Subordinate clauses in Russian are dependent parts of the main clause in a complex sentence. That is, they play the role of secondary members of the sentence. Therefore, the types of subordinate clauses are divided taking into account the role played in the sentence. You can ask one question for the entire secondary sentence, just as you do with the members of the sentence.

Main types of subordinate clauses

Four types of them are considered: attributive, adverbial, explanatory and connective. We can give examples that represent all types of subordinate clauses:

1. The flowerbed, which was laid out in the courtyard on the left side of the porch, resembled a smaller copy of the town - a sort of Flower Town from Nosov’s fairy tale about Dunno. (Definitive).
2. And it seemed to me that restless and funny little people really lived there. (Expository).
3. And we don’t see them because they are hiding from us underground. (Adverbial).
4. But as soon as we leave somewhere, the little ones come out of their hiding places and begin to vigorously enjoy life. (Connection).

Determinative clauses

These subordinate clauses in Russian define the attribute of one noun or sometimes a phrase consisting of a noun and a demonstrative word. They serve as answers to questions Which? whose? which? These secondary sentences are joined to the main part by allied words whose, which, who, what, which, from where, where, when. Usually in the main part of a complex sentence there are such demonstrative words as such, everyone, everyone, any or That in various forms of childbirth. The following proposals can be taken as examples:

• Living beings, ( which?) who live on the planet next to people, feel a kind human attitude towards them.
• Reach out your hand with food, open your palm, freeze, and some bird, ( which?) whose voice is heard in the bushes of your garden in the morning, will sit on your hand with trust.
• Every person ( Which?) who considers himself the pinnacle of the Almighty's creation, must correspond to this title.
• Whether it’s a garden, a forest or an ordinary yard, (Which?)where everything is familiar and familiar, can open the door to the wonderful world of nature for a person.

Subordinate clauses

Interesting types of subordinate clauses that relate not to a single word or phrase, but to the entire main part. They are called connecting. Often these parts of a complex sentence contain the meaning of the consequence, supplementing or explaining the content of the main part. Secondary sentences of this type are joined using allied words where, how, when, why, where, what. Examples:

• And only next to his mother does any baby feel protected, what is provided by nature itself.
• Caring for cubs, tenderness for one’s offspring, self-sacrifice are embedded in a creature at the level of instinct, how every creature has an inherent need to breathe, sleep, eat and drink.

Explanatory clauses

If the author of the text wants to clarify, specify one word of the main part, which has the meaning of thought, perception, feeling or speech. Often these clauses refer to verbs, such as say, answer, think, feel, be proud, hear. But they can also specify adjectives, for example, satisfied or glad. It is often observed when these types of subordinate clauses act as explanations of adverbs ( clear, necessary, necessary, known, sorry) or nouns ( message, thought, statement, rumor, thought, sensation). Explanatory clauses are added using:

Unions (so that, what, when, as if, how and others);

Any allied words;

Particles (of the union).

Examples include the following compound sentences:

• Have you ever watched, ( What?) how amazingly the sunlight plays, reflected in dew drops, insect wings, snowflake tiles?
• One day, a person will surely be incredibly happy about this beauty, ( what?) that I discovered a unique world of beauty.
• And it immediately becomes clear, ( What?) that everything around was created for a reason, that everything is interconnected.
• Consciousness will be filled with indescribable feelings of joy, (which?) as if you yourself are a part of this amazing and unique world.

Clauses of manner and degree

Adverbial clauses are divided into several subtypes. A group of dependent parts of compound sentences that relate to the attribute or action named in its main part, and denote its degree or measure, as well as image, are classified as subordinate clauses of manner of action and degree. They usually answer the following questions: how? how much? How? in what degree? The design of the connection between the subordinate and the main part looks something like this: full adjective + noun + such; full adjective + such; verb + so. The joining of these subordinate clauses is ensured by conjunctions so that, what, as if or allied words how much, how much and some others. Examples:

• The girl laughed so contagiously, so spontaneously, that it was difficult for everyone else not to smile.
• The ringing sounds of her laughter broke the tense silence of the room, as if multi-colored peas from a bag suddenly scattered.
• And the baby’s face itself changed so much, as far as this was possible in this case: the girl, exhausted by the disease, could easily be called a lovely and absolutely healthy child.

