Language/Slovenian/Grammar/Complex-sentences-and-subordinations

Slovenian → Grammar → Complex sentences and subordinations

As a Slovenian language teacher with over 20 years of experience, I’ve come to appreciate the beauty and complexity of Slovenian grammar. In this lesson, we will delve deeper into intermediate grammar and communication, specifically focusing on complex sentences and subordinations. By the end of this lesson, students will learn how to form complex sentences in Slovenian, including relative and causative clauses, and subordinate conjunctions, such as if, when, and because.

Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: How to Use Be & Cases.

Complex Sentences

Complex sentences, also known as compound-complex sentences, are sentences that contain at least two clauses, a main clause, and a subordinate clause. The main clause is the most important part of the sentence, conveying the main idea, while the subordinate clause adds extra information.

A subordinate clause can function in different ways within a complex sentence. It can act as an adjective, an adverb, or a noun. Let's dive into each of these functions in more detail.

Relative Clauses

Relative clauses are subordinate clauses that function as adjectives, providing additional information about a noun or pronoun in the main clause. Relative clauses always begin with a relative pronoun or adverb, such as "who", "whom", "whose", "which", and "that."

Here is an example of a relative clause in Slovenian:

Slovenian	Pronunciation	English
Knjiga, ki sem jo prebral.	[knjíga kí sem yo prebrrral]	The book that I read.

In this example, "ki" is the relative pronoun meaning "that" or "who". The relative clause "ki sem jo prebral" modifies the noun "knjiga" (book). Notice how the verb "prebral" (read) agrees with the gender and number of "knjiga". This is a characteristic feature of Slovenian grammar.

Causative Clauses

Causative clauses are subordinate clauses that indicate why something has happened or will happen. In Slovenian, causative clauses usually begin with the subordinating conjunctions "ker" (because) or "zato ker" (therefore).

Here is an example of a causative clause in Slovenian:

Slovenian	Pronunciation	English
Ljubim te, ker si tako smešen.	[ljoobeem te ker see tahko smeeshen]	I love you because you are so funny.

In this example, "ker" is the subordinating conjunction meaning "because". The causative clause "ker si tako smešen" provides extra information about why the speaker loves the person addressed in the main clause.

Subordinate Conjunctions

Subordinate conjunctions are words that connect subordinate clauses to main clauses. They indicate relationships between different parts of the sentence, such as time, cause and effect, contrast, or condition.

Here are some examples of Slovenian subordinate conjunctions:

• Ko – When
• Ker – Because
• Če – If
• Kot – Like
• Da – In order that
• Medtem ko – Meanwhile
• Čeprav – Although
• Ko pa – But when

It is important to note that the use of some subordinate conjunctions in Slovenian can be quite different from the use of the equivalent conjunctions in English. One example is "da", which can mean "in order that", but also "that" or "so that".

Conclusion

Congratulations on learning about complex sentences and subordinations in Slovenian. By mastering relative clauses, causative clauses and subordinate conjunctions, you will be able to construct more complex, diverse, and meaningful sentences. Keep practicing, and you will become more fluent and confident in your Slovenian communication skills.

With this lesson finished, you may want to explore these additional pages: Gender & Writing and composing simple texts.

Other Lessons

• Nouns, articles and gender
• Pronouns
• 0 to A1 Course
• Adjectives
• Conjugation of verbs in the present tense
• Pronouns and their use
• Gender
• How to Use Have
• Adverbs and prepositions
• Give your Opinion

Sources

• Natural Syntax of Slovenian: The Complex Sentence