Dependent Clauses and Word Order

 

We are going to continue our discussion of the complex sentence.

To read the previous lesson, "The Complex Sentence," please click here.

Before you begin the activities, you may want to study the podcast and grammar lesson, He's Always Talking about Grammar , also in our Library.

Word Order (Syntax)

 

In a complex sentence, there is a main clause (or independent clause) and a subordinate clause (or dependent clause). The subordinate clause is subordinate to the main clause. In other words, the dependent clause is dependent on the independent clause.

  • Simple Sentence:     I don't like to write.

  • Complex Sentence: I don't like to write when it is noisy.

A subordinate clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction can occur in one of three positions within a sentence:

  • before a main clause

  • after a main clause

  • in the middle of a main clause

Before a Main Clause

 

  • When I first saw them, I was very happy.

  • When everybody would go to work and leave me alone in the house, I would have to lock the door.

  • After a while, we started going out again.

After a Main Clause

 

  • I was very happy when I first saw them.

  • I would have to lock the door when I was alone in the house.

  • We started going out again after a while.

Within a Main Clause

 

It is not always appropriate to place the dependent clause within the main clause.  The sentence and the context will determine whether it is possible.

Here is a sentence in which placing the dependent clause between the subject and the verb works out very nicely:

  • My father, when he arrived in Hong Kong, immediately went to look for his brother.

Subordinate Clauses Beginning with but

When the Adverb of Frequency is "Never"

A subordinate clause that begins with but must follow the main clause. That is, the sentence must begin with the main clause, and the subordinating clause beginning with but will follow.

  •  I was happy, but my happiness didn't last long.

In informal writing, a clause that begins with but will occasionally stand alone as a sentence.  However, we caution you about overusing this.  When used sparingly, a stand-alone clause that begins with but can be used to add emphasis to the idea.

  • When I first saw them, I was very happy.  But my happiness didn't last long.

Next... but and although

In our next lesson...

Let's continue as, in our next Sentence Structure unit, we discuss the problem with using 'but' and 'although' together.

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