How subordinate clauses and relative clauses work in Japanese
Subordinate clauses in Japanese are dependent clauses that add additional information to a main clause and cannot stand alone as complete sentences. They typically end with certain connecting forms such as -toki (when), -nagara (while), -kara (because), or conditional forms like -tara and -eba (if). These clauses provide context such as time, reason, condition, or simultaneous actions relative to the main clause. Importantly, subordinate clauses precede the main clause in Japanese, which follows a subject-object-verb (SOV) order. 1
Deeper Explanation of Subordinate Clause Forms
Each connecting form used to mark subordinate clauses carries specific nuances:
-
-toki (時, when): Indicates a specific time when the action of the main clause occurs.
Example:
学校に行く時、友達に会います。
(Gakkou ni iku toki, tomodachi ni aimasu.)
”I meet my friends when I go to school.” -
-nagara (ながら, while): Expresses simultaneous actions or states, often with the subordinate clause conveying an ongoing action.
Example:
音楽を聴きながら勉強します。
(Ongaku o kiki nagara benkyou shimasu.)
”I study while listening to music.” -
-kara (から, because/since): Gives a reason or cause for the main clause.
Example:
雨が降っているから、外に出ません。
(Ame ga futte iru kara, soto ni demasen.)
”Because it is raining, I won’t go outside.” -
Conditional forms (-tara, -eba): Indicate “if” or “when” conditions that affect the outcome of the main clause.
Example:
雨が降ったら、出かけません。
(Ame ga futtara, dekakemasen.)
”If it rains, I won’t go out.”
Common Pitfalls with Subordinate Clauses
-
Misplacing the subordinate clause after the main clause: Because Japanese syntax places subordinate clauses before the main clause, learners familiar with languages like English might mistakenly reverse this order, which leads to unnatural sentences.
-
Confusing -nagara with -te form: Both can link actions, but -nagara insists on simultaneous completion, whereas the -te form simply connects actions without strict simultaneity. For example,
料理を作ってテレビを見る (cooking then watching TV, sequence)
vs.
料理を作りながらテレビを見る (watching TV while cooking, simultaneous). -
Dropping particles in subordinate clauses: Unlike relative clauses where some particles are omitted, subordinate clauses usually retain particles to clarify the grammatical roles.
Relative clauses in Japanese work by directly modifying a noun with a preceding clause that contains a verb. The modifying clause immediately precedes the noun it describes without needing relative pronouns like “who” or “which” in English. The verb in the relative clause is in a plain form and is linked directly to the noun. For example, “田中さんが旅行する北海道” means “Hokkaido where Tanaka-san will travel,” with the relative clause “田中さんが旅行する” directly modifying “北海道” (Hokkaido). Particles after the noun (such as は, を, に) help indicate the grammatical role of the noun in the overall sentence. 2
Variations in Relative Clauses
A relative clause can express various nuances depending on the verb form used:
-
Causative relative clauses, to express “someone makes/lets someone do something”:
Example:
先生が学生に勉強させる本
(Sensei ga gakusei ni benkyou saseru hon)
“The book that the teacher makes the students study.” -
Passive relative clauses, where the noun is the recipient of an action:
Example:
友達に褒められた絵
(Tomodachi ni homerareta e)
“The picture that was praised by my friend.”
Handling Ambiguity in Relative Clauses
Since Japanese omits relative pronouns, ambiguity can occur between the subject and object of the modifying clause. Context and particles play key roles in clarification:
-
For example:
私が書いた本 (watashi ga kaita hon)
“The book that I wrote” (私が is subject) -
Compared to:
私に書かれた本 (watashi ni kakareta hon)
“The book written by me” (passive construction, 私に is agent marked by particle に)
Understanding these particle markers is essential for accurate interpretation.
Comparison with English Relative Clauses
Japanese relative clauses differ fundamentally from English:
-
In English, relative clauses come after the noun with explicit relative pronouns:
“The book that I read”
Here, “that I read” follows “book.” -
In Japanese, the clause comes before the noun without relative pronouns:
私が読んだ本 (watashi ga yonda hon)
Literally: “I read book.”
This structural difference influences sentence construction and translation approaches.
To summarize the differences and functions:
| Clause Type | Function | Key Features | Position Relative to Main Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subordinate Clauses | Add additional information (time, reason, etc.) | End with connecting forms (-toki, -nagara) | Precede main clause |
| Relative Clauses | Directly modify a noun | Clause directly precedes the noun, plain verb | Precede the noun they modify |
Relative clauses can use different verb forms, including causative or passive, to express nuances like letting someone do something or actions done upon the noun. The noun modified by the relative clause is often understood as the subject or object within that clause, depending on the context. 4
Step-by-Step Process for Forming a Relative Clause
- Identify the noun you want to modify.
- Create a clause that describes or gives more details about that noun, using a verb phrase in plain (dictionary, past, or other plain forms).
- Place the clause directly before the noun.
- Ensure the clause uses appropriate particles to clarify roles (subject ガ, object を, indirect object に).
- Do not use relative pronouns.
Example:
Modify “person” who is reading a book:
本を読んでいる人
(hon o yonde iru hito)
“person who is reading a book.”
In both cases, Japanese clauses emphasize a structure where modifying or dependent clauses come before what they modify, unlike English where relative clauses follow the noun.
This explanation covers how subordinate and relative clauses function structurally and semantically in Japanese grammar, highlighting typical forms and examples.