subordinate clause
noun Grammar.
a clause that modifies the principal clause or some part of it or that serves a noun function in the principal clause, as when she arrived in the sentence I was there when she arrived or that she has arrived in the sentence I doubt that she has arrived.
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What’s The Difference Between Independent And Dependent ClausesYou might have seen these terms floating around. Clauses are the building blocks of sentences. They’re groups of related words (phrases) that contain both a subject and a verb. When a clause can stand alone as a complete sentence with a clear meaning, it’s considered independent. If it only makes sense when you join it with another clause, it’s dependent (or subordinate). For example, “in …
Nearby words
- suborbital,
- suborder,
- subordinal,
- subordinary,
- subordinate,
- subordinated,
- subordinated debt,
- subordinating conjunction,
- subordination,
- subordinationism
Compare main clause.
Also called de·pend·ent clause.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
subordinate clause
noun
grammar a clause with an adjectival, adverbial, or nominal function, rather than one that functions as a separate sentence in its own rightCompare coordinate clause, main clause
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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