In the journey of mastering the English language, understanding how to create complex sentences is crucial. One of the key elements in forming these intricate structures is the use of subordinating conjunctions. These little words and phrases might seem insignificant, but they play a vital role in adding depth and clarity to your sentences. In this article, we will delve into what subordinating conjunctions are, their importance in English grammar, and how to use them effectively.
What Are Subordinating Conjunctions?
Subordinating conjunctions are words or phrases that connect an independent clause with a dependent (or subordinate) clause. An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, while a dependent clause cannot. By linking these two types of clauses, subordinating conjunctions help to show the relationship between them, such as cause and effect, contrast, condition, or time.
Some common subordinating conjunctions include:
– Because
– Although
– Since
– If
– When
– While
– After
– Before
– Even though
– Unless
The Importance of Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions are essential for several reasons:
1. **Creating Complex Sentences**: They allow you to combine simple sentences into more complex and nuanced ones. This not only makes your writing more interesting but also helps to convey more precise meanings.
2. **Showing Relationships**: Subordinating conjunctions help to show the relationship between different ideas or events. For example, “because” indicates cause and effect, while “although” shows contrast.
3. **Adding Depth and Clarity**: By linking clauses, subordinating conjunctions add depth to your writing. They help to clarify the relationship between different pieces of information, making your writing more coherent and easier to understand.
Examples and Usage
To better understand how subordinating conjunctions work, let’s look at some examples and their usage.
1. **Cause and Effect**:
– “I didn’t go to the party because I was tired.”
– “She studied hard so that she could pass the exam.”
2. **Contrast**:
– “Although it was raining, we decided to go for a hike.”
– “He continued to work even though he was feeling unwell.”
3. **Condition**:
– “You can go out to play if you finish your homework.”
– “Unless you start saving, you won’t have enough money for the trip.”
4. **Time**:
– “I will call you when I arrive.”
– “She had already left before I got there.”
Position in Sentences
Subordinating conjunctions can appear at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. When they appear at the beginning, the dependent clause comes first, followed by a comma, and then the independent clause. For example:
– “Because I was tired, I didn’t go to the party.”
– “Although it was raining, we decided to go for a hike.”
When the subordinating conjunction appears in the middle, no comma is needed:
– “I didn’t go to the party because I was tired.”
– “We decided to go for a hike although it was raining.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using subordinating conjunctions correctly can be tricky. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:
1. **Run-On Sentences**: Combining too many independent clauses without proper punctuation or conjunctions can lead to run-on sentences. Make sure to use subordinating conjunctions to link clauses appropriately.
2. **Misplaced Commas**: Remember that when the dependent clause comes first, a comma should follow it. However, when the independent clause comes first, no comma is needed.
3. **Incomplete Sentences**: A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. Ensure that it is always linked to an independent clause.
Advanced Usage
Once you are comfortable with basic subordinating conjunctions, you can start exploring more advanced usage. Here are a few tips to help you:
1. **Vary Your Conjunctions**: Instead of always using the same conjunctions, try to vary them to make your writing more interesting. For example, instead of always using “because,” you could use “since” or “as.”
2. **Combine Multiple Clauses**: You can use multiple subordinating conjunctions to combine more than two clauses. For example: “Although it was raining, we decided to go for a hike because we needed the exercise.”
3. **Use Conjunctions for Emphasis**: Some subordinating conjunctions can be used to add emphasis to your writing. For example, “even though” adds more emphasis than “although.”
Exercises for Practice
To help you master subordinating conjunctions, here are some exercises you can try:
1. **Fill in the Blanks**: Complete the following sentences with the appropriate subordinating conjunction:
– “I will wait here ___ you finish your meeting.”
– “She didn’t attend the event ___ she was feeling unwell.”
– “___ it was a difficult task, he managed to complete it on time.”
2. **Combine Sentences**: Combine the following pairs of sentences using subordinating conjunctions:
– “The weather was bad. We decided to stay indoors.”
– “He didn’t study. He failed the exam.”
– “She was late. She missed the bus.”
3. **Rewrite Sentences**: Rewrite the following sentences, changing the position of the subordinating conjunction:
– “Because it was raining, we stayed home.”
– “If you finish your homework, you can go out to play.”
– “Although he was tired, he continued to work.”
Answers
1. **Fill in the Blanks**:
– “I will wait here until you finish your meeting.”
– “She didn’t attend the event because she was feeling unwell.”
– “Although it was a difficult task, he managed to complete it on time.”
2. **Combine Sentences**:
– “Since the weather was bad, we decided to stay indoors.”
– “Because he didn’t study, he failed the exam.”
– “Although she was late, she missed the bus.”
3. **Rewrite Sentences**:
– “We stayed home because it was raining.”
– “You can go out to play if you finish your homework.”
– “He continued to work although he was tired.”
Conclusion
Mastering subordinating conjunctions is a crucial step in becoming proficient in English. These small but mighty words help to create complex sentences, show relationships between ideas, and add depth and clarity to your writing. By understanding how to use them correctly and practicing regularly, you can enhance your language skills and become a more effective communicator. So, don’t be afraid to experiment with different subordinating conjunctions and see how they can transform your writing!
