This topic is one of the most serious in English grammar. Learning a language at the initial stage, you can do without this knowledge for some time. But the higher your level is, the more you will have a desire to diversify and complicate your speech, making it close to that which native speakers speak. At this point, it will be necessary to study the conditions: their meaning, varieties, methods of formation and examples of use. This article will help you.

Where are they used?

In English, as in Russian, all sentences are divided into simple and complex. And the latter, in turn, can be complex and complex. The first type does not create great difficulties in learning the grammar of a foreign language. But in the case of the second, there are some nuances.

Consider a typical one in English:

If (when) the weather is fine, I'll go for a walk - If (when) the weather is fine, I'll go for a walk.

In this case, you can easily see two components:

• I'll go for a walk main clause (main clause);
• if (when) the weather is fine - a condition clause or a time clause.

What do they mean?

In the example discussed above, the main clause expresses the thought: "What will happen?", and the subordinate clause - "Under what condition (or at what time, when) will this happen?"

In such sentences, the inextricable semantic and grammatical connection of the main and subordinate parts is expressed. In general, subordinate constructions can express a variety of meanings: mode of action and degrees, place, time, condition, cause, effect, goal, comparison, concession. But in this article we will focus only on two types, expressing situations of time and conditions.

In speech, such constructions express logical, spatio-temporal and causal relationships. Therefore, an advanced English learner needs to understand when to use the tenses and conditions.

Used unions

It is characteristic that in complex sentences the main part is invariably one, and there can be several subordinate clauses. All of them are directly dependent (logically and grammatically) on the main component and join it with the help of various conjunctions and allied expressions. Here are the most used ones:

• if - if;
• in case - in case;
• when - when;
• while - while, while;
• as soon as (as long as) - as soon as;
• until - until, before;
• after - after;
• before - before;
• unless (if not) - if not.

Please note that the conjunction used does not always help determine A, it is often necessary to do this in order to apply the grammatical rule, which is discussed later in the article. To accurately confirm that this is a sentence with a subordinate condition or time, you need to ask a question to the subordinate part.

Remember also that a sentence can begin with either a main clause or a clause. Is it hard not to get confused? Just pay attention to which part of the sentence the union is in (one or the other from the list above).

What is adventitious time?

This type includes a part that is subordinate to the main one, while answering the questions: “When?”, “How long?”, “How long ago?”, “Since when?”, “Until when?” etc.

To attach clauses of time to the main part, unions are used: when, after, before, until and others with a similar meaning. However, in order to make sure that it is the value of time being expressed, and not some other, it is safest to ask a question.

What is a subordinate condition?

Such grammatical constructions answer the question: “Under what condition?”. They are quite diverse and are joined by unions if, in case, unless, etc. But it does not always guarantee that the meaning of the condition is realized in the sentence. Because in many cases, turnover, for example, with if, is translated not “if”, but “whether”. Compare:

• I'll come if they invite me - I will come if they invite me.
• I don't know if they will invite me - I don't know if they will invite me.

Subordinate clauses in English are found in sentences that take place in the past, present or future tense. In addition, the conditions put forward themselves have a gradation: real, unlikely and unreal. This is best understood with examples.

I type

The subordinate condition belonging to the first type describes a real fact. That is, what really took place in the past, present or future. At the same time, the tense forms of the verb-predicate in the main and subordinate parts usually coincide.

This is clearly seen in the examples.

• Past tense:

If the weather was fine, he went for a walk - If the weather was good, he went for a walk.

• Present tense:

If the weather is fine, he goes for a walk - If the weather is good, he goes (goes) for a walk.

• Future time:

If the weather is fine, he will go for a walk - If the weather is fine, he will go for a walk.

Only in the last example can you notice that the two parts of the complex sentence do not agree in time (the subordinate clause is in the form of the present, and the main one is in the future). This did not happen by chance, but as a result of a special grammatical rule to which the subordinate tenses and conditions obey. Details will be explained next.