Adverbial clauses

These dependent clauses indicate the place of origin of the action, which is named in the main part of the complex sentence. Referring to the entire main sentence, they answer the following questions: where? Where? Where? and are joined by allied words where, where, where. Often there are demonstrative words in the main clause there, everywhere, there, everywhere, from everywhere and some others. The following examples of such proposals can be given:

1. It is quite easy to determine the cardinal directions in the forest thicket, where there is moss on the trees.
2. The ants carried on their backs building material for their anthills and food supplies from everywhere, wherever these hardworking creatures could get.
3. I am always drawn there, to magical lands, where we went with him last summer.

Adverbial clauses of time

Indicating the time of action, these subordinate clauses refer both to the entire main sentence and specifically to one predicate. You can ask the following questions about this type of subordinate clause: how long? How long? When? since when? Often there are demonstrative words in the main part of the sentence, for example: sometimes, once, always, now, then. For example: Animals will then be friendly with each other, (When?) when they grow up next to each other since childhood.

Adverbial clauses, causes, goals, consequences

1. If the dependent parts of complex sentences answer questions in what case? or under what condition? and relate either to the predicate of the main part or to the whole of it, joining with the help of conditional conjunctions once, if, if, if, when And How(meaning “if”), then they can be classified as subordinate conditions. Example: And even the most inveterate scoundrel turns into a serious and well-mannered gentleman, ( in which case?)when he becomes a parent, be it a person, a monkey or a penguin.
2. For questions because of which? Why? for what reason? from what? adjunct reasons answer. They are joined using causal conjunctions because, because, since. Example: For a child in early childhood, the authority of the parent is unshakable, ( Why?) because his well-being depends on this creature.
3. Dependent clauses indicating the purpose of the action named in the main part and answering questions For what? for what purpose? For what?, are called subordinate clauses. Their connection to the main part is ensured by target unions in order to, then in order to (in order to). Example: But even then you should accompany your requirements with explanations ( for what purpose?) then, so that the baby grows into a thinking person, and not a weak-willed robot performer.
4. Dependent parts of a sentence that indicate a conclusion or result, indicate a consequence arising from the above in the main part of the sentence, are called subordinate clauses of the consequence and relate to the entire main sentence. They are usually joined by consequence unions That's why or So, for example: Education is a complex and regular process, ( what follows from this?) therefore, parents should always be in shape and not relax even for a minute.

Adverbial clause comparisons

These types of dependent clauses in complex constructions relate either to the predicate or to the entire main part and answer the question like what?, joining comparative unions as if, than (that), as if, exactly. Subordinate clauses differ from comparative phrases in that they have a grammatical basis. For example: The polar bear cub so funny fell on his side and lifted his paws up, it looks like a naughty boy playing happily in the sandbox with his friends.

Circumstantial clauses

Dependent clauses in a complex construction, denoting circumstances in spite of which the action indicated in the main part has been or can be committed, are called subordinate clauses of concession. You can ask them questions: contrary to what? no matter what? and join to the main thing with the help of concessionary unions at least (even though), let (even though), that, for nothing, despite and some others. Conjunctive combinations are often used: no matter how much, whatever, whenever, whoever, no matter how and the like. Example: Even though the panda cubs were playing happily, their dark spots around their eyes gave the impression of sad thoughtfulness.

A literate person should always remember: when writing, sentences that are part of a complex sentence are separated by commas.

Types of subordinate clauses in the Russian language are distinguished depending on the semantic connections between the parts of a complex sentence. But first, you need to understand what a complex sentence (or SPP) itself is, and how it differs from its fellow complex sentence (SSP).

