What are Subordinating Conjunctions?
Understand the difference between coordination and subordination.
Use a coordinating conjunction when you want to give equal emphasis to two main clauses. The pattern for coordination looks like this:
Main Clause + , + Coordinating Conjunction + Main Clause.
Subordination, however, emphasizes the idea in the main clause more than the one in the subordinate clause. Generally, the patterns look like these:
Main Clause + Subordinate Clause.
Subordinate Clause + Main Clause.
The essential ingredient in a complex sentence is the subordinate conjunction:
| Subordinate Conjunctions | ||
|---|---|---|
| after although as because before even if even though if in order that | once provided that rather than since so that than that though unless | until when whenever where whereas wherever whether while why |
- The subordinate conjunction has two jobs. First, it provides a necessary transition between the two ideas in the sentence. This transition will indicate a time, place, or cause and effect relationship. Here are some examples:
Louisa will wash the sink full of her dirty dishes once her roommate Shane cleans his stubble and globs of shaving cream from the bathroom sink.
We looked on top of the refrigerator, where Jenny will often hide a bag of chocolate chip cookies.
Because her teeth were chattering in fear, Lynda clenched her jaw muscle while waiting for her turn to audition.
- The second job of the subordinate conjunction is to reduce the importance of one clause so that a reader understands which of the two ideas is more important. The more important idea belongs in the main clause, the less important in the clause introduced by the subordinate conjunction.
Read these examples:
As Samson blew out the birthday candles atop the cake, he burned the tip of his nose on a stubborn flame.
Burning his nose > blowing out candles.
Ronnie begins to sneeze violently whenever he opens the door to greet a fresh spring day.
Sneezing violently > opening the door.
Even though Dana persevered at the calculus exam, she was only adding another F beside her name in Dr. Armour's grade book.
Adding another F > persevering at the exam.
Watch this video with a great explanation:
Activity:
. Finish the complex sentences with your own ideas:
After you have a rest
Although they have a lot of homework
Before I went to New York
Because I wasn’t hungry
When class is over
Practice writing your own complex sentences with these words:
After
Before
When
Because
Although