What are Subordinating Conjunctions?

ElevatEd
Blog
May 30, 2024

In grammar, understanding conjunctions' role is crucial for constructing clear and coherent sentences. Among various types of conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions play a significant role in connecting dependent clauses to independent clauses within complex sentences. This comprehensive guide aims to elucidate the concept of subordinating conjunctions, their functions, types, and usage, providing clarity and depth to your understanding of this essential grammatical element.

What are Subordinating Conjunctions?

Subordinating conjunctions are words or phrases that connect dependent clauses to independent clauses, thereby forming complex sentences. Unlike coordinating conjunctions, which join independent clauses of equal importance, subordinating conjunctions establish a hierarchical relationship between the clauses, indicating that one clause is dependent on the other for its meaning within the sentence structure.

Functions of Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions serve several functions in sentence construction.

Establishing Relationships: They indicate the relationship between the dependent and independent clauses, such as time, cause, condition, place, manner, purpose, comparison, or contrast.
Subordination: they signal that the dependent clause is subordinate to the independent clause, emphasizing the hierarchy of information.
Adding Complexity: By joining clauses of varying importance, subordinating conjunctions contribute to the complexity and richness of sentence structures.

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Examples of Subordinating Conjunctions

Common subordinating conjunctions include:

After
Although
Because
If
Since
Until
While
Though
Whenever
Whereas
Wherever
Whether

Types of Subordinating conjunctions

Time: Subordinating conjunctions that denote time include:
After, Before, Since, While, Until, As
Cause: Conjunctions indicating cause include:
Because, since, as, considering, now that
Condition: Subordinating conjunctions expressing condition include:
If, Unless, Provided that, In case, Even if
Place: Conjunctions indicating place include:
Where, Wherever, Anywhere, Everywhere
Manner: Subordinating conjunctions denoting manner include:
As, Like, the way that
Purpose: Conjunctions expressing purpose include:
So that, in order that, to, for
Comparison: Conjunctions used for comparison include:
As, Than
Contrast: Conjunctions indicating contrast include:
Although, Though, Whereas, While, Even though

Using Subordinating Conjunctions Effectively

To use subordinating conjunctions effectively:

Understand context: Consider the relationship between clauses and choose an appropriate conjunction that accurately reflects this relationship.
Maintain Coherence: Ensure that the use of subordinating conjunctions contributes to the clarity and coherence of the sentence, avoiding unnecessary complexity.
Vary Sentence Structure: Incorporate a variety of subordinating conjunctions to add depth and nuance to your writing, avoiding repetition and monotony.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Run-on sentences: Avoid creating run-on sentences by properly punctuating clauses joined by subordinating conjunctions.
Fragmented Sentences: Ensure that each subordinating conjunction connects a dependent clause to an independent clause, preventing fragmented sentence structures.
Incorrect Usage: Be vigilant about the correct usage of subordinating conjunctions, as misuse can distort the intended meaning of the sentence.

Conclusion: Subordinating conjunctions are indispensable elements of complex sentence structures, facilitating the connection between dependent and independent clauses while delineating their hierarchical relationship. By mastering the functions, types, and usage of subordinating conjunctions, writers can enhance the clarity, coherence, and sophistication of their writing, thereby conveying ideas with precision and elegance.

FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q.1: Can you provide examples of subordinating conjunctions?
Ans- Certainly! Examples of subordinating conjunctions include after, although, because, if, since, until, while, though, whenever, whereas, wherever, and whether.

Q.2: How can I improve my understanding of subordinating conjunctions?
Ans- You can improve your understanding by practicing sentence-constructing exercises, analysing sentences in context, and reading extensively to observe how subordinating conjunctions are used in various writing styles and genres.

Q.3: Can subordinating conjunctions be omitted in some cases?
Ans- In some cases, subordinating conjunctions can be omitted if the meaning of the sentence remains clear without them. However, this should be done judiciously to avoid ambiguity or confusion in the sentence structure.

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