subclauses
Dependent grammatical units
Subclauses are clauses that function within a larger sentence, dependent on a main clause for their meaning.
In grammar, they include relative clauses, conditional clauses, and other subordinate structures: The book that she recommended contains a subclause.
In legal and contractual contexts, subclauses are numbered divisions within a clause: See subclause 4.2.1 for payment terms.
Requiring outside support
- independentFree from external control
- relativeConnected by blood
- conditionalDependent on prerequisites
- subordinateOne lower in rank
adverbial · nominal · restrictive · nonrestrictive · embedded · nested · complement · modifier
Contained within another
- embeddedSet firmly within something
- parentheticalSet off by punctuation
- qualifyingMeeting required criteria
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
parsing · untangling · readability · convoluted · labyrinthine · dense · unwieldy · branching
Preparatory supply or clause
- stipulationCondition in an agreement
- conditionState or stipulation
- covenantBinding formal pledge
- provisoConditional clause in contracts
amendment · addendum · exception · qualification · reservation · contingency · obligation · termination
Imposing systematic order
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- transitionChange from one state
- flowUnbroken forward movement
- clarityState of being understandable
punctuation · semicolons · commas · parentheses · dashes · articulation · revision · editing
dependent
Requiring outside support
- independentFree from external control
- relativeConnected by blood
- conditionalDependent on prerequisites
subordinate · adverbial · nominal · restrictive · nonrestrictive · embedded · nested · complement · modifier · antecedent
nested
Contained within another
- embeddedSet firmly within something
- parentheticalSet off by punctuation
- qualifyingMeeting required criteria
ambiguity · parsing · untangling · readability · convoluted · labyrinthine · dense · unwieldy · branching · layered
provision
Preparatory supply or clause
- stipulationCondition in an agreement
- conditionState or stipulation
- covenantBinding formal pledge
proviso · amendment · addendum · exception · qualification · reservation · contingency · obligation · termination · enforceability
structuring
Imposing systematic order
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- transitionChange from one state
- flowUnbroken forward movement
clarity · punctuation · semicolons · commas · parentheses · dashes · articulation · revision · editing · prose