The Subordinate Conjunction

Recognize a subordinate conjunction when you find one.

Some sentences are complex. Such sentences have two clauses, one main (or independent) and one subordinate (or dependent).

The essential component in a complex sentence is the subordinate conjunction:

Subordinate Conjunctions

after
although
as
as if
as long as
as soon as
as though
because
before
even if
even though
how
if in case
in order that
insofar as
just as
no matter how
now that
once
provided that
rather than
since
so that
than
that
though
till
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 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 searched the 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. 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 sneezes violently whenever he opens the door to greet a fresh spring day.

Sneezing violently > opening the door.

Even though Dana persevered in her calculus class, she was only adding another F on her transcript.

Adding another F > persevering in the class.

Subordinate Conjunctions
after although as as if as long as as soon as as though because before even if even though how if	in case in order that insofar as just as no matter how now that once provided that rather than since so that than	that though till unless until when whenever where whereas wherever whether while why

Punctuate a complex sentence correctly.

Complex sentences follow two patterns:

Main Clause + Ø + Subordinate Clause.

Nicky shook her head and sighed as she puzzled over the algebra problem.

Subordinate Clause + , + Main Clause.

When the doorbell rang, Nicky slammed shut her textbook and rose to pay for her pizza.

Printer Fabulous!

valid html