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Reflecting critically on the criteria that have led grammars of different theoretical approaches to distinguish types of subordinate sentences is one of the general objectives of this article. Traditionally, subordinate clauses have been classified as nominal, adjective or relative and adverbial or circumstantial clauses. Current theorical approaches in the framework of Generative Grammar (Hernánz, 2002; Bosque and G. Rexach, 2009; Brucart and Gallego, 2009) have emphasized that notional classifications give rise to unconstrained interpretations and unstable classifications. Moreover, Delbecque and Lamiroy (1999) distinguish degrees of abstraction in nominal category, which allow them to describe certain properties of nominal subordination. In this article, we start with the analysis of two types of nominal clauses: argument and appositive clauses, subordinated to abstract nouns (Leonetti, 1999). From the different grammatical status of these constructions and the differences in their use, which can be claimed, according to this author, as formal criteria for their characterization, I will investigate if these criteria can be applied to the recognition of other types of subordinate clauses in Spanish. Leonetti (1999) and Rodríguez Espiñeira (2003) postulate that it is necessary to identify the lexical nature of the abstract noun and the latter adds the discursive context as a relevant instance for the distinction between argumental or appositive functions. The explicitation of these recognition and analysis criteria is essential for the implementation of a didactic proposal at any level of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]