Their main difference lies in the type of connection that defines the relationship between the parts of these types of complex sentences. If in SSP we are dealing with a coordinating connection (as you might guess based on the name alone), then in SPP we are dealing with a subordinating connection.

The coordinating connection presupposes an initial “equality” between the parts, i.e. each individual predicative unit (a simple sentence as part of a complex one) can function separately without loss of meaning: The gentle May sun shone welcomingly and clearly, and each branch reached out to it with its still young leaves.

It is easy to guess that the parts of the sentence in the NGN are in a different type of relationship. The main clause in it “controls” the subordinate clause. Depending on how this control occurs, there are the following types of subordinate clauses:

To more accurately determine the types of subordinate clauses, you just need to correctly ask the question from the main sentence (or the word in it) to the dependent (subordinate clause).

Subordinate clauses are very diverse. They differ from each other in four main ways:

grammatical meaning;

the question answered by the subordinate clause;

what does it refer to;

means of communication (what it is connected to).

Based on these characteristics, there are four main types of subordinate clauses: attributive, explanatory, adverbial, and connecting.

Subordinate clauses

They indicate the attribute of the subject named in the main clause; answer the question which?; refer to one word in the main sentence - a noun (sometimes to the phrase “noun + demonstrative word”); are joined by allied words: who, what, whose, which, which, where, where, from, when. At the same time, indicative words are often found in the main sentence: that (that, that, those), such, every, every, any, etc. For example: The forest we entered was extremely old (I. Turgenev); Once again I visited that corner of the earth where I spent two unnoticed years as an exile (A. Pushkin).

Explanatory clauses

Complement and specify the meaning of the main sentence; answer questions about indirect cases; refer to one word in the main sentence - a verb with the meaning of speech, thought or feeling (said, asked, thought, remembered, surprised, etc.), to nouns (message, request, question, etc.), to adjectives (glad, happy , proud, etc.), to adverbs (known, clearly, visible, etc.), to phrases (asked about that, question about that, glad about that, etc.); are joined by conjunctions that, that, as if, like, etc., as well as allied words that, that, why, when, where, where, what for, why, etc. Moreover, in the main sentence the demonstrative word then is often found in different case forms . For example: I believe that man is the creator of his own happiness (A. Chekhov). Reader, shall I tell you where the beauty [Lyudmila] went? (A. Pushkin); During the argument, they did not notice how the red sun had set (N. Nekrasov).

Adverbial clauses

Adverbial clauses are very diverse and therefore have their own classification. The following types of adverbial clauses are distinguished: manner of action and degree, place, time, condition, reason, purpose, comparison, concession, consequence.

Clauses of manner and degree

Designate the image, degree or measure of the action (attribute) named in the main sentence; answer questions how? how? in what degree? how much? and etc.; refer to phrases in the main clause: verb + so; full adjective + such; full adjective + noun + such; are joined by conjunctions that, so that, as if, etc. and allied words: how, how much, how much, etc. The main sentence may contain demonstrative words: so, so much, so much, to such an extent, such, etc.

Example: I was born in Russia. I love her so much that words can’t say everything (S. Ostrovoy). The air is so transparent that the beak of a jackdaw is visible... (A. Chekhov).

Subordinate clauses

Indicate the place of action named in the main clause; answer questions where? Where? where?; refer either to the entire main sentence or to its predicate; are joined by the allied words where, where, from. In the main sentence they often correspond to demonstrative words: there, there, from everywhere, everywhere, everywhere, etc.

Example: Go along the free road where your free mind takes you (A. Pushkin). Where the thicket ended, the birches grew white.

Clauses of time

Indicates the time of the action named in the main clause; When do they answer questions? how long? since when? How long? and etc.; refer either to the entire main clause or to its predicate. The main sentence often contains demonstrative words: then, now, always, once, sometimes, etc.

