SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does subordinate clause mean? 

• SUBORDINATE CLAUSE (noun)
  The noun SUBORDINATE CLAUSE has 1 sense:

1. a clause in a complex sentence that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and that functions within the sentence as a noun or adjective or adverb

  Familiarity information: SUBORDINATE CLAUSE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SUBORDINATE CLAUSE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A clause in a complex sentence that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and that functions within the sentence as a noun or adjective or adverb

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

dependent clause; subordinate clause

Hypernyms ("subordinate clause" is a kind of...):

clause ((grammar) an expression including a subject and predicate functioning as a part of a complex sentence)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "subordinate clause"):

restrictive clause (a subordinate clause that limits or restricts the meaning of the noun phrase it modifies)

descriptive clause; nonrestrictive clause (a subordinate clause that does not limit or restrict the meaning of the noun phrase it modifies)

Holonyms ("subordinate clause" is a part of...):

complex sentence (a sentence composed of at least one main clause and one subordinate clause)