I'm not sure about 2-year-olds using subordinate clauses; it is highly
unlikely, actually, since most 2-year-olds are barely in control of
phrasal grammar yet. But I've certainly heard 4-year-olds use
subordinate clauses with if, because, when, etc. I wouldn't expect a lot
of multi-subordinate clauses in the writing of primary schoolers, but
sentences with one or two must occur quite frequently. No subordinate
clauses until age 12?? Seems very, very late!!
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Johanna Rubba   Associate Professor, Linguistics
English Department, California Polytechnic State University
One Grand Avenue  • San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Tel. (805)-756-2184  •  Fax: (805)-756-6374 • Dept. Phone.  756-2596
• E-mail: [log in to unmask] •  Home page: http://www.cla.calpoly.edu/~jrubba
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