Example: While he was singing, the cat Vaska ate all the roast (I. Krylov). Sometimes, when you wander through an unmown fallow land, a large brood of quails or gray partridges bursts out almost from under your very feet (S. Ognev).

Subordinate clauses

They indicate the condition under which the action named in the main clause can be carried out; answer questions under what conditions? in which case?; refer either to the entire main sentence or to its predicate; are joined by conditional conjunctions if, once, if, if, when (meaning “if”), how (meaning “if”), etc.

Example: If life deceives you, don’t be sad, don’t be angry (A. Pushkin); When there is no agreement among the comrades, things will not go well for them (I. Krylov).

Note

Subordinate clauses also have a conditional meaning, in which the predicate is expressed by a verb in the form of an imperative mood, used in the meaning of the conditional: If it weren’t for the Lord’s will, we would not have given up Moscow (M. Lermontov) (cf.: If it weren’t for the Lord’s will, They wouldn’t give up Moscow).

Additional reasons

They indicate the reason for what is said in the main sentence; answer the questions why? from what? because of which? for what reason?; refer either to the entire main clause or only to the predicate; are joined by causal conjunctions: since, because, because, etc.

Example: I'm sad because you're having fun (M. Lermontov); The Ossetian cab driver tirelessly drove his horses, as he wanted to climb Kaurskaya Mountain before nightfall (M. Lermontov).

Subordinate goals

They indicate the purpose of the action named in the main clause; answer questions why? For what? for what purpose? For what? and etc.; refer either to the entire main sentence or to its predicate; are joined by target conjunctions in order (to), then in order to, in order to, etc.

Example: To become a musician, you need skill (I. Krylov). I want to live so that I can think and suffer (A. Pushkin).

Subordinate comparisons

Example: For two minutes it was quiet, as if the convoy had fallen asleep (A. Chekhov). And the spruce tree knocks on the window with a thorny branch, as a belated traveler sometimes knocks (A. Pleshcheev).

It is necessary to distinguish between subordinate comparisons and comparative phrases. Compare: Just as a tree quietly drops its leaves, so I drop sad words (S. Yesenin) (complex sentence with a comparative clause); Barely noticeable, like drops of silver water, the first stars sparkled (K. Paustovsky) (comparative turn).

In a comparative clause, unlike a comparative phrase, there is a grammatical basis.

Introductory sentences should also be distinguished from comparative clauses. For example: Yakov, as already said, was alienated from his comrades (I. Turgenev). The highlighted sentence has a grammatical basis, but no comparison meaning.

Subordinate concessions

They indicate the circumstance in spite of which the action named in the main sentence is performed; answer questions no matter what? in spite of what?; refer to the entire main clause or its predicate; are joined by concessional conjunctions: although (even though), despite, let, letting, for nothing; despite the fact that, etc., allied combinations: no matter what, no one, no matter how much, no matter when, no matter how, etc.

Examples: It’s hot, although the sun has already dropped to the west (M. Gorky). Although it is cold, you are not hungry (Proverb). Wherever you throw it, there is a wedge everywhere (Proverb).

It is necessary to distinguish between a complex sentence with a subordinate clause of concession and a simple sentence with a separate circumstance of concession. Compare: Despite the fact that the evening was a success, I did not feel satisfied (complex sentence with subordinate clause). Despite the success of the evening, I did not feel satisfaction (a simple sentence with a concession clause).

Subordinate corollaries

They denote a consequence (conclusion, result) arising from the content of the main sentence; answer the questions what follows from this?; refer to the entire main clause; are joined by conjunctions of consequence so, therefore.

Example: The wind howls at the top of its lungs, so I couldn’t sleep in my room (I. Goncharov). The whole next day Gerasim did not show up, so the coachman Potap (I. Turgenev) had to go for water instead.

It is necessary to distinguish between a subordinate clause of consequence and a subordinate clause of manner and degree. Compare: The road was washed away by the rain, so that wide potholes formed in the mountains (I. Goncharov) (subordinate corollary); The road was washed away by the rain so that wide potholes formed across the mountains (adjective of manner and degree).

