A subordinate clause, dependent clause or embedded clause is a clause that is embedded within a complex sentence. For instance, in the English sentence "I know that Bette is a dolphin", the clause "that Bette is a dolphin" occurs as the complement of the verb "know" rather than as a freestanding sentence.

What is an example of subordinate clause?

A subordinate clause has a subject and a verb, but it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. ... Since the sun will shine today (the sun=subject; will shine=verb) When she was sick (she=subject; was=verb) Because mom said so (mom=subject; said=verb)

How do you identify a subordinate clause?

Identifying Subordinate Clauses

Subordinate clauses begin with certain words or short phrases called subordinating words (also known as dependent words, or subordinating/subordinate conjunctions). If a clause begins with a subordinating word, that clause is a subordinate clause and cannot stand alone as a sentence.