In the meantime, consider the manifestations of the second and third types of subordinate conditions. They are no longer revealed in three grammatical tenses, but acquire the meaning "if, then ...". Moreover, such a hypothetical situation may be relevant both to the present day and to the past.

II type

When the speaker believes that the reality of the fulfillment of the condition is rather small, then a separate speech construction is used. Drawing an analogy with the Russian language, this is the subjunctive ("if only..."). Example:

If the weather was fine, I would go for a walk - If the weather was fine, I would go (went) for a walk.

Note that the situation being described is happening at the time the person is talking about it. This is not a regret about yesterday.

To construct a grammatically correct statement of this type, you need:

• in the subordinate part, put the verb-predicate in the Past Simple form;
• in the main part, use would + (but without the particle to).

III type

If the observance of this condition (and the performance of an action) is considered by the speaking person as completely impossible, a subordinate condition of a different type comes into play. The impossibility of realizing such a situation is due to the fact that the action has already taken place in the past, and the speaker cannot change its result. And therefore, a complex subordinate condition with a subordinate clause of this type usually expresses regret and lamentation about the circumstances.

If the weather had been fine yesterday, we wouldn't have stayed home. In that case we would have gone for a walk - If the weather had been fine yesterday, we would not have stayed at home. In that case, we would go for a walk.

But there may be another, opposite in meaning, situation. The person thinks about what might have happened, but does not feel regret about it. For example:

If I had overslept, I would have been late - If I overslept, I would be late.

Please note that the entire sentence refers to and expresses the impossibility of performing a certain action just then, in the past.

Such a grammatical structure is formed according to the following scheme:

• in the subordinate part, the verb-predicate is put in the Past Perfect form;
• in the main part, would + Perfect Infinitive is used.

What time is used in subordinate clauses?

This question is very serious. A little earlier in the article it was mentioned that it is important to determine the type of subordinate part. And moreover, in this matter it is necessary to focus not on alliances, but on the questions being asked.

The fact is that there is a certain grammatical rule. It is connected with the type of the subordinate clause and the use of the present/future tense in it.

If subordinate clauses answer the questions: “Under what condition will the action be performed?” or “At what time (when) will this happen?”, then they express, respectively, a condition or time. In such types of clauses, the future tense (with the verb will) cannot be used. Instead, the present is used. Even when the situation clearly refers to the future and it is at this time that it is translated into Russian.

Compare:

• She'll make a cake when you come - She'll make a cake when you come.
• If I get this job, I'll be happy.

As it is easy to see, in the latter case, the above example refers to a variety - a type I subordinate condition. This rule does not apply to the other two types of conditional clauses, since there are completely different constructions for expressing grammatical meaning.

In many situations, complex sentences allow you to better express the speaker's thoughts. Subordinate parts join with the help of special alliances. As the main varieties, adverbial time and adnexal conditions are distinguished.

The English language imposes certain grammatical rules on the use of such structures. To learn them reliably, you need to understand the theory well once, and then do as many exercises as possible so that the example of correct use is fixed in memory. Subsequently, when the need arises, it will automatically appear in speech.

The English sentence can be compared with the Russian one in that their structure is partially similar, and we are not talking about the members of the sentence, but about the parts of one phrase. So, in the language there are. The second, which will be touched upon in this article, in turn, are compound, where all parts are equal and independent, and complex. A complex sentence is called so because one or more of its parts are subordinate to another, and these subordinating parts themselves can answer different questions and act as different components of the phrase. These features led to the emergence of such a concept as clauses, and determined the classification of types of clauses in accordance with the role in the sentence. This will be discussed in this article. We will look at what subordinate clauses are in English, what types of them are distinguished and how they differ from each other.

