---
title: subordinate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «subordinate» in the school dictionary: In grammar, a subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that has a verb but cannot stand alone, like «because it was raining». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# subordinate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** subordinate clause, sentence, it, subordinate, person, bell · **What happens:** be, have, not stand, rain, take, mean · **To what, where:** part, grammar, verb, person, lower rank, orders · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«subordinate» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [subordinate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/subordinate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In grammar, a subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that has a verb but cannot stand alone, like «because it was raining».

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinate:m1:1
# text = In grammar, a subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that has a verb but cannot stand alone, like «because it was raining».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	grammar	grammar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	subordinate	subordinate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
17	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
18	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
20	stand	stand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	_
21	alone	alone	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
23	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	28	mark	_	_
24	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	28	mark	_	_
26	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	28	nsubj	_	_
27	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	28	aux	_	_
28	raining	rain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	20	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a subordinate clause | a part |  | grammar |  | of a sentence | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | a sentence | a verb |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent verb=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **stand** | can | a sentence *not said here* |  |  |  |  | alone *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 4 | **rain** *in a quote* | past · progressive | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A subordinate is a person who has a lower rank and takes orders from someone else at work.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinate:m2:1
# text = A subordinate is a person who has a lower rank and takes orders from someone else at work.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	subordinate	subordinate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	lower	low	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	amod	_	_
10	rank	rank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
13	orders	order	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
14	from	from	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obl	_	_
16	else	else	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
17	at	at	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a subordinate | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | a person | a lower rank |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rank=Patient |
| 3 | **take** | present | a person *not said here* | orders |  | someone |  | at work | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent order=Theme from someone=Source at work=Asset |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Subordinate means less important than something else.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinate:m3:1
# text = Subordinate means less important than something else.
1	Subordinate	subordinate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
4	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
7	else	else	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Subordinate |  |  |  |  | important *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«When the bell rang» is a subordinate clause.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinate:x1:1
# text = «When the bell rang» is a subordinate clause.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	bell	bell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	rang	ring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	subordinate	subordinate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ring** *in a quote* | past | the bell |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a subordinate clause |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Add a subordinate clause starting with «because».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinate:x2:1
# text = Add a subordinate clause starting with «because».
1	Add	add	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	subordinate	subordinate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	starting	start	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	obl	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | a subordinate clause |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clause=Patient |
| 2 | **start** | gerund | a subordinate clause *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The captain gave orders to his subordinates.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinate:x3:1
# text = The captain gave orders to his subordinates.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	orders	order	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	subordinates	subordinate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the captain | orders | captain's subordinates |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent order=Theme to subordinate=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A subordinate clause needs a main clause.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinate:x4:1
# text = A subordinate clause needs a main clause.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	subordinate	subordinate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | a subordinate clause | a main clause |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fun is subordinate to safety on the trip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinate:x5:1
# text = Fun is subordinate to safety on the trip.
1	Fun	fun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	subordinate	subordinate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | Fun subordinate |  |  |  | to safety on the trip | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use a comma after a subordinate clause at the start of a sentence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinate:x6:1
# text = Use a comma after a subordinate clause at the start of a sentence.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	comma	comma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	subordinate	subordinate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a comma |  | the start of a sentence | after a subordinate clause |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent comma=Patient |
| 2 | **start** |  |  | a sentence |  |  |  |  | nom start «event transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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