Position of subordinate clauses

A subordinate clause can precede, follow or be embedded within a main clause. The subordinate clause that precedes the main clause is called Vordersatz, the one that follows the main clause is called Nachsatz and the one that is embedded within the main clause is called Zwischensatz.

Notes:

1. The most common position of a subordinate clause is after the superordinate clause. As a general rule, all subordinate clauses may follow the main clause.

2. A relative clause, an attributive clause and certain adverbial clauses cannot precede a main clause.

3. Subordinate clauses are seldom embedded in main clauses; this usually occurs with attributive relative clauses. However, adverbial clauses can be embedded within a main clause.

4. When an adverbial clause is embedded in another subordinate clause, the direct succession of conjunctions must be avoided. In order to make the meaning more comprehensible, the adverbial clause should not be embedded in the subordinate clause but follow it instead.

How the position of the subordinate clause affects the word order in the main clause

When a subordinate clause precedes the main clause, the finite verb form of the main clause is in the first position. This rule does not apply when a Korrelat occupies the first position of the main clause.