Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

Subordinate clauses in conversation

296a

In conversation, subordinate clauses may appear to be used alone, but they are usually

dependent on a main clause nearby, spoken either by another speaker or by the same

speaker:

A: You’re coming on Friday?

B: Yeah. If I can.

(understood: I’m coming on Friday if I can.)

[assembling a piece of flat-pack furniture]

A: This has got screw holes. Right? 

B: Right. 

A: Which is funny isn’t it. It’s not at all obvious what they support.

(understood: that it has screw holes is funny)

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87b Subordinate clauses

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310–317 for a full description of subordinate clauses

FINITE CLAUSES

297

A finite clause contains a verb which is inflected for tense (present or past). Finite

clauses typically have a subject, and can be main or subordinate clauses.