the defining relative clause is absolutely essential in order for us to be able to identify the car in question. A non-defining relative clause is separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. If you take away the non-defining clause the basic meaning of the sentence remains intact.