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# subordinate

adjective (subordinate); noun (a subordinate, subordinates); verb (subordinate, subordinated) — formal

«subordinate» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. In grammar, a subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that has a verb but cannot stand alone, like «because it was raining». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinate/#m1)
2. A subordinate is a person who has a lower rank and takes orders from someone else at work. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinate/#m2)
3. (formal) Subordinate means less important than something else. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinate/#m3)

### In the lessons

In UK grammar lessons, pupils learn subordinating conjunctions (because, although, when, if) that start subordinate clauses: «Although it was cold, we went out.» At work or in the army, a boss gives orders to subordinates.

### Examples

- «When the bell rang» is a subordinate clause. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinate/#x1)
- Add a subordinate clause starting with «because». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinate/#x2)
- The captain gave orders to his subordinates. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinate/#x3)
- A subordinate clause needs a main clause. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinate/#x4)
- Fun is subordinate to safety on the trip. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinate/#x5)
- Use a comma after a subordinate clause at the start of a sentence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinate/#x6)

### Note

Opposite of main/superior. Stress: «suh-BOR-din-it» (adjective, noun). The subordinate clause can come first or after the main clause.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «subordinate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«subordinate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/subordinate.html) on Mova free.