Subordinating Clause

This post will be introducing you to a Complex Sentence with Subordinating Clause. In this post, we are going to know about these three contents:

• Complex Sentence
• Subordinating Conjunction
• Subordinating Clause

Video of Subordinating Clause – English subtitle

Complex Sentence

For the purpose of this post, we will consider complex sentences as those with more than one idea. When you want to deliver more than one idea, you need Conjunction. These conjunctions will connect your sentences. And based on different conjunctions, we have different kinds of sentences from complex to compoundo nes.

With the use of conjunctions, you may convey your idea more articulately. Besides, by using conjunctions (such as subordinating ones), you will increase your IELTS. How? It is because you can increase your grammatical range and accuracy.

Subordinating Conjunction

Subordinating Conjunctions are those helping us to connect our ideas. The following sentences are examples of Subordinating Conjunctions:

Although he is tired, he goes to school.

I don’t eat because he is tired.

He will go when he likes it.

While we are here, they are there.

There are numerous subordinating conjunctions in English, each of which has a unique meaning. That said, let’s just focus on some particular words:

 

1. TIME

   • When=once=as:
     when he goes, I go
   • Whenever:
     whenever she cries, he’s sad
   • As soon as = by the time:
     as soon as he goes, I go
   • While:
     while he is eating, she is dancing.
   • Since:
     since she’s gone, he never smile
   • Until = till:
     we think we understand the lesson until she teaches us.
   • Before: / After
     after he leaves, let’s leave

2. REASON

   • Because=as=since=now that:
     I’m having a long vacation now that school is over.
   • In that = inasmuch as:
     Inasmuch as he has murdered him, now it is time she paid the price.

3. CONDITION

   • As long as = so long as = provided (that) = providing (that):
     Providing you do homework, you will be good at it.
   • In case = if = on the condition that:
     In case it rains, bring an umbrella with you.
   • Unless:
     Unless you don’t come home early, your mom will be pleased.

4. PURPOSE

   • So that = In order that:
     I study English so that I can travel around the world.

5. CONCESSION

   • Although=though=even though:
     Although it is raining, I still go to school.

6. CONTRAST

   • While = Whereas:
     Where he is a teacher, I am a student.
   • Whilst (formal):
     Whilst the pie chart shows the number of people in the world, the bar chart indicates the number of death people around the world.

Subordinating Clause and Complex Sentence

This part is relatively easy. Any sentence with Subordinating Conjunction at front can become a subordinating clause. However, don’t use many ideas to make the sentence too complicated:

• When I come, he has already gone.
• Because when he goes, nobody looks at him, he feel sad.
• Although when he finished, he didn’t tell anyone, when he got out, everybody knows.

The underlined parts above are Subordinating Clauses. The more ideas you add into your sentence, the more complicated it may become.

And one more thing to remember, subordinating clause CANNOT stand alone:

• I come home.
  This is a complete sentence, can stand alone!
• When I come home.
  Now it becomes a Subordinating Clause, and it CANNOT stand alone!
• When I come home, he’s gone.
  This Complex Sentence with a Subordinating Clause and a Complete Sentence can stand alone!

Practice writing sentences with Subordinating Clauses:

Now I’ll give you some sentences. Please use the suitable subordinating conjunctions to connect them:

• I can’t do homework.
  I feel tired.
• We should protect the environment.
  We live on it.
• You have a possession of a great amount of money.
  It is true that almost nobody will look down on you.
• To many, love is considered a sound success.
  To others, money is their final goals.

 

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