FUNCTIONS OF THE SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

You know there are three types of clauses : Principal Clauses, Coordinate Clauses, Subordinate Clauses. 

Now, we shall tell you specifically about the functions of the Subordinate Clause because it forms an important part of the language. It occurs in a sentence together with a Principal Clause :

1.It can tell about the time of the action given in the Principal Clause :

Brush your teeth after you have eaten anything.

You have grown older since we met last.

2.It can tell about the place of the action given in the Principal Clause :

Look for the ball where you threw it.

He earns a lot of money wherever he works.

3.It can tell about the reason of the action given in the Principal Clause :

Let us hurry because the school time is approaching fast.

Since it is raining, we cannot go out without an umbrella.

4.It can tell about the purpose of the action given in the Principal Clause :

You must come early so that you can have the dinner with us.

If you keep your fruits in the fridge, they will not rot.

5.It can tell about the condition or circumstances due to which something happens :

If you walk at this rate, you will surely miss the flight.

The cultural programme will be held in the ground unless it rains.

6.It can tell about some concession or contrast indicating something surprising or unusual connected with the Principal Clause :

She kept on working though it was late at night.

I won the race even though he was taller than me.

7.It can compare with something in the Principal Clause :

You can take as much as you can carry.

She is taller than her husband is.

8.It can tell about the result of an action given in the Principal Clause :

The hill is so high that we cannot climb up it.

It was such a little food that we went out to look for some eatery.

9.It can describe a person or thing given in the Principal Clause :

The girl who is wearing a white frock is my daughter.

The building which you can see on the left was bought by us recently.

Note : The Subordinate Clauses in the above sentences have been given in bold.