SUBORDINATORS

A subordinate or dependent clause is a clause, which adds more information to a sentence

but is incomplete and not a sentence on its own. It functions like a noun, adverb or
adjective. Subordinate clauses cannot stand alone as complete sentences. You must connect
them to main clauses to finish the thought. It does not express a complete thought, so it
does not stand-alone. It must always be attached to a main clause that completes the
meaning. They are sometimes called dependent clauses because they "depend" on a main
clause to give them meaning.

Use subordination to combine ideas effectively. Writers use subordination to combine two
ideas in a single sentence. Read these two simple sentences:
Rhonda gasped. A six-foot snake slithered across the sidewalk.
Since the two simple sentences are related, you can combine them to express the action
more effectively:
Rhonda gasped when a six-foot snake slithered across the sidewalk.
If the two ideas have unequal importance, save the most important one for the end of the
sentence so that your reader remembers it best. If we rewrite the example above so that the
two ideas are flipped, the wrong point gets emphasized:
When a six-foot snake slithered across the side walk, Rhonda gasped.
A reader is less concerned with Rhonda's reaction than the presence of a giant snake on the
sidewalk!

A subordinate clause will follow this pattern:

subordinate conjunction + subject + verb = incomplete thought.
Here are some examples:
Whenever lazy students whine
Whenever = subordinate conjunction; students = subject; whine = verb.
As cola spilled over the glass and splashed onto the counter
As = subordinate conjunction; cola = subject; spilled, splashed = verbs.
Because my dog loves pizza crusts
Because = subordinate conjunction; dog = subject; loves = verb.
The important point to remember about subordinate clauses is that they can never stand
alone as complete sentences. To complete the thought, you must attach each subordinate
clause to a main clause. Generally, the punctuation looks like this:
main clause + Ø + subordinate clause.
subordinate clause + , + main clause.

Check out these revisions to the subordinate clauses above:

Whenever lazy students whine, Mrs. Russell throws chalk erasers at their heads.

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 Anthony ran for the paper towels as cola spilled over the glass and splashed onto
the counter.
Because my dog loves pizza crusts, he never barks at the deliveryman.

Subordinators have an interesting effect on words in a sentence. A clause (S +V) without a

subordinator can stand alone as a complete statement.
A subordinate clause—also called a dependent clause—will begin with a subordinate
conjunction or a relative pronoun and will contain both a subject and a verb. This
combination of words will not form a complete sentence. It will instead make a reader want
additional information to finish the thought.

Here is a list of subordinate conjunctions:

after once until
although provided that when
as rather than whenever
because since where
before so that whereas
even if than wherever
even though that whether
if though while
in order that unless why

Here are your relative pronouns:

that who whose
which whoever whosever
whichever whom whomever

Now take a look at these examples:

After Amy sneezed all over the tuna salad
After = subordinate conjunction; Amy = subject; sneezed = verb.
Once Adam smashed the spider
Once = subordinate conjunction; Adam = subject; smashed = verb.
Until Mr. Sanchez has his first cup of coffee
Until = subordinate conjunction; Mr. Sanchez = subject; has = verb.
Who ate handfuls of Cheerios with his bare hands
Who = relative pronoun; Who = subject; ate = verb.

Remember this important point: A subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a sentence
because it does not provide a complete thought. The reader is left wondering, "So what
happened?" A word group that begins with a capital letter and ends with a period must

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contain at least one main clause. Otherwise, you will have written a fragment, a major
error.
After Amy sneezed all over the tuna salad.
So what happened? Did Amy throw it down the garbage disposal or serve it on toast
to her friends? No complete thought = fragment.
Once Adam smashed the spider.
So what happened? Did someone cheer him for his bravery or lecture him on animal
rights? No complete thought = fragment.
Until Mr. Sanchez has his first cup of coffee.
So what happens? Is he too sleepy to work, or does he have a grumpy disposition?
No complete thought = fragment.
Who ate handfuls of Cheerios with his bare hands.
So what happened? Were the roommates shocked, or did they ask him to pass the
box so that they could do the same? No complete thought = fragment.

Correctly attach a subordinate clause to a main clause.

When you attach a subordinate clause in front of a main clause, use a comma, like this:
subordinate clause + , + main clause.

