subordonnées

A subordonnée, in grammar, is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It depends on an independent clause, also known as a main clause, for its full meaning. Subordinate clauses are introduced by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.

Subordinating conjunctions, such as "because," "although," "if," "when," and "while," introduce adverbial subordinate clauses. These clauses function like adverbs, modifying the verb, adjective, or another adverb in the main clause. For example, in the sentence "She stayed home because she was tired," the clause "because she was tired" explains why she stayed home and is a subordinate clause.

Relative pronouns, such as "who," "whom," "whose," "which," and "that," introduce adjectival subordinate clauses, also known as relative clauses. These clauses function like adjectives, modifying a noun or pronoun in the main clause. For instance, in the sentence "The book that I am reading is interesting," the clause "that I am reading" describes the book and is a subordinate clause.

There are also nominal subordinate clauses, which function as nouns. These are often introduced by conjunctions like "that," "if," or "whether," or by interrogative words like "what," "who," or "how." In the sentence "I know that you are right," the clause "that you are right" acts as the direct object of the verb "know" and is a nominal subordinate clause. Understanding the role and structure of subordinate clauses is crucial for constructing complex and grammatically correct sentences.