Subordinate Clauses in Spanish
Substantive Subordinate Clauses
These clauses are named “substantive” because they function as noun phrases (NPs) or prepositional phrases (PrePs), which are essentially NPs preceded by a preposition.
Types of Substantive Subordinate Clauses: The type and function coincide, meaning there are as many types as syntactic functions. They can perform the functions of an NP or a PreP, including subject, direct object, attribute, régimen verbal, noun complement, adjectival complement, and adverbial complement. They cannot function as indirect complement or circumstantial complement of agent, which are specific to noun adjective phrases.
They can sometimes appear as circumstantial complements, but in those cases, they are classified as adverbial subordinate clauses. Some non-adverbial complements, such as those of instrument or company, could be considered substantive.
Connectors: The connectors introducing substantive subordinate clauses are:
- Que (which, who, whom). This is a conjunction and never takes an accent mark.
- Si (if, whether). This conjunction is used to introduce total indirect questions.
- Infinitive (if not a verbal periphrasis).
- Qué (what, which). This interrogative pronoun introduces partial indirect questions and can be a determiner if it accompanies a noun.
- Cuál/es (which, which ones). This interrogative pronoun is always singular or plural, never takes an accent, and doesn’t take a determiner, but can be followed by a PreP.
- Quién/es (who, whom). This interrogative pronoun is always singular or plural, never takes an accent, and doesn’t take a determiner, but can be followed by a PreP.
- Cuánto/a/os/as (how much, how many). This interrogative pronoun introduces partial indirect questions and can be a determiner if it accompanies a noun. It can be followed by a PreP.
- Cómo (how). This interrogative adverb introduces partial indirect questions asking about manner.
- Cuándo (when). This interrogative adverb introduces partial indirect questions asking about time.
- Dónde (where). This interrogative adverb introduces partial indirect questions asking about place.
Functions of Connectors: If the connectors are conjunctions or infinitives (types 1, 2, and 3), they do not have a syntactic function within the subordinate clause. If the connectors are interrogative (types 4-10), they always have a function within the subordinate clause.
If they are interrogative adverbs, the function is straightforward: cómo is always a circumstantial complement of manner, cuándo a circumstantial complement of time, and dónde a circumstantial complement of place.
The functions of other interrogative connectors are more complex. If they are determiners, they help form the noun phrase. If they are pronouns, their function depends on whether they are preceded by a preposition. They can function as subject, direct object, indirect object, régimen verbal, circumstantial complement of agent, noun complement, adjectival complement, adverbial complement, or circumstantial complement.
Antecedent: Substantive subordinate clauses never have an antecedent.
Adjective or Relative Subordinate Clauses
These clauses are called “adjective” because they function as adjectival phrases, and “relative” because their connectors are relative pronouns or adverbs, meaning they refer to something previously mentioned, called the antecedent.
Functions of Adjective Subordinate Clauses: All adjective or relative subordinate clauses function as noun complements.
Connectors:
- Que (who, which, that, whom). This relative pronoun can take a determiner but it’s not required. It never takes an accent.
- Cual/es (which, which ones). This relative pronoun always takes a determiner and never an accent.
- Quien/es (who, whom). This relative pronoun never takes a determiner and can be replaced by que.
- Cuyo/a/os/as (whose). This relative pronoun never takes a determiner. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies, resembling a determiner, and replaces a phrase, resembling a pronoun. Some consider it a possessive adjective.
- Como (as). This relative adverb never takes an accent.
- Cuando (when). This relative adverb never takes an accent.
- Donde (where). This relative adverb never takes an accent.
Functions of Connectors in Adjective Subordinate Clauses: All connectors in adjective clauses have a syntactic function within the subordinate clause. The relative adverbs have straightforward functions: como is always a circumstantial complement of manner, cuando a circumstantial complement of time, and donde a circumstantial complement of place. Cuyo always functions as a noun complement.
The functions of que, cual, and quien can vary depending on whether they are preceded by a preposition. They can function as subject, direct object, indirect object, attribute, régimen verbal, circumstantial complement, noun complement, adjectival complement, etc.
Antecedent: All adjective subordinate clauses have an antecedent, which is the element the relative pronoun or adverb refers to. It is a noun or noun phrase that immediately precedes the clause.
In the case of que referring to an entire sentence, the antecedent is the whole sentence.
Types of Adjective Subordinate Clauses: There are two types:
- Explanatory: These clauses provide additional information about the antecedent and are set off by commas. Example: The snake, moving to the rhythm of the music, measured three meters.
- Restrictive/Specifying: These clauses restrict the meaning of the antecedent and are not set off by commas. Example: The snake that moved to the rhythm of the music measured three meters.
Substantivized Adjective Subordinate Clauses
Like adjectives, adjective subordinate clauses can be substantivized. These clauses share characteristics with both substantive and adjective clauses. Like substantive clauses, they can function as noun phrases and lack an antecedent. Like adjective clauses, their connectors are relative pronouns, which always have a function within the subordinate clause.
Types of Substantivized Adjective Subordinate Clauses: The type and function coincide. They can perform the functions of an NP or a PreP, including subject, direct object, attribute, régimen verbal, noun complement, adjectival complement, and adverbial complement. Unlike regular substantive clauses, they can also function as indirect complement and circumstantial complement of agent.
Connectors:
- Que (who, which, that, whom). This relative pronoun is not mandatory but never takes a determiner or accent.
- Quien/es (who, whom). This relative pronoun can be replaced by que but not by the demonstrative pronoun ese/a/os/as. It never takes a determiner or accent.
- El/la/los/las que (the one/s who, that, which). This relative pronoun can be replaced by que but not by the personal pronoun él/ella/ellos/ellas. It never takes an accent but can take a determiner, often “todo/a/os/as” (all).
Functions of Connectors in Substantivized Adjective Subordinate Clauses: The connectors always have a syntactic function, which can vary depending on whether they are preceded by a preposition. They can function as subject, direct object, attribute, indirect object, régimen verbal, etc. The connector el/la/los/las que often appears to function as a circumstantial complement of quantity, but it is often a direct object. Example: I will give all that I own.
Antecedent: Substantivized adjective subordinate clauses never have an antecedent.