How subordinate clauses and relative clauses work in Japanese
Subordinate and Relative Clauses in Japanese: Core Takeaway
In Japanese, subordinate clauses and relative clauses both come before the main statement element they relate to, but they serve different grammatical roles: subordinate clauses provide extra contextual information like time or reason linked to the main verb, while relative clauses function as descriptive modifiers directly attached to nouns without the help of relative pronouns.
Subordinate Clauses in Japanese
Subordinate clauses provide background or contextual information that is essential for understanding the main action but cannot stand independently. Unlike English, where conjunctions like “because” or “when” often start subordinate clauses, in Japanese these clauses always precede the main clause they modify, consistent with the verb-final (SOV) sentence structure.
Key Forms and Their Usage
Here are some common suffixes and forms that mark subordinate clauses and their typical meanings:
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-とき (toki): indicates “when” or “at the time that.”
Example:
雨が降ったとき、家にいました。
(Ame ga futta toki, ie ni imashita.)
”When it rained, I was at home.” -
-ながら (nagara): means “while doing.” It connects two simultaneous actions, usually with the same subject.
Example:
音楽を聞きながら勉強します。
(Ongaku o kikinagara benkyou shimasu.)
”I study while listening to music.” -
-から (kara): means “because” or “since,” expressing cause or reason.
Example:
雨が降ったから、出かけませんでした。
(Ame ga futta kara, dekakemasen deshita.)
”Because it rained, I didn’t go out.” -
-たら/-れば (-tara/-reba): conditional forms meaning “if” or “when,” frequently used in hypothetical or conditional statements.
Example with -tara:
雨が降ったら、傘を持っていきます。
(Ame ga futtara, kasa o motte ikimasu.)
”If it rains, I will take an umbrella.”Example with -reba:
時間があれば、行きます。
(Jikan ga areba, ikimasu.)
”If I have time, I will go.”
Important Structural Note
Japanese subordinate clauses end in the plain form of the verb plus the connective suffix, never in the polite form within the clause. This makes the connection between clauses more direct and fluid than the equivalent English forms, which often rely on conjunctions or separate sentences.
Common Mistakes with Subordinate Clauses
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Mixing particle order: Learners sometimes put particles from the subordinate clause after the main verb, e.g., “雨が降りましたから” instead of the correct “雨が降ったから,” confusing polite and plain forms inside the subordinate clause.
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Incorrect use of から and ので: Both mean “because,” but “ので” is softer and more explanatory, while “から” is more direct. Using “から” in overly polite or formal contexts can sound blunt.
Relative Clauses in Japanese
Relative clauses in Japanese are one of the most distinctive features compared to English and many Western languages. Instead of using relative pronouns such as “who,” “which,” or “that,” the entire clause describing a noun immediately precedes that noun without any linking word.
How Relative Clauses Are Formed
- The relative clause uses the plain form of the verb (dictionary, past, negative, or other plain forms).
- The verb within the clause agrees in tense with the described action.
- No relative pronouns or extra particles are used to mark the relationship except the particles indicating the noun’s role after the noun.
Example:
田中さんが旅行する北海道
(Tanaka-san ga ryokou suru Hokkaidou)
“Hokkaido (the place) where Tanaka-san will travel”
Here, “田中さんが旅行する” is the relative clause describing “北海道.”
Modifying Complex Nouns
Relative clauses can modify simple nouns or compound ones. For example:
昨日買った本 (Kinou katta hon) — “The book [I] bought yesterday”
The verb “買った” (bought) directly modifies the noun “本” (book).
Expressing Nuances with Verb Forms in Relative Clauses
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Passive form: To indicate actions done to the noun.
Example:
読まれた本 (Yomareta hon) — “The book that was read.” -
Causative form: To indicate someone caused the action involving the noun.
Example:
読ませた本 (Yomaseta hon) — “The book [someone] made [someone else] read.”
Position of Particles After Modified Nouns
Particles such as は, を, に come after the noun and signal its grammatical role for the main verb outside the relative clause. For instance:
昨日買った本は面白かった。
(Kinou katta hon wa omoshirokatta.)
”The book [that I] bought yesterday was interesting.”
Structural and Semantic Differences Between Subordinate and Relative Clauses
| Clause Type | Function | Key Features | Position Relative to Main Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subordinate Clauses | Add contextual information (time, reason, etc.) | End with specific conjunction forms (-toki, -kara, -tara) | Entire clause preceding main clause |
| Relative Clauses | Modify a noun directly | Clause in plain form directly before noun | Clause precedes noun it modifies |
The main semantic distinction is that subordinate clauses relate to the whole main clause’s action, while relative clauses describe a particular noun phrase within the sentence.
Practical Tips for Speaking and Listening
- Because subordinate clauses always come before the main clause, Japanese sentences often build up context before delivering the main point. This can feel reversed compared to English habits.
- Japanese speakers frequently use relative clauses to pack detailed information into short noun phrases, which can be challenging for learners to parse on the fly.
- Practicing with real conversation examples and AI tutors that simulate natural speech can help internalize these patterns more effectively than rote grammar drills.
Frequently Asked Questions About Japanese Clauses
Q: Can a subordinate clause function as a noun in Japanese?
A: Yes, subordinate clauses can sometimes act as noun clauses, especially with nominalizing suffixes like の or こと, allowing them to serve as subjects or objects.
Q: Are there relative pronouns in Japanese equivalent to “who,” “which,” or “that”?
A: No, Japanese does not use relative pronouns; the modifying clause directly precedes the noun it describes, making pronouns unnecessary.
Q: How to distinguish between subordinate and relative clauses in complex sentences?
A: Subordinate clauses typically end with connecting suffixes (-とき, -から, etc.) and modify the main verb phrase, whereas relative clauses are direct verbal modifiers in plain form placed immediately before the noun they describe.
This deeper understanding of subordinate and relative clauses and their interplay in Japanese syntax provides learners with concrete, conversation-ready knowledge essential for fluent comprehension and expression.