General information about accessory parts

The translation of the word clause will be “part”, and then we are talking about those parts of a complex sentence that can convey different meanings and answer different questions. In general, there are main / principal - main and subordinate clauses - subordinate clauses in English (parts). Such a division is very clearly visible in the subjunctive mood, because conditional sentences in English consist directly of such components: the main sentence carries the main essence, and the subordinate part - the condition.

It is worth noting that parts of a complex sentence can be connected either through conjunctions or other linking words, or not have any connecting units. An example of an allied connection:
She was sure that nobody would come to see her off She was sure that no one would come to see her off.

An example of a unionless relationship:
I wish I had been there a few days before– It is a pity that I was not there a few days before.

It is also impossible not to note the fact that the subordinate clauses do not have any specific place, that is, they can either precede the main parts or stand after them:

It was hard to overcome the problem because the task was too difficult– It was difficult to overcome the problem because the task was too difficult

· When he phoned in the evening, I was watching my favorite TV program - When he called in the evening, I was watching my favorite program

Translation of clauses today can also be considered all subordinate clauses, including those that contain the main members of the sentence. This is probably due to the fact that the types of subordinate clauses are very numerous, and when talking about parts of a complex sentence, it is important to emphasize all fragments of the phrase without exception. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the types of clauses in more detail, give examples from different categories and determine what questions a particular type answers.

The main types of accessory parts

It is customary to distinguish the following types of subordinate clauses in English:

1. Subject clause

or, more simply, a part that has a subject in its composition. It shows the relation of this clause to the predicate and can be either at the beginning or at the end and have different conjunctions or linking words in front of it (who, what, which, where, that, etc.):

What does he want to do is to go away right now - What he wants to do is leave right now

2. Predicative clause - subordinate predicates

In many ways, they resemble the previously described subject clauses, since they also contain one of the two main members. In addition, approximately the same conjunctions and connecting elements are also used before them - who, what, that, how, why, etc. The only difference is that those subordinate clauses in English that have a predicative usually stand in the second half:

The problem was how the boys could reach that place– The problem was how the boys could get to that place

3. Object clause - additional clauses

In fact, they perform the function of a full-fledged supplement. Additional subordinate clauses can be connected to the main part through a variety of conjunctions and connecting elements - that, is, what, who, whatever, whoever, etc. Such parts are also called explanatory and answer questions of indirect cases: what? about whom? etc.:

He always does what his mother tells him to do He always does what his mother tells him to do.

4. Attributive clauses

They play the role of definitions and are associated with either nouns or pronouns that are in the main clause. Attributive sentences in English can be linked to main clauses through different elements: they can be relative pronouns (who, that, which, etc.), relative adverbs (when, where), and the method can also be non-union. Complicated sentences with attributive clauses are quite popular because of the possibility of different ways of agreeing with the main part; Usually the attributive clause answers the question which one? and may look like this:

He started in the hope that everyone would support him He started in the hope that everyone would support him.

5. Adverbial clauses - adverbial clauses

which constitute perhaps the largest subgroup. Complicated sentences with adverbial clauses are very common, as they convey a lot of meanings and have several separate subtypes. It is logical to assume that NGN with adverbial adverbial clauses has a part in the circumstance function inside, which can have different meanings and be used to display different situations. So, any table with these types will offer the following options:

a) Adverbial clause of time

Quite often, parts of time and conditions stand together, since both subordinate conditions and time are clearly reflected in the subjunctive mood, where they have special grammatical norms for the formation of time. Temporary clauses have conjunctions that precede them - as, as soon as, till, until, when, etc.:
As soon as I saw her, I called my friends to tell them this news - As soon as I saw her, I called my friends to tell them this news

b) Adverbial clauses of place

There is usually nothing complicated in them, and the words that precede them are somehow connected with the place - where, wherever:
I feel good where I live– I feel good where I live

c) Adverbial clauses of purpose

Their essence lies in the name itself: they convey the purpose for which the action is performed. They are preceded by well-known structures such as in order, so that, etc.:

