In our last article, we explained what subordinate clauses are and how they differ from main clauses. In this article, we’ll look at the different types of main clauses. If you don’t know what a subordinate clause is, we recommend you read our last article first.
3 Types of Subordinate Clauses
A fundamental differentiation is made with regard to sentence structure. Depending on whether and how the subordinate clause is integrated into the sentence structure of the parent clause, it can be categorized as one of the following:
- a constituent clause (Gliedsatz)
- an attributive clause (Attributsatz)
- a continuing subordinate clause (weiterführender Nebensatz)
This article explains the three different types of subordinate clauses one by one.
What Is a Constituent Clause?
A constituent clause (or Gliedsatz in German) constitutes a sentence element, or constituent (Satzglied), in the parent clause. Here are a few examples:
- Ich weiß nicht, ob sie mich noch kennt.
(I don’t know if she still knows me.) - Obwohl es regnet, ist Markus spazieren.
(Even though it’s raining, Markus is taking a walk.) - Das Konzert findet nicht statt, wenn es regnet.
(The concert won’t take place if it rains.)
In the first example, the subordinate clause ob sie mich noch kennt serves as the object of the verb weiß (know) of the main clause and indicates what “I don’t know.” The entire clause could be replaced with the demonstrative pronoun das (that) or the noun phrase diese Sache (this thing), which would still be the object of weiß (know):
Ich weiß das nicht.
(I don’t know that.)
Ich weiß diese Sache nicht.
(I don’t know this thing.)
In the second example, the subordinate clause obwohl es regnet is a so-called concessive adverbial (konzessives Adverbial). A concessive adverbial indicates circumstances that would suggest the opposite of what is or was actually happening: If it’s raining, you wouldn’t expect Markus to take a walk. Contrary to our expectation, he’s still taking a walk.
Also in this sentence, you could replace the entire subordinate clause with the adverb trotzdem (nevertheless) or the prepositional phrase trotz des schlechten Wetters (despite the bad weather), which would then serve as a concessive adverbial:
Trotzdem ist Markus spazieren.
(Markus is taking a walk nonetheless.)
Trotz des schlechten Wetters ist Markus spazieren.
(Markus is taking a walk despite the bad weather.)
In the third example, the subordinate clause wenn es regnet, is a so-called conditional adverbial (konditionales Adverbial). A conditional adverbial indicates the condition under which an event occurs. Also here, you could replace the subordinate clause with the adverb dann (then) or the prepositional phrase in dem Fall (in that case), which would then be conditional adverbials as well:
Dann findet das Konzert nicht statt.
(Then the concert won’t take place.)
In dem Fall findet das Konzert nicht statt.
(In that case the concert won’t take place.)
In all three examples, the subordinate clause serves as a constituent or sentence element of the main clause, just like pronouns, adverbs, noun phrases, and preposition phrases can serve as constituents.
What Is an Attributive Clause?
Attributes or modifiers, on the other hand, are only part of constituents. Here are a few examples of attributes:
- ein schnelles Auto
(a fast car) - unglaublich schön
(incredibly beautiful) - die Freunde meiner Tochter
(my daughter’s friends) - das Buch auf dem Tisch
(the book on the table)
In the first example, the adjective schnelles (fast) gives extra information about the noun Auto (car). In the second example, the adverb unglaublich (incredibly) defines the degree of the quality schön (beautiful) more precisely.
In the third example, the phrase meiner Tochter (my daughter’s) indicates whose friends we mean. In the fourth example, the preposition phrase auf dem Tisch (on the table) serves to specify das Buch (the book). Depending on the context, the attributes may be necessary to specify which book and which friends are being referred to.
Subordinate clauses can also serve as attributes. We then refer to them as attributive clauses (Attributsätze). Here are a few examples of attributive clauses:
- Das Buch, das ich gestern gekauft habe, ist sehr spannend.
