Subordination

Definition

Subordination is a grammatical relationship where one clause depends on another to convey a complete thought. This relationship allows for the creation of complex sentences, where an independent clause can stand alone while a dependent clause cannot, adding detail and context to the main idea. Understanding subordination helps in distinguishing between different sentence patterns and clause types, as well as recognizing how finite clauses function within sentences.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Subordination is often indicated by subordinating conjunctions such as 'although,' 'because,' 'since,' and 'unless,' which signal the relationship between clauses.
2. Complex sentences, which are formed through subordination, can convey more nuanced meanings compared to simple sentences, enhancing the richness of written and spoken language.
3. Understanding subordination allows writers to create varied sentence structures, avoiding monotony and improving the overall flow of their writing.
4. In English grammar, subordination is crucial for expressing relationships such as cause and effect, time, and condition within sentences.
5. Recognizing subordination helps in identifying the main idea of a sentence and its supporting details, which is key for effective reading comprehension.

Review Questions

• How does subordination enhance sentence complexity and clarity?
  • Subordination enhances sentence complexity by allowing writers to combine independent and dependent clauses into complex sentences. This combination enables the expression of more detailed ideas and relationships between thoughts. For instance, using a dependent clause introduces additional information that clarifies or elaborates on the main idea presented in the independent clause, thereby improving clarity and depth in communication.
• Compare and contrast independent and dependent clauses in terms of their roles within subordination.
  • Independent clauses can stand alone as complete sentences because they express complete thoughts, while dependent clauses cannot stand alone and rely on independent clauses for context. In subordination, dependent clauses often provide additional information or details related to the independent clause, enriching the meaning of the sentence. This relationship highlights how different clause types work together to form more intricate ideas in writing.
• Evaluate the impact of subordinating conjunctions on the structure of complex sentences.
  • Subordinating conjunctions play a crucial role in shaping complex sentences by linking dependent clauses to independent clauses. Their use determines how ideas are interconnected, affecting both meaning and emphasis. For example, using 'although' introduces contrast, while 'because' indicates causation. Evaluating these conjunctions reveals their importance in crafting nuanced arguments or narratives that effectively communicate complex relationships between ideas.

Related terms

Dependent Clause: A group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Independent Clause: A group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought, allowing it to stand alone as a sentence.

Subordinating Conjunction: A word or phrase used to connect a dependent clause to an independent clause, indicating the nature of the relationship between the two clauses.