I looked at him so that he could understand the seriousness of my intention I looked at him so that he could understand the seriousness of my intention.

d) Of cause

This part is designed to show this or that reason in relation to the main part. May begin with unions because, for, since, as, etc.:

I decided not to go there since I didn't know anyone at that party– I decided not to go there because I didn’t know anyone at that party.

e) Of condition - relative clauses of the condition

They are quite familiar to those who remember Subjunctive Mood and Conditional Sentences. Conditional clauses usually begin with conjunctions such as if (whether), unless, in case, etc.:

In case she comes, nobody will meet her - In case she comes, no one will meet her

f) Of comparison - comparisons

Their essence is quite simple: their translation begins with the words “as if”, “as if”, which are usually expressed through unions identical in meaning as if / as though or other structures: as - as, so - as, etc .:

He looked as if nothing could frighten him He looked like nothing could scare him

g) Of result - the result or, as they are also called, the consequences

The translation of such constructions is “so much so that ...”, “such that ...”. Such clauses are usually expressed through the so that structure, but such a case of its use should not be confused with an adverbial clause of purpose, where the essence will be completely different. Here is what the subordinate corollary looks like:

We were deeply involved in working on the project, so that we didn't hear he come– We were so involved in the work on the project that we did not hear him come

h) Of manner

The conjunction as usually indicates how the action is performed, that is, the way it is performed. For example:
He did everything as you ordered him- He did everything as you ordered him.

i) Adverbial clause of concession

A typical translation from which such a part will begin is “although”, “despite”, etc. Such meanings are expressed through conjunctions although, though, however, despite, etc.:

thought he was free, he refused to help us - Although he was free, he refused to help us

As can be seen from all of the above information, there are quite a few types of subordinate parts of a sentence, but each of them has individual distinctive features in the form of unions that introduce them, so the study of this detailed topic usually does not cause big problems and difficulties.

All sentences, according to their structure, are divided into simple and complex, both in English and in other languages. With simple sentences, everything is quite simple, which cannot be said about complex ones, especially in English. Complex sentences are divided, according to their composition, into compound and complex sentences. Compounds consist of several equal parts. But complex subordinate clauses include one main and one (or more) subordinate clause, while the second only explains the first. Subordinate clauses perform a wide range of functions in English: they can act as a subject, predicate, object, circumstance, definition.

The subordinate clause as part of a complex

In English, in order to introduce a subordinate fragment into the complex structure of a complex sentence, as a rule, such conjunctions and allied words are used:

• that- what
• because- because
• if- if
• when- when
• since- With
• after- after
• before- before
• till- before
• though- although, etc.

It happens that the use of allied words is not needed.

• Tom never thought he should see them again. — Tom never thought he would see them again.

Typology of subordinate clauses

Depending on the function performed, subordinate clauses in English are divided into types, which are named according to their role in phrases:

1. Subject clauses

This type of subordinate clauses perform, which is already understandable based on the name, the function of the subject and answer the questions:

• Who? - who?
• what? - what?

It can be introduced by the following unions:

• What I told them yesterday is the lie. — What I told them yesterday is a lie

2. Subordinate predicates (or predicative members)

This type of subordinate clauses performs the function of the nominal part of the predicate. Question to be answered:

• what is the subject?- what is the subject?

The same allied words are used for their introduction as for the previous type.

• The question is whether Kate knows about his decision or not. — The question is whether Kate is aware of his decision or not.

3. Adnexal additional

Questions answered by adverbial clauses

• whom? - whom
• what? - what?

In English, this type of sentence does not require a comma to separate it from the main clause. Introductory union that may be missed. We can use the future tense, even after the introductory word when :

• Jean knows when her friend will return. — Jane knows when her friend will be back
• I don't understand what I can do. — I don't understand what can I do

4. Clauses

Questions answered by relative attributive clauses:

• which? - which?
• what? - which?.