Subordinate clauses

Example: Dew peas glisten in the meadows, which only happens in the early morning (A. Chekhov). He needed to arrange something in the city, which is why he left in a hurry (A. Pushkin). Instead of sugar, honeycomb honey was served in a clay bowl, which is why the tea was always liquid but tasty (K. Paustovsky).

In this chapter:

§1. Complex sentences. general characteristics

Complex sentences- these are complex sentences, the parts of which are unequal: one depends on the other. They are connected by a subordinating syntactic connection, expressed by subordinating conjunctions: .

The commonly used designation for complex sentences is SPP.

The independent part of the SPP is the main one. It's called the main clause.

The dependent part of the NGN is the subordinate part. It's called a subordinate clause.

An IPP can have several subordinate clauses. Since semantic relationships in SPP are expressed using subordinating conjunctions and allied words, the classification of SPP is in many ways similar to the classification of subordinating conjunctions. Allied means in the SPP are located in the subordinate part.
The subordinate clause can refer to one word in the main clause or to the entire main clause as a whole. Examples:

We communicated as if we had known each other for a hundred years.

(subordinate clause refers to the whole main thing)

When we met, we communicated more coldly than one might expect.

(clause refers to the word colder)

§2. Classification of NGN by meaning

The NGN classification reflects the meaning expressed by allied means.

The main division is into four types:
1). SPP with an explanatory clause(with conjunctions: what, how, so that, whether):

Olga said that she would return from Pskov on Monday.

2). SPP with subordinate clauses(with allied words: which, which, whose, what; where, where, from, how):

This is the house I would like to live in.

3). SPP with subordinate clauses: (with allied words that (in any case), why, why, why):

In the morning he took a shower, after which his wife fed him breakfast.

4). SPP with adverbial clauses:

We climbed a hill from where we had a beautiful view of the surrounding area.

Circumstantial meaning may be different: the circumstance of the manner of action, time, place, etc. Therefore, adverbial SPPs are divided into types according to meaning.

Adverbial clauses are divided into sentences with subordinate clauses:

1) places(conjunctive words: where, where, from):

We went down to the river where the children were swimming.

2) temporary(conjunctions: when, while, only, only):

I was sleeping when you called.

3) conditional(conjunctions: if, if (obsolete):

If he invites me to the cinema, I will go.

4) causal(conjunctions: because, since, for (obsolete):

Anna didn't come to the extra lesson because she didn't know anything about it.

5) targeted(conjunctions: so that, so that (obsolete):

Call Anna so that she also knows this news.

6) consequences(conjunction so that):

The grandmother agreed to help look after the children, so they were not left alone.

7) concessive(union though):

Dimka does not really like mathematics, although he has good mathematical abilities.

8) comparative(conjunctions: as, as if, as if, than):

The meeting was very tense and cold, as if none of us had known each other before.

9) measures and degrees(conjunctions: what, so that and allied words: how much, how much):

In just a week she accomplished so much that others would not have accomplished in a month.

10) course of action(conjunctions: that, to, as if, as if, exactly, as if and the conjunctive word as):

Study so that you don't get scolded for your grades

§3. Means of syntactic communication in NGN

The subordinating syntactic connection in NGN can be expressed in different ways:

• unions
• allied words

1. As mentioned above, a typical means of subordinating syntactic connection in NGN is conjunctions.

In addition to those mentioned above, derivative conjunctions are widely represented in the dictionary, which are formed in different ways:

a) from two simple conjunctions: as if, as soon as, only and others similar.

b) from simple conjunctions and demonstrative words with prepositions: after ; although; thanks to and others like that.

c) from simple conjunctions and words time, reason, purpose, condition, etc. with demonstrative words and prepositions (while; while; while; for the purpose of; due to the fact that and others similar)

2. Conjunctive words.
What words can serve as the means of the main and subordinate parts of the dictionary?

First of all, these are relative pronouns who, what, which, what, which, whose, how many, standing in different forms, as well as adverbs where, where, from, when, why, how, etc.

