Subordination
Louise's Weekly Feature

 

In the weekly feature of August 23, we studied coordination. This week, let’s talk about subordination. Two clauses can be joined with a subordinating conjunction. The clause following a subordinating conjunction is called a subordinate or dependent clause because it depends on an independent clause to complete the meaning.

We will eat the cake when George comes home from work.

When George comes home from work is a subordinate or dependent clause introduced by the subordinating conjunction when.

When George comes home from work is incomplete, and depends on the independent clause to complete its meaning.

 The example above can also be written:

When George comes home from work, we will eat the cake

The meaning in both sentences is the same, but notice that the punctuation is different. When the dependent clause begins the sentence, it is followed by a comma.

Here is a list of some subordinating conjunctions:

 

after             because           since                when   

although          before             unless              whereas

as                 if                  until                 while

 

Now it’s time for you to try a quiz and practice what you have learned.

 

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