Definitive sentences are attached to the main clause in a non-union way, or the following adverbs and pronouns are used to introduce the defining parts of the phrase:

who - who	whom
whose - whose, whom	which, that
when - when	where - where, where
why - why

If attributive sentences are introduced by pronouns whom ,whose and which , then it is likely that a pretext will also be required. Defining constructions refer to one of the members of the main clause, expressed by a noun or pronoun, and these constructions are placed after the member they define.

• The house where my family once had a rest has been flooded. — The house where my family once rested was flooded

Here the attributive clause together with the union where comes after the noun house:

• where my family once had a rest

5. Adverbial clauses

The group of adverbial clauses is large enough. Depending on the "circumstances", they were divided into conditional, concessive, etc.

Mode of action and comparison
Question to be answered:

• how? - How? How?

• The weather is not so nasty now as it was at the beginning of the month. — The weather is not as bad as it was at the beginning of the month

The reasons
Answer the question

• why? - Why?

The main sentence is joined with the words:

• As it's hot, I'll stay at home. - Since it's hot, I'll stay at home

Goals
Questions to be answered:

• what for? - why?
• f or what purpose? - for what purpose?

They can be entered with structures such as:

• in order that- so as to
• so that- to
• lest- not to

The predicate in this type of sentence requires an auxiliary verb may (to be able) followed by the main verb in the infinitive. In Russian, the subjunctive mood is used in such cases, in English it is absent. May not translated into Russian literally.

• In order that the students might say their opinions, it was mentioned about democracy in our country. — In order for students to speak (could speak) their opinion, it was mentioned about democracy in our country

Consequences
They have the meaning of the consequence that follows from the whole phrase. Union that joins two (or more) parts of a phrase.

• The night was so hot that I could not sleep. — The night was so hot that I couldn't sleep.

concessions
The question they usually answer

• in spite of what? — in spite of what?

Allied words that connect the phrase into a single whole:

Thought (although) - although	However - no matter how
Whoever - whoever	Whatever - whatever
Whichever - whatever	As - although

• Whatever wages it is Nick will work here. — Whatever the salary, Nick will work here

Conditional clauses
Adverbial conditionals are attached to the main sentence with the help of:

Types of conditional clauses

There are three types of conditional clauses in English:

• Conditionals of the first type express possible-realizable events that can refer to any of the three times (present, future or past). Verbs are used in the indicative mood in both parts (main and subordinate) of the phrase.
  • If you leave a dog here, it will escape. — If you leave the dog here, he will run away.
• Conditionals of the second type express unrealistic events or assumptions that relate to the present or future.
  The conditional part uses either to be past tense, plural were , or the verb in the past simple ( past simple).
  • He would not wait if he were you. - He wouldn't wait if he were you (was you)
  • If Lucy ceased to work, her family would have financial problems. — If Lucy stopped working, her family would have financial problems.
• Conditionals of the third type indicate unfulfilled events, assumptions that relate to the past.
  In the main part of the phrase, the following situation is observed with the tense form of the predicate:
  would + present perfect"
  In the conditional part, the verb is in past perfect
  • I would have relaxed better, if it had not been for John. — I would have rested even better if not for John

The use of subordinate clauses in English has its own characteristics. Let's look at what kind of subordinate clauses are and how to use them correctly with the main ones.

How to recognize a subordinate clause

A subordinate clause in English (clause), also called a dependent clause, begins with either a relative pronoun and contains . By itself, it does not form a complete statement, but only provides the reader with additional information.

List of subordinating conjunctions:

Take a look at these examples:

• After Bob came home from school

After - subordinating union; Bob - subject; came - predicate.

• Once John climbed the mountain

Once - subordinating union; John - subject; climbed - predicate.

• Until he watches his favorite film

Until - subordinating union; he - subject; watches is a predicate.

A subordinate clause in English cannot be independent, since it does not express a complete thought. It makes the reader think: “What next?”. If a word group starts with a capital letter and ends with a dot, it must contain at least one . Otherwise, it will be a gross grammatical error.