(The book that I bought yesterday is very thrilling.) - Das Haus, wo ich aufgewachsen bin, gibt es nicht mehr.
(The house where I grew up doesn’t exist anymore.) - Jetzt, wo ich mit der Schule fertig bin, kann ich länger schlafen.
(Now that I’ve finished school I can sleep longer.) - Die Frage, warum ich so lange geschlafen habe, kann ich nicht beantworten.
(I can’t answer the question of why I slept so long.) - Die Ansicht, dass Hunde nicht so süß wie Katzen sind, teile ich nicht.
(I don’t share the view that dogs aren’t as cute as cats.)
In the above sentences, the subordinate clauses don’t constitute a constituent on their own, but are only part of one. That’s why they are not constituent clauses (Gliedsätze), but rather attributive clauses (Attributsätze).
The subordinate clause das ich gestern gekauft habe (that I bought yesterday) of the first sentence is a relative clause, introduced by the relative pronoun das (that). It’s needed so that one knows which book is being talked about. The subject of the sentence is not only das Buch (the book), but rather das Buch, das ich gestern gekauft habe (the book that I bought yesterday). The subordinate clause is part of the subject.
The subordinate clause wo ich aufgewachsen bin (where I grew up) of the second sentence is also a relative clause, introduced by the relative adverb wo (where). Here too, the relative clause is necessary for specifying das Haus (the house). The subject of the house isn’t das Haus (the house) alone, but rather das Haus, wo ich aufgewachsen bin (the house where I grew up).
The subordinate clause wo ich mit der Schule fertig bin (that I’ve finished school) of the third sentence is also a relative clause. It is introduced by the relative adverb wo (that) and adds extra information about the adverb jetzt (now). The constituent isn’t limited to jetzt (now), but rather jetzt, wo ich mit der Schule fertig bin (now that I’ve finished school). In contrast to the first two sentences, this constituent is not the subject, but a so-called temporal adverbial (Temporaladverbial), which indicates the time of the action.
The subordinate clause warum ich so lange geschlafen habe (why I slept so long) of the first sentence is not a relative clause, but an indirect question (indirekter Fragesatz). Just like the relative clauses of the first two sentences, the indirect question is needed to specify which question is being talked about. The indirect question is part of the constituent die Frage, warum ich so lange geschlafen habe (the question of why I slept so long), which serves as the object of the verb beantworten (answer).
The subordinate clause dass Hunde nicht so süß wie Katzen sind (that dogs aren’t as cute as cats) of the fifth sentence is a so-called content clause (Inhaltssatz). It reflects the content of the view that “I don’t share.” The content clause is part of the constituent die Ansicht, dass Hunde nicht so süß wie Katzen sind (the view that dogs aren’t as cute as cats), which serves as the object of the verb teile (share).
What Is a Continuing Subordinate Clause?
Subordinate clauses that are connected to the main clause but not integrated into its sentence structure are called continuing subordinate clauses (or weiterführende Nebensätze in German). They are often relative clauses referring to the whole sentence rather than a single constituent:
- Sein Freund ist nicht gekommen, was ihn traurig machte.
(His friend didn’t come, which made him sad.) - Er hat mich eingeladen, worüber ich mich sehr freute.
(He invited me, which made me very happy.) - Er hatte nichts gelernt, weshalb er auf dem Test nichts wusste.
(He hadn’t studied anything, which is why he didn’t know anything on the test.)
Continuing subordinate clauses always appear after the main clause they refer to. In contrast to constituent clauses (Gliedsätze), they can not be put at the beginning of the sentence.
Summary
You can categorize subordinate clauses based on whether and how they are integrated into the sentence structure of the parent clause:
- constituent clauses (Gliedsätze): are constituents of the parent clause.
- attributive clauses (Attributsätze): are parts of constituents of the parent clause.
- continuing subordinate clauses (weiterführende Nebensätze): are not integrated into the sentence structure of the parent clause, but still connected to it.
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