What is subordination in English grammar? Subordination is a grammatical relationship where two clauses in a sentence are connected such that one clause (the subclause or dependent clause) depends on another (the main clause) rather than standing as an equal partner.
What is Subordination?
Two clauses in the same sentence may be related either by coordination or subordination. Compare these two sentences:
Joan arrived at the office by ten but no one else was there. (coordination)
Joan arrived at the office by ten before anyone else was there. (subordination)
In coordination, the two clauses are 'equal partners' in the same structure:
Joan arrived at the office by ten
BUT no one else was there.
Joan arrived at the office by ten
before anyone else was there.
A subclause can also have another subclause inside it, which means that the first subclause behaves as a 'main clause' with respect to the second subclause.
For example, the sentence I know that you can do it if you try is made up of three clauses, each within the other:
Subclauses can have various functions in their main clause. They may be subjects, objects, adverbials, prepositional complements, postmodifiers, etc.
Finite, Non-Finite and Verbless Subclauses
A main clause is almost always a finite clause. A subclause, on the other hand, can be a finite, non-finite, or verbless clause:
- A finite subclause: This news came after the stockmarket had closed.
- A non-finite subclause: No further discussion arising, the meeting was brought to a close.
- A verbless subclause: Summer vacation then only weeks away, the family was full of excitement.
All three types of clause (finite, non-finite, and verbless) may of course themselves have subclauses inside them. Here is a non-finite clause containing a finite subclause:
[Driving home [after I had left work]], I accidentally went through a red light.
Here is a verbless clause containing a non-finite subclause:
[Never slow [to take advantage of an opponent's weakness]], the Australian moved ahead confidently to win the fourth set.
What Are the Signals of Subordination?
A subclause is not usually capable of standing alone as the main clause of a sentence.
Subclauses are usually marked as subclauses by some signal of subordination. The signal may be:
- that, which is often omitted ('zero that'):
I hope (that) the department will cooperate on this project. - another subordinating conjunction, for example before, if, when:
I wouldn't have been at all surprised if the entire roof had collapsed. - a wh-word:
I asked Jessica why she wanted to move to another university. - inversion, which is <rather formal> and can always be replaced by an if-clause:
Had I been a royal princess, they couldn't have treated me better.
If I had been a royal princess, they couldn't have treated me better. - lack of a finite verb, but for example a to-infinitive, as in:
I hope to phone you back at the very beginning of next week.
Apart from that-clauses with that omitted (including relative clauses), there is only one type of subclause that contains no expressed signal of subordination. This is a comment clause:
He must be at least sixty years old, I suppose.
It can be related to the main clause of a that-clause:
- I suppose (that) he must be at least sixty years old.
Some subordinating conjunctions (after, as, before, but, like, since, till, until) also function as prepositions.
Compare:
Thaven't seen Bill since the end of the war. (since = preposition)
I haven't seen Bill since the war ended. (since = conjunction)
Key Takeaways
- Subordination connects clauses where one depends on another, unlike coordination which treats clauses as equal partners.
- Subclauses can function as subjects, objects, adverbials, or postmodifiers and can even contain other nested subclauses.
- Subclauses are categorized as finite, non-finite, or verbless structures.
- Signals of subordination include subordinating conjunctions, wh-words, 'that', inversion, or non-finite verb forms.
Quick Practice
Test your understanding of subordination by answering the following questions in the comments below:
- Identify whether the clause is finite, non-finite, or verbless: This news came after the stockmarket had closed.
- What is the signal of subordination in the sentence: I asked Jessica why she wanted to move to another university.?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between coordination and subordination?
In coordination, two clauses are equal partners in a sentence structure (connected by coordinators like 'but'). In subordination, one clause relies on a main clause and functions as a dependent element.
Can a subclause contain another subclause?
Yes. A subclause can house another subclause within it, meaning the first subclause acts as a main clause relative to the second subclause.
What are the common signals of subordination?
Common signals include the word 'that' (or zero-that), subordinating conjunctions like before, if, and when, wh-words, formal inversion, and the absence of a finite verb.