• After Bob came home from school (After Bob came home from school) - What happened next? Did he start doing homework or went to play with friends?
• Once John climbed the mountain (When John climbed the mountain) - What then? Did he go down or put up a flag?
• Until he watches his favorite film (Until he watches his favorite film) - Will he go to bed? Or won't he get to work?

How to connect a subordinate clause with a main clause

If the subordinate clause in English comes before the main clause, you need to separate them with a comma: subordinate clause + , + main clause

• After Bob came home from school, he had dinner.
• Once John climbed the mountain, he put up the tent.

If , punctuation is usually not required: main clause + Ø + subordinate clause

• Bob did poorly on his math test Ø because he did not review the material.
• John went straight back to the camp where his friends were waiting for him.
• He turned off the TV once the film was over.

Punctuation of subordinate clauses

Pay attention to the punctuation when a subordinate clause in English starts with .

Relative clauses can begin with a relative pronoun (then they are called attributive clauses). When the attributive clause begins, for example, with who, whose, or which, there are some nuances in punctuation.

Sometimes a comma is needed, sometimes not, depending on whether the English clause is individualizing or descriptive.

When the information contained in a subordinate clause specifies a general noun, it is individualizing and is not separated by a comma.

main clause + Ø + individualizing clause

• The old woman always left some milk for the cat Ø who lived near her house.

Cat is a general noun. What cat are you talking about? The subordinate clause explains this - who lived near her house. Thus, it is individualizing and does not require a comma.

When a subordinate clause in English follows a specific noun, the punctuation changes. The information in the subordinate clause is no longer so important, and it becomes descriptive. The descriptive sentence is separated by a comma.

main clause + , + descriptive relative clause

• The old woman always left some milk for her cat Missy, who lived in her house.

Missy is the name of a particular cat, and we immediately know who we are talking about. The information in this subordinate clause is not necessary to understand the meaning. In this case, it must be separated from the main clause by a comma.

The attributive clause can also be placed inside the main clause. Again, the individualizing sentence does not require punctuation in this case. If the sentence is descriptive, it must be separated by commas on both sides. Take a look at these examples:

• The woman Ø who gave us first aid Ø was a doctor from the local hospital.
• Mrs. Johnson, who gave us first aid, was a doctor from the local hospital.

subordination

Use subordination to combine two thoughts into one.

Writers often use the subjunctive to combine two thoughts into one sentence. Take a look at two simple sentences:

• Elizabeth gasped. A giant tree crashed onto the sidewalk in front of her.

Since they are interrelated, you can combine them into one to describe what is happening more expressively:

• Elizabeth gasped when giant tree crashed onto the sidewalk in front of her.

If two thoughts are not equal in importance, put the more significant one at the end so that the reader remembers it better. If we rewrite the example by swapping the fragments, the emphasis will shift:

• When a giant tree crashed onto the sidewalk in front of her, Elizabeth gasped.

However, it is not Elizabeth's reaction that matters to the reader, but the tree that has collapsed onto the sidewalk.

Knowing the rules for using subordinate clauses in English, you will be able to express your thoughts more competently and clearly. This, in turn, will allow you to significantly improve the level of your. If you still have questions about how to turn two simple sentences into one complex one, we will be happy to answer them in the comments!

How often in our speech we assume, make plans, affirm the purpose for which we performed this or that action, regret the missed opportunities. If you do not learn the topic of subordinate clauses, then you will not be able to conquer all the peaks of the language.

Sentence - it is not just a set of words, but an independent part of speech. Each of them has its own character: someone is simple, and someone is complex. Let's find a common language with the second units of speech.

Complex Sentences or Compound Sentences already by their names they say that they consist of two parts. Their main difference is in the interaction of parts with each other. So, in the first type there is a main and subordinate, in the second all relations are built on equality. Let's compare:

The music stopped and the couples took their places. The music stopped and the couples took their places (equal).

