Definition

A part of a larger sentence that can stand alone as a smaller sentence.

Example

In the complex sentence, the subsentence provides additional information about the main clause.

Conversation

I was reading about how to construct sentences properly.

Oh really? What did you find interesting?

They mentioned that a subsentence can help clarify complex ideas.

That makes sense! It’s a great way to break things down.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Subsentence → It is formed from "sub-" (meaning under or below) and "sentence" (from Latin "sententia", meaning thought or opinion). The word "subsentence" refers to a clause or part of a sentence that is subordinate to the main clause, thus being 'under' the main thought.

Memory Tip

Think of something that is 'under' ('sub-') the main thought or opinion ('sententia') — that's why a subsentence is a part of a larger sentence.

Visually Confused Words