Subordinating conjunctions are an essential part of English grammar that often perplex both native speakers and learners alike. These small but mighty words have the power to transform sentences, making them more complex and nuanced. By understanding subordinating conjunctions, you can vastly improve your writing and speaking skills, making your communication more effective and sophisticated.
What Are Subordinating Conjunctions?
Subordinating conjunctions are words that connect a dependent clause to an independent clause, thereby creating a complex sentence. An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence, whereas a dependent clause cannot. The role of a subordinating conjunction is to show the relationship between the two clauses, indicating time, cause, condition, contrast, or purpose.
Here are some common subordinating conjunctions:
– **Time**: after, before, when, while, since, until
– **Cause**: because, since, as
– **Condition**: if, unless, provided that
– **Contrast**: although, though, even though, whereas
– **Purpose**: so that, in order that
How Do Subordinating Conjunctions Work?
To understand how subordinating conjunctions work, let’s break down a few examples:
1. **Time**: “I will call you *after* I finish my homework.”
– Here, “after” is the subordinating conjunction that connects the dependent clause “I finish my homework” to the independent clause “I will call you.”
2. **Cause**: “She was late *because* she missed the bus.”
– In this sentence, “because” links the dependent clause “she missed the bus” with the independent clause “She was late.”
3. **Condition**: “You can go to the party *if* you finish your chores.”
– “If” is the subordinating conjunction that connects “you finish your chores” to “You can go to the party.”
4. **Contrast**: “He went for a run *although* it was raining.”
– “Although” connects “it was raining” with “He went for a run.”
5. **Purpose**: “She studied hard *so that* she could pass the exam.”
– “So that” links “she could pass the exam” with “She studied hard.”
Why Are Subordinating Conjunctions Important?
Subordinating conjunctions are crucial for several reasons:
1. **Clarity and Precision**: These conjunctions help clarify the relationship between different parts of a sentence. By indicating time, cause, condition, contrast, or purpose, they make your writing more precise and understandable.
2. **Sentence Variety**: Using subordinating conjunctions allows you to create complex sentences, which can make your writing more interesting and varied. This is particularly useful in academic writing, where sentence variety is often a marker of sophisticated prose.
3. **Expressing Complex Ideas**: Subordinating conjunctions enable you to express complex ideas and relationships between events or concepts. This is essential for effective communication, whether you are writing an essay, giving a presentation, or having a conversation.
Common Mistakes with Subordinating Conjunctions
Despite their importance, subordinating conjunctions are often misused. Here are some common mistakes and how to avoid them:
1. **Fragmented Sentences**: A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence. Ensure that it is always connected to an independent clause.
– Incorrect: “Because I was tired.”
– Correct: “I went to bed early because I was tired.”
2. **Comma Misuse**: When the dependent clause comes before the independent clause, use a comma to separate them. However, when the independent clause comes first, no comma is needed.
– Dependent first: “Although it was raining, he went for a run.”
– Independent first: “He went for a run although it was raining.”
3. **Wrong Conjunction**: Using the wrong subordinating conjunction can change the meaning of a sentence or make it confusing. Always choose the conjunction that accurately reflects the relationship between the clauses.
– Incorrect: “She was late although she missed the bus.”
– Correct: “She was late because she missed the bus.”
Tips for Mastering Subordinating Conjunctions
Mastering subordinating conjunctions takes practice, but these tips can help:
1. **Practice Writing**: Write sentences using different subordinating conjunctions. This will help you become more comfortable with their usage and the relationships they express.
2. **Read Widely**: Reading books, articles, and essays can expose you to a variety of sentence structures and subordinating conjunctions. Pay attention to how authors use them to connect ideas.
3. **Use Flashcards**: Create flashcards with different subordinating conjunctions and their meanings. Quiz yourself regularly to reinforce your understanding.
4. **Seek Feedback**: Ask teachers, peers, or language exchange partners to review your writing. They can provide valuable feedback on your use of subordinating conjunctions and help you improve.
5. **Practice Speaking**: Incorporate subordinating conjunctions into your spoken language. This will not only improve your fluency but also your ability to express complex ideas in conversation.
Exercises to Practice Subordinating Conjunctions
To solidify your understanding of subordinating conjunctions, try these exercises:
1. **Fill in the Blanks**: Complete the sentences with the appropriate subordinating conjunction.
– “I will wait here ___ you come back.”
– “She didn’t go to the party ___ she was sick.”
– “___ it was cold, we went for a walk.”
2. **Combine Sentences**: Combine the following pairs of sentences using a subordinating conjunction.
– “She studied hard. She wanted to pass the exam.”
– “It was raining. He went for a run.”
– “You can borrow my car. You return it by tomorrow.”
3. **Rewrite Sentences**: Rewrite the sentences to place the dependent clause first.
– “I will call you when I finish my homework.”
– “She was late because she missed the bus.”
– “He went for a run although it was raining.”
Advanced Usage of Subordinating Conjunctions
Once you are comfortable with basic subordinating conjunctions, you can explore more advanced usage:
1. **Multiple Subordinating Conjunctions**: Some sentences may require more than one subordinating conjunction to show complex relationships between ideas.
– Example: “I will call you after I finish my homework if I have enough time.”
2. **Elliptical Constructions**: In some cases, the dependent clause can be reduced by omitting understood words. This is known as an elliptical construction.
– Example: “Although tired, he went for a run.” (The full sentence would be “Although he was tired, he went for a run.”)
3. **Inverted Clauses**: Occasionally, the dependent clause can come before the subordinating conjunction for stylistic reasons.
– Example: “Tired though he was, he went for a run.”
Conclusion
Subordinating conjunctions are a powerful tool in the arsenal of any language learner. By understanding and mastering their use, you can create more complex, nuanced, and effective sentences. Remember to practice regularly, read widely, and seek feedback to improve your skills. With time and effort, you will find that subordinating conjunctions become a natural and integral part of your communication.
In summary, subordinating conjunctions are more than just connectors; they are essential elements that bring depth and clarity to your language. Whether you are writing an academic paper, crafting a story, or engaging in conversation, the proper use of subordinating conjunctions will enhance your ability to express complex ideas and relationships. So, dive in, practice, and watch your language skills soar to new heights!