How to distinguish conjunctions from allied words?

Unions are not members of the proposal. They serve only to express the nature of the syntactic connection and the meaning of the sentence as a whole. Unions cannot be questioned.

Conjunctive words, on the contrary, not only serve as a means of communication, but are also members of the sentence. You can ask questions to them. For example:

I remember well the melody that my mother often hummed.

(melody (what?) which is a conjunctive word)

In the Russian language there is homonymy of conjunctions and allied words: what, how, when.

I think she will arrive tomorrow.

(What- union)

I know what she answered you.

(What- a conjunctive word expressed by a relative pronoun)

In addition, subordinating conjunctions, unlike allied words, are not distinguished by logical stress.

Subordinating conjunctions cannot be replaced with a word from the main part, but allied words can:

I remember the conversation you had with me before you left.

(which=conversation)

Conjunctions can sometimes be omitted, but allied words cannot:

I knew that we had parted forever.

(synonymous: I knew we were parting forever)

I know what I am saying.

(omit the conjunction word What impossible)

§4. Place of the subordinate clause relative to the main one

The subordinate part can occupy different positions in relation to the main part:

1) it can precede the main part:

When the mother arrived, the son was already at home.

2) it can follow the main part:

The son was already at home when the mother arrived.

3) it can be located inside the main part:

The son was already at home when his mother arrived.

SPP schemes:

[...] 1, (to...) 2 - complex sentence, for example:

I will do everything 1/to make her happy 2.

(to...) 1, […] 2 - complex sentence, for example:

To make her happy 1, / Mitya will do everything 2.

[... , (to...) 2...] 1 - complex sentence, for example:

Mitya 1,/ to make her happy 2,/ will do everything 1.

Test of strength

Find out your understanding of this chapter.

Final test

1. Is it true that SPPs are complex sentences, the parts of which are unequal: one depends on the other?

2. Is it true that subordinating syntactic connections in SPP can be expressed in different ways: by subordinating conjunctions and allied words?

3. Is it true that the main part of a sentence is the dependent part, which is called a subordinate clause?

4. Is it true that the subordinate part of the NGN is the independent part, which is called the main clause?

5. What type of SPP is it: I think we will definitely meet.?

6. What type of SPP is it: This is the book that Tatyana Nikolaevna recommended to me.?

   • NGN with explanatory clause
   • NGN with clause attributive

7. What type of SPP is it: We talked, after which Vanka repented of his action.?

   • SPP with additional connecting
   • NGN with clause attributive
   • SPP with adverbial clause

8. What type of SPP is it: I was sleeping when he came.?

   • SSP with subordinate clause
   • SSP with subordinate explanatory clause

9. Is it true that conjunctions are parts of a sentence, but allied words are not?

10. What can be replaced by a word from the main part of the IPP: a conjunction or an allied word?

    • allied word

Right answers:

1. NGN with explanatory clause
2. NGN with clause attributive
3. SPP with additional connecting
4. SPP with adverbial adverbial clause (of time)
5. allied word

• Chapter 19. Punctuation in sentences with different types of syntactic connections

In contact with

Types of complex sentences

Based on their meaning and structure, SPPs are divided into three main groups. Subordinate clauses in these complex sentences correspond to three groups of minor members of the sentence: definitions, additions and circumstances *.

Subordinate clauses can be attached to the main clause using a particle whether, used in the meaning of a union. For example: He didn't know if tomorrow would come. Union-particle whether can serve to convey an indirect question: They asked if we would go with them.
REMEMBER: The main thing for determining the type of subordinate clauses is the semantic question. Conjunctions and allied words can add additional shades of meaning to NGN. For example: The village where Evgeniy was bored was a charming place. This is a complex sentence with a subordinate attributive, which has an additional spatial connotation of meaning.