30. The Subordinate Clause: Classification

[grammarshit2]

1) The Noun Clause:
The clause doing the same function as a noun is called the Noun clause.

a) Subordinate Subject Clauses have the function of the subject to the predicate of the main clause. They are introduced by:
- Conjunctions: That / Whether
- Conjunctive Pronouns: Who / What /Which
- Conjunctive Adverbs: When/ Where / How / Why
Eg: That he will come is certain.
Who broke the glass window remained unknown.
How she managed to do it seemed a mystery to me.
Sometimes, the impersonal pronoun ‘it’ is used to introduce the subject clause:
Eg: It is necessary that we should all be present.
It is still unknown when we will come.


b) Subordinate Predicative Clauses have the function of the predicate. They are introduced by the same conjunctions and “if’, conjunctive pronouns and adverbs as in the subject clauses. The linking verb is in the main clause. The predicative clause together with the linking verb forms a compound nominal predicate to the subject of the main clause:
Eg: The question is whether it may rain or not.
It looks as if it were going to rain.
That is why she is so happy.

Relative Clauses
An important type of subordinate clause is the RELATIVE CLAUSE. Here are some examples:
The man [who lives beside us] is ill
The video [which you recommended] was terrific
Relative clauses are generally introduced by a relative pronoun, such aswho, or which. However, the relative pronoun may be ellipted:
The video [you recommended] was terrific
Another variant, the REDUCED RELATIVE CLAUSE, has no relative pronoun, and the verb is nonfinite:
The man [living beside us] is ill
(Compare: The man [who lives beside us]...)

3) The Adverbial Clauses: Add the meaning to a verb, an adjective or an adverb of the main clause in the function of an adverbial modifier.
Eg: I will speak to him when he comes. He will follow her wherever she goes.

Adverbial clauses are connected to the main clause by means of conjunctions: when, why, after, because, if, etc. On the ground of their meaning, adverbial clauses are classified into 8 kinds:

1- Adverbial clauses of TIME: broadly answer the question “When?” and can be introduced by the following conjunctions: when, why, after, before, as, as long as, since, etc.
Eg: Please tell him that as soon as he arrives.
She was in the kitchen while the telephone was ringing.
He thought carefully before he decided to do this.
You may enjoy yourself as long as you like to.
To express that action of the subordinate clause closely follows that of the main clause, some negative conjunctive adverbs, such as: hardly, scarcely, no sooner, etc. are used and the main clauses are used in inversion structure.
Eg: Hardly had I reached the station when the train started to leave the platform.
Scarcely had she open the door when all the lights were out.
No sooner had she got home than it started raining cats and dogs.

2- Adverbial clauses of PLACE: answer the question “Where?” and can be introduced by the conjunctions:where, wherever, anywhere, everywhere, etc. Adverbial clauses of Place normally comes after the main clause. Sometimes, they can begin the sentence for the sake of emphasis.
Eg: The house was built where two roads meet.
You can camp wherever you like to.
Everywhere Mary went, she was mistaken by her sister.
The pagoda was built where there had once been a Catholic Church.

3- Adverbial clauses of MANNER or COMPARISON: answer the question “How?” and can be introduced by the conjunctions: as, as if, as though, the more…the more…, the less…the less…, etc. They usually come after the main clause.
Eg: I will do it exactly as you told me.
It sounds as if the situation will become worse.
He worked much better than I had hoped.

4- Adverbial clauses of REASON or CAUSE: broadly answer the question “Why?” and can be introduced by the conjunctions: because, as, since, seeing that, for fear that, etc.
Eg: They decided to give up the trip because the weather had turned out too bad.
Since you insist, we will go together.
As the day was clear and there was sunshine, we decided to go on a camping holiday.
I bought this house at once for fear that they might change their mind.

5- Adverbial clauses of RESULTare used to describe consequences and are introduced by the conjunctions:so that, so…that…, etc.
Eg: The house was surrounded by many trees and bushes so that we couldn’t find it.
The problem is so simple that a child can understand.
We arrived early so that we got good seats.
It was such a cold day that the streets were almost empty.

6- Adverbial clauses of PURPOSE: answer the question “What for?” or “For what purpose?” and can be introduced by the following conjunctions: so that, in order that, less, for fear that, etc.
Eg: We will write down her name so that we may not forget.

We must hurry less we should be late for the train.
She worked hard for her exams in order that she could get good marks.

7- Adverbial clauses of CONCESSION(Contrast): introduce an element of contrast into a sentence and are introduced by the following conjunctions: however, though, although, even though, even if, no matter how,whoever, whatever, whichever, etc.
Eg: Though they could see nothing, they distinctively heard the sound in the distance.
Whatever you say, I would never change my mind.
No matter where you go, you can not escape from yourself.
No matter how hard he tries, he will not get this job.

8- Adverbial clauses of CONDITION: express a condition by which an action can or can not happen. They are introduced by the following conjunctions: if, unless, on condition that, supposing that, so long as, etc.
Eg: If it is late, we should stop our work here.
Supposing that he doesn’t come, what shall we do?
So long as you didn’t work hard, you wouldn’t get this job.