According to the New grammar of the Spanish language, subordinate clauses are those that depend on a main clause. Subordinate clauses function within the syntactic group as complements or modifiers to the main clause. If you want to know how these sentences are analyzed, be sure to read the following.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Identify the topic sentence
Step 1. Understand how a simple sentence works
Simple sentences connect a subject with a predicate, as long as they do not contain other sentences that modify them.
- The sentence is divided into subject and predicate. The subject has a nucleus, which is usually a simple or compound noun, or a group of them; although sometimes it is an unspoken subject (He ate all the cookies). The predicate is the action that the subject performs, so the verb is its core.
- To be considered as a sentence, the syntactic sequence must contain at least one verb.
- Take the example: The dog sleeps peacefully.
- Subject: Direct modifier (DM): El, Subject core (NS): dog
- Predicate: Verb (V): sleep, circumstantial complement of mode (CCM): quiet.
Step 2. Identify the add-ons
In the sentence you can include complements that modify the meaning of the elements and, therefore, that of the whole sentence.
- For the subject there are direct and indirect modifiers: the former accompany the core of the subject without any kind of connection, usually they are articles or adjectives that qualify the noun. Indirect complements are introduced by a nexus and give specific information about the subjects.
- In the predicate, complements answer questions asked of the verb. Direct Object (OD): what; Indirect object (OI): who; Circumstantial mode complement (CCM): how; Circumstantial time complement (CCT): when; and Complements circumstantial of place (CCL): where.
- Observe the same example with accessories: Luchita's dog sleeps peacefully in the yard.
- Subject: MD: El, NS: dog, MI: from Luchita
- Predicate: V: sleep, CCM: quiet, CCL: in the patio.
- As you can see, the indirect object of the subject, which had not been included, gives us specific information: who is the owner of the dog. In the predicate there are two complements that answer the questions how does the dog sleep? And where does the dog sleep?
Step 3. Identify the topic sentence:
A simple sentence, like the one in the previous example, may well be a topic sentence, either a paragraph or the subordinate and coordinated sentences. The main clause is the core of the syntactic sequence and must contain some of the elements that will be core in the subordinate clause.
Part 2 of 3: Finding the Subordinate Sentence
Step 1. Consider what a subordinate clause is
These sentences are not opposed to the main ones but complement them, in such a way that the main sentence is not complete without the subordinate sentence, for the specific cases. Sentences with subordinate sequences are known as "complex sentences."
- Consider again the previous example, but with some modifications: The dog that belongs to Luchita sleeps peacefully in the yard.
- Subject: MD: El, NS: dog; subordinate clause (OSB): that belongs to Luchita: nexus: that, pronoun: le, nucleus of the subordinate clause: belongs, indirect object of the subordinate clause (OIOSB): to Luchita
- Predicate: V: sleep, CCM: quiet, CCL: in the patio.
Step 2. Identify the subordinate clause
As you can see, the subordinate clause, which in this case is modifying the subject, has its own verb (belongs), its nucleus, but it does not work alone, it needs the elements of the main clause to make sense.
- Subordinate clauses have a core that is closely related to the elements of the main clause.
- Thus, subordinate clauses alter the main clause in much the same way as simple modifiers. They can be in the subject and fulfill adjective functions or in the predicate and function as modifiers of mode, time and place.
- Look again at the modified example: The dog that belongs to Luchita sleeps, as if nothing happened, in the yard that you found behind the building.
- Subject: The dog that belongs to Luchita
- Predicate: sleep, as if nothing happened, in the courtyard that you found behind the building.
- Subordinate sentence of the subject: that belongs to Luchita
- Subordinate clauses of the predicate: as if nothing happened; what did you find behind the construction
Step 3. Always observe the function of the subordinate clause in the whole syntactic sequence
In our example, the first subordinate sentence works as an adjective, that is, it gives qualities to the noun, it complements the information. The other two are in the predicate, one refers to how the dog sleeps and the other complements the information regarding the place where the dog is going to sleep.
Step 4. Differentiate them from coordinated sentences
Coordinated sentences do not have syntactic dependence, that is, they can be separated by a conjunction and each sentence has its own meaning, without one depending on any element of the other: Pedro loves and Laura hates; He was born with flaws, but he's still a good boy.
Part 3 of 3: Perform Subordinate Sentence Analysis
Step 1. Break the sentence into elements
Just as it has been done here. It begins with separating the subject from the predicate, identifying their nuclei and the modifiers of each.
- You will notice that subordinate clauses have their own elements and modifiers, so it is necessary that you also separate them.
- Here is an example: Luchita's dog sleeps in the front yard as I would like to sleep.
- Subject: MD: El, NS: dog, MI: from Luchita
- Predicate: V: sleep, CCL: in the patio, CCL modifier: opposite (adverb of place), OSB (CCM): how I would like to sleep.
- Subordinate sentence (CCM): nexus: like, preposition: a, pronoun: me, pronoun: me, NOSB: I would like to sleep.
Step 2. Consider the three types of subordinate clauses found in Spanish grammar
Although the language is highly variable, depending on each person, most use the same type of sentences to express themselves. The Royal Academy of the Spanish Language recognizes that there are at least three types of subordinate clauses.
- Subordinate substantives: they perform functions like that of nouns: subject, direct object, complement of the name. Sometimes they are preceded by links such as that, the what, the fact that or by interrogative pronouns such as what, which or who or by interrogative adverbs such as how much, how or where. Examples: He told me that would not come; I'm going so you can see me; I am very far who loved me before.
- Subordinate adjectives: qualify the noun or the nominal pronoun that is found as antecedent. When there is no antecedent, they can sometimes take the place of the noun. Sometimes they are introduced by pronouns such as that, (that is, when you can substitute el, la, los, las, which or which), who or who, which, which, which, which, or whose, whose, whose or whose, preceded or not by a preposition. Although here are also explanatory or specific sentences, which are separated by commas. Examples: The dog that belongs to Luchita sleep peacefully on the patio which is in front of the house; Those who study they will not be failed; Only the woman will kiss me what I love.
- Adverbial subordinates: they work like adverbs of time, mode and place. Those of time are preceded by when, while, before, before, after, after, before. The places where. And the so by like, according, according, as if. Examples: Raúl arrives very early as if i didn't sleep; Do you remember the kiss that you gave me when it rained; You will be my friend while in this city.
Step 3. Practice the analysis
Although their classification is important, it is even more important that you learn to identify the elements. Copy some sentences from books or magazines and decompose them to get the subordinate clauses.
- You can also practice writing sentences that come to mind and then break them down.
- The only way to fully understand this matter is to practice as much as you can.
Advice
- Consult the New grammar of the Spanish language.
- If you have doubts, approach a specialist in language or literature or a Spanish teacher, they will be able to explain the matter more clearly.
- Keep a dictionary nearby, there you will know what each word is and that will facilitate your analysis.
- Practice and do not stop doing it, you will see that very soon you will understand.
- Spanish is very rich, explore it, don't give up.