Types of subordinate clauses in Russian are distinguished depending on the semantic connections between the parts of a complex sentence. But first, you need to figure out what the complex sentence itself (or CSP) is, and how it differs from the complex sentence (CSP) of its fellow.
Their main difference lies in the form of connection that defines the relationship between the parts of these types of complex sentences. If in the SSP we are dealing with a coordinating connection (as you might guess, based on one name), then in the SSP we are dealing with a subordinating one.
The coordinative connection implies the initial "equality" between the parts, i.e. each separate predicative unit (a simple sentence within a complex one) can function separately without losing its meaning: The gentle May sun shone amiably and clearly, and each twig stretched towards it with its still young leaves.
It is easy to guess that the parts of a sentence in NGN are in a different kind of relationship. The main clause in it "governs" the subordinate clause. Depending on how this very control takes place, there are the following types of subordinate clauses:
Types of subordinate clauses |
Values |
Questions |
Unions, allied words |
Sample proposal |
|
| determinative | Define a noun in a main clause | Which one? | Who, what, where, where, from where, which, what | I accidentally stumbled upon a letter (what?) that was written long before I was born. | |
| Explanatory | Related to verbs | Case questions | What, to, like, as if, etc. | I still don't understand (what exactly?) how this could happen. | |
| circumstantial | places | Point to the scene | Where? Where? Where? | Where, where, where | He went to (where?) where flowers bloom all year round. |
| time | Indicate the time of action | When? How long? Since when? Until what time? | When, as soon as, since then, etc. | I figured it out then (when?) when it was too late. | |
| conditions | On what condition? | If, if…then | I'll help you solve the problem (under what condition?) if I can. | ||
| reasons | Specify the reason for the action | For what reason? Why? | Because, since, because, for | Peter couldn't answer the question (for what reason?) because he wasn't ready for it. | |
| goals | Indicate for what purpose the action is performed | What for? What for? For what purpose? | to |
To personally verify this, he personally came to the director (why?). |
|
| consequences | Show us the result of an action | Because of what? | So | She looked so gorgeous, I couldn't take my eyes off her. | |
| mode of action | How? How? | Like, like, exactly, like, like | The boys ran like (how?) as if they were being chased by a pack of hungry dogs. | ||
| measures and degrees | To what extent? To what extent? To what extent? | How much, how much, what, how | It all happened so fast (to what extent?) that no one had time to come to their senses. | ||
| comparisons | Like who? Like what? Than who? Than what? | Like, like, like, than | This guy turned out to be much smarter (than who?) than his peers. | ||
| concessions | Despite what? | Though, in spite of, for nothing, no matter how much…no, let | Maybe it doesn't seem true, but I believe it (no matter what?). | ||
To more accurately determine the types of clauses, it is enough just to correctly ask a question from the main sentence (or a word in it) to the dependent (subordinate clause).
