Subordination

Definition

Subordination is a grammatical structure that connects clauses in a way that one clause (the subordinate clause) depends on another (the main clause) for its meaning. This relationship creates a hierarchy in which the main clause presents the primary idea, while the subordinate clause adds additional information or context. Understanding subordination is crucial for analyzing sentence structure and the interplay of syntactic categories and functions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Subordination helps create complex sentences that convey more nuanced meanings than simple sentences.
2. Subordinate clauses can function in various ways, serving as noun clauses, adjective clauses, or adverbial clauses depending on their role in relation to the main clause.
3. The relationship established by subordination can express different meanings, such as causation ('because'), condition ('if'), or time ('when').
4. In English, subordinate clauses are often introduced by subordinating conjunctions, which signal their dependent status.
5. Recognizing subordination is essential for effective sentence parsing, allowing for better comprehension of both written and spoken language.

Review Questions

• How does subordination contribute to the complexity of sentences in English?
  • Subordination allows for the creation of complex sentences that combine multiple ideas into a single structure. By connecting main clauses with subordinate clauses, speakers and writers can provide additional context and detail, enhancing the overall meaning. This complexity enables more nuanced expression of thoughts, such as expressing conditions, reasons, or temporal relationships between actions.
• Analyze how different types of subordinate clauses serve distinct functions within a sentence.
  • Subordinate clauses can serve various functions depending on their type. Noun clauses can act as subjects or objects within a sentence, adjective clauses modify nouns by providing descriptive information, and adverbial clauses explain circumstances such as time, place, or reason. Each type of subordinate clause adds depth to the main clause it accompanies, shaping the overall meaning and clarity of the sentence.
• Evaluate the impact of subordination on sentence clarity and reader comprehension in complex writing.
  • Subordination significantly impacts sentence clarity and reader comprehension by enabling more intricate relationships between ideas. While it allows for richer expression of thoughts, overuse or poorly structured subordinate clauses can lead to confusion. Balancing the use of subordination with clear main clauses is crucial for maintaining clarity and ensuring that readers can easily follow the intended message without becoming lost in complex structures.

Related terms

Main Clause: A main clause contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought, standing independently in a sentence.

Subordinate Clause: A subordinate clause, also known as a dependent clause, cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and provides extra information to the main clause.

Conjunction:

A conjunction is a word used to connect clauses or sentences, such as 'although,' 'because,' or 'while,' which often introduces subordinate clauses.