What is the subordinate clause of the following sentence? is it a noun, adjective, or adverb clause?: If we don't run late, we will get good seats.
1 Answer
"If we don't run late" is a subordinate adverb clause.
Explanation:
Recall: A subordinate clause is a clause (subject + verb) that starts with a subordinator, such as "that," "which," "if," "where," etc.
In this sentence, the subordinate clause is marked by the subordinator "if." We know it's a clause, since it has a subject ("we") and a verb ("don't run").
The next step is to determine if it acts like a noun, adjective, or adverb.
A noun clause acts like a noun. However, "if we don't run late" is not acting like a noun. If we replaced it with a noun, it would not make sense: "Orange, we will get good seats."
An adjective clause acts like an adjective, which describes a noun. Adjective clauses usually follow the noun directly and start with "that," "which," or "who." In this case, the subordinate clause does not modify a noun, and is not an adjective clause.
An adverb clause acts like an adverb, which describes a verb, adjective, or adverb.
"If we don't run late" describes the verb "will get," telling us under what circumstances we will get good seats. Thus, the clause is an adverb clause.