I thought that he would return on Monday. - I thought that he would return on Monday (main and dependent).

So, we are interested in complex phrases, namely, their dependent part. First of all, let's understand what is called subordinate clauses in English. In our speech, we often use phrases that explain the main action, reveal more information, giving us the opportunity to diversify our speech. In other words, the subordinate clause means a secondary action. Compare:

He said something. It was very important. - He said something. It was very important (two simple ones)

What he said was very important. What he said was very important. (subordinate clause is used)

Types of subordinate clauses

If we want to clarify subject, then we use unions or allied words “who” (who), “what” (what), “that” (that), “whose” (whose), “which” (which), “how” (how), “ wether"/"if" (if). To determine the type of offer, ask a question. So, Subject Clauses answer who? what?.

How did he make a mistake is not clear to us. How he made a mistake, we do not know. (This is unclear?)

Explain English predicate You can use the same unions as the subject. But Predicative Clauses will answer the question what did you do?

This is what he has done by 6 o'clock. “That's what he did by six o'clock.

Adnexal additions answer the question what?, whom? for what?. They are connected with the main proposal by all the same unions or in an allied way. Adnexal definitions answer what question? which the? and are introduced using the unions "who", "whose", "which", "that", "whom", "when", "how".

She smiled at what I said . She smiled at what I said.

I know the girl who has worn the prize . — I know a girl who won the first prize.

Relative clauses in English characterizing circumstances of action, are the largest group.

• Adverbal Clauses of place(places) answer questions where? where? where? and join unions "where", "from where", "wherever" (wherever, wherever). Adverbal Clauses of time can be recognized by the unions "when", "after", "till / untill", "while", "since", "by the time", "before", "whenever" (whenever). Adverbal Clauses of manner(mode of action) adjoin the main thought with the help of the unions “as if”, “as”, “as though” and answer the questions how? how?. The great language of exceptions, English, makes us think here too. Thus, the adverbial tenses have features in expressing the future tense.

They went to the street where the famous writer was killed . They came to the place where the famous writer was killed.

I haven't written him since we left the school . I haven't written to him since we left school.

He looked at me as if he saw me for the first time. He looked at me as if seeing me for the first time.

• Adverbal Clauses of reason(the reasons) are introduced into a complex sentence by the unions “because”, “since” (meaning because), “as” (because) and answer the question why ?. Adverbal Clauses of purpose (goals) answer the question why? for what purpose? and are joined by the unions "that", "in order that", "so that" - in order to and the union "lest" - not to. Most often, the infinitive is used to explain the main action.

As we hadn't any food we couldn't continue our trip. Since we had no more food, we could not continue our journey.

She went to England to learn English. She went to England to study English.

She sent her children into the garden in order to work a little. She sent the children to kindergarten to do some work.

• Adverbal Clauses of result(consequences) express the result of an action from the main clause. Subordinate clauses of this type are adjacent to the main one with the help of the unions “so that”, “that”, “so” (so). This view is not as simple as the others. When connecting the main and secondary parts, do not forget about the timing.

He spoke for such a long time that we began to think that he never stops. He talked for so long that we started to think that he would never finish.

• Adverbal Clauses of concession(concessions) answer the question no matter what? and are joined by the unions "though", "however" (no matter how), "whoever" (whoever), "whatever" (whatever, whatever), "even if" (even if). Adverbal Clauses of condition(terms)- "if", "unless", "in case".

However rich people are they always want to make more money. No matter how rich people are, they still want to earn even more money.

If he cleans his shoes it means he is having a date. If he shines his shoes, then he has a date.

Note: There are several types of conditionals that require careful study.

In spite of a large number of, subordinate clauses in English are quite easy to understand and remember. Determine the main idea and explanatory circumstances, pose a question, look at the connecting union - and you have found the answer.