I'm supposed to identify subordinate clauses in the following questions and then label them as complement, adjunct or relative clauses. I'm lost, how can you tell the difference?
Example: It would be tragic if you realized too late, as so many others do, there's only one thing in the world worth having-and that is youth.
Example: What if this is a dream?
Can anyone help?
Certainly! Let's break it down step by step.
First of all, a subordinate clause is a group of words that has both a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It functions as a dependent clause, providing additional information or adding complexity to the main clause.
To identify subordinate clauses in questions, we need to look for clauses that begin with subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns. These words introduce the dependent clause and indicate its relationship to the main clause.
Now, let's analyze the two examples you provided:
Example 1: "It would be tragic if you realized too late, as so many others do, there's only one thing in the world worth having — and that is youth."
In this example, the subordinate clause is "if you realized too late." It starts with the subordinating conjunction "if" and provides a condition for the main clause ("It would be tragic"). This subordinate clause is an adjunct clause because it adds additional information to the main clause.
Example 2: "What if this is a dream?"
In this example, the subordinate clause is "if this is a dream." It starts with the subordinating conjunction "if" and functions as a conditional clause to the main clause ("What"). This subordinate clause is also an adjunct clause.
In both examples, the subordinate clauses serve to provide additional information but do not act as essential elements for the sentence's meaning. Hence, they are both considered adjunct clauses.
Remember, identifying subordinate clauses can be tricky, but practice and familiarity with subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns will help you become more confident in identifying them correctly.