What Are Subordinating Conjunctions?
A subordinating conjunction joins an independent (main) clause with a dependent (subordinate) clause.
Subordinate Clause
Subordinate Conjunctions: Functions
Subordinate conjunctions provide a link between two ideas in the same sentence. This link always expresses a place, time, or cause-and-effect relationship.
He'll call you
Most Common Subordinate Conjunctions
The subordinating conjunctions link two clauses to express:
- Cause and effect
- Concession and contrasting
- Conditional
- Time
- Place
Cause and Effect
'Cause and effect conjunctions' are used to express why an event happens or what is the result of an event. Every conjunction that can be used with the same function is placed into this group. The most common cause and effect conjunctions are:
She hugged me
Time
The subordinating conjunctions that are used to indicate a transition in time are called 'time conjunctions.' Here are the most famous ones:
Concession and Contrasting
'Concession and contrasting conjunctions' indicate that something has happened in spite of a hurdle. Every conjunction that can imply the same concept is considered a concession conjunction. The most common contrasting subordinating conjunctions are:
I will go abroad
Place
'Subordinating place conjunctions' are used to refer to a place. Every single conjunction that can reflect a place is considered a place conjunction. Here are the most common ones.
- Where
- Wherever
- Everywhere
- Anywhere
I will take you
I went to Chicago
Conditional
'Conditional conjunctions' are used to express the condition that needs to happen for something else to occur. Every term or phrase which is used with the same function is considered the conditional conjunction. For example:
Review
Subordinate Conjunctions
Subordinate conjunctions are words that are used to indicate subordinate clauses and they are put at the first of them. Subordinate conjunctions also are used to connect the independent clause to the dependant clause. So that they can complete the meaning of the whole sentence.
The most commonly used subordinate conjunctions in English are:
1. Because/Since/As | 5. As long as |
2. Before/After | 6. Unless |
3. Once/When/While | 7. Where |
4. Although/Though/Even though | 8. If/Even if |