Understanding subordinating conjunctions

What is a subordinating conjunction?

A subordinating conjunction is a word or phrase that links a dependent clause to an independent clause. Simple, right?

Now let’s back up and get into what all that means:

• Dependent clauses are a group of words that contain a subject and a verb but do not express a complete thought. They’re also called subordinate clauses because they depend on independent clauses to form a complete idea.
• Independent clauses are complete thoughts and can stand independently as sentences.

A subordinating conjunction is used to link these two kinds of clauses and show the relationship between them. These words can show cause and effect, or an adjustment to time or place.

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Here’s an example of these three sentence parts in action: I went for a ride in the new car that my father gave me for my birthday. In this example, the independent clause is “I went for a ride in the new car” because it can be a sentence all by itself. The dependent clause, “my father gave me for my birthday,” can’t stand alone and supports the independent clause. The two clauses are connected by the subordinating conjunction, “that,” which binds them together and creates a more complex thought.

Using subordinating conjunctions for different purposes

A subordinating conjunction is used when two clauses within a sentence are not of equal weight: when one clause supports or provides additional information for the other. But even though this overall use remains the same, there are specific ways subordinating conjunctions can function within a complex sentence:

• Making a comparison. When the two clauses within a sentence are set up in a way that implies comparison, a subordinating conjunction can help establish this. For example: “My brother would eat pancakes for every meal, whereas my sister finds them too sweet.” Other comparative subordinate conjunctions include “than,” “rather than,” “instead of,” “whether,” “although,” and “as much as.”
• Making a concession. These subordinating conjunctions indicate that there has been an obstacle to a main clause. They include “lest,” “though,” “even though,” and “although.” You might see them used in a sentence like this: “Although she was suffering from a head cold, she still managed to win the race.”
• Marking time. Clauses within a sentence can help establish whether something happened in the past or will happen in the future. Including subordinate conjunctions like “whenever,” “after,” and “until” helps to show how time shapes the relationship between two clauses.
• Showing cause and effect. This may be the most common use for subordinate conjunctions in writing. When one clause has a direct effect on the outcome of the other, you’ll want to use conjunctions that show a reason like “because,” “since,” “hence,” “so,” “so that,” “lest,” “in order to,” and “as.”
• Providing a conditional scenario. Like cause and effect, subordinating conjunctions can show that something will only happen if certain conditions are met. These conjunctions like “even if” and “unless” include a caveat for the dependent clause. For example, you might say, “I’m not going to that restaurant unless I get my favorite booth.”
• Establishing a manner. These kinds of subordinate conjunctions speak to how an action or subject takes place. Use conjunctions like “as if” and “as though” to pair clauses and explain the way that something is happening. In the sentence, “He ran as if bees were after him” – “as if” tells how someone ran.
• Establishing a place. Reveal information about locations with subordinating conjunctions like “where” and “wherever.” It might be used in a sentence to indicate a kind of place like, “You’ll find me wherever the sun is shining.”

Other writing tips

Using subordinating conjunctions correctly in your writing is a great way to add depth to your sentences. Mastering grammar and sentence structure is an essential part of writing, but a virtual writing assistant like Microsoft Editor can help you catch mistakes and ensure that your writing is the best that it can be.