a clause that adds information about an independent clause, but is not considered to be a well-formed sentence on its own. For example in the sentence ‘When you hear the alarm, get out of bed immediately’, ‘when you hear the alarm’ is a subordinate clause.
Synonyms and related words
Types and forms of word, clause or sentence
accusative
adjunct
allomorph
subordinate clause
noun countable linguistics
US
Word Forms
singular
subordinate clause
plural
subordinate clauses
DEFINITIONS1
1
a clause that adds information about an independent clause, but is not considered to be a well-formed sentence on its own. For example in the sentence ‘When you hear the alarm, get out of bed immediately’, ‘when you hear the alarm’ is a subordinate clause.