Question

Identify the subordinate clause in the following sentence:
It grieved me to hear that she was ill.

• A. It grieved me to hear
• B. that she was ill
• C. she was ill
• D. grieved

Answer 1

The correct option is B that she was ill

A clause is a part of a larger sentence containing a subject and a predicate of its own.
A Principal Clause is an independent clause which can exist even without a subordinate clause. A Subordinate Clause is called a dependent clause because it cannot exist without the help of the principal clause. It begins with a subordinating conjunction.
Option B is correct because 'that she was ill' is the subordinate clause. It begins with the subordinating conjunction 'that'. It needs the principal clause for its existence.
Option A is incorrect as 'It grieved me to hear' is the principal clause.
Option C is incorrect because it is a part of the subordinate clause where the subordinating conjunction is missing.
Option D is incorrect as it is just a finite verb.