subordinative

8.9

A word that connects a part of a sentence that cannot stand alone to the main part

adjective
/səˈbɔːrdɪnətɪv/

Specialized

: subordinante

In complex sentences, subordinative conjunctions like 'because' help clarify the reasons behind the main action.

Examples

In the sentence, 'She left before the meeting started,' the word 'before' is a subordinative conjunction that introduces a subordinate clause.
When you say, 'If it rains, we will stay indoors,' the term 'if' is an example of a subordinative conjunction linking a condition to the main idea.
Although the act of reporting has little substantive consequence, the reporting requirement does symbolize a latent subordinative relationship.

Academic text (1990)

Synonyms

subordinating

vssubordinative

Specialized

6.9

That joins a group of words that cannot stand alone to the main part of a sentence

has identical meaning but uses an -ive adjective ending instead of -ing

Surface Forms

subordinative positive

Morphology

subordinative = subordinate + subordinate (transparent) = subordinate + ive

Direct adjectival formation from the common word 'subordinate' with the productive suffix '-ive', meaning 'relating to subordination' which learners can infer from the base.

Etymology

The word subordinative comes from the parts sub- 'under' and ordin-, the same root as order, meaning 'to arrange'. That's why a subordinative word puts one clause 'under' another and makes that clause dependent on the main clause, so it connects a smaller idea to the main idea.