Even though the broccoli was covered in cheddar cheese, Emily refused to eat it.
Unless Christine finishes her calculus homework, she will have to suffer Mr. Nguyen's
wrath in class tomorrow.
While Bailey slept on the sofa in front of the television, Samson, the family dog, gnawed
on the leg of the coffee table.

When you attach a subordinate clause at the end of a main clause, you will generally use no
punctuation, like this:
main clause + Ø + subordinate clause.

Tanya did poorly on her history exam Ø because her best friend Giselle insisted on
gossiping during their study session the night before.
Jonathon spent his class time reading comic books Ø since his average was a 45 one
week before final exams.
Diane decided to plant tomatoes in the back of the yard Ø where the sun blazed the
longest during the day.

Punctuate carefully when the subordinate clause begins with a relative pronoun.

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Subordinate clauses can begin with relative pronouns [and thus are called relative clauses, a
type of subordinate clause]. When a subordinate clause starts with who, whose, or which,
for example, punctuation gets a little bit trickier. Sometimes you will need a comma, and
sometimes you won't, depending on whether the clause is essential or nonessential.
When the information in the relative clause clarifies an otherwise general noun, the clause
is essential and will follow the same pattern that you saw above:
main clause + Ø + essential relative clause.

Nick gave a handful of potato chips to the dog Ø who was sniffing around the picnic tables.
Dog is a general noun. Which one are we talking about? The relative clause who was
sniffing around the picnic tables clarifies the animal that we mean. The clause is thus
essential and requires no punctuation.

When a relative clause follows a specific noun, punctuation changes. The information in
the relative clause is no longer as important, and the clause becomes nonessential.

Nonessential clauses require you to use commas to connect them.

main clause + , + nonessential relative clause.

Nick gave a handful of potato chips to Button , who was sniffing around the picnic tables.
Button, the name of a unique dog, lets us know which animal we mean. The information in
the relative clause is no longer important and needs to be separated from the main clause
with a comma.

Relative clauses can also interrupt a main clause. When this happens, use no punctuation
for an essential clause. If the clause is nonessential, separate it with a comma in front and a
comma behind. Take a look at these examples:

After dripping mustard all over his chest, the man Ø who was wearing a red shirt Ø
wished that he had instead chosen ketchup for his hotdog.
After dripping mustard all over his chest, Charles, who was wearing a red shirt, wished
that he had instead chosen ketchup for his hotdog.

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect."
(Mark Twain)

"When I'm good, I'm very, very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better."
(Mae West, I'm No Angel)

"Memory is deceptive because it is colored by today's events."

(Albert Einstein)

"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich."
(John F. Kennedy)

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"Every book is a children's book if the kid can read." (Mitch Hedberg)

Although Ramonita often thought about joining the choir, she never talked to her friends
about it.

Ramonita never talked to her friends about joining the choir, because she was afraid they
would make fun of her.

Yasmin is Ramonita's sister. Yasmin told Ramonita to join the choir no matter what her
friends said.

I wonder if it will rain today.

They wanted a promise that no one would be punished.

That no one believed me was not a surprise.

They saw nobody they knew.

This has been going on for so long that it 's not even news anymore.

We won the match even though Frances couldn't play.

He told me his secret because he trusted me.

While I was driving, I noticed the leaves had begun to turn autumn colours.

I went out because the sun was shining.

As
1. because: As he is my friend, I will help him.
2. when: We watched as the plane took off.

After
1. later in time: After the train left, we went home.

Although or though
1. in spite of the fact that: Although it was after midnight, we did not feel tired.

Before
1. earlier than: I arrived before the stores were open.

Because
1. for the reason that: We had to wait, because we arrived early.

For
1. for, because: He is happy, for he enjoys his work.

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If
1. on condition that: If she is here, we will see her.

Lest
1. for fear that: I watched closely, lest he make a mistake.
Note the use of the Subjunctive Mood in the clause with lest.

Providing or provided
1. on condition that: All will be well, providing you are careful.

Since
1. from a past time: I have been here since the sun rose.
2. as, because: Since you are here, you can help me.

So or so that
1. consequently: It was raining, so we did not go out.
2. in order that: I am saving money so I can buy a bicycle.
Note: When used with the meaning in order that, so is usually followed by that in formal
English.
e.g. I am saving money so that I can buy a bicycle.

Supposing
1. if: Supposing that happens, what will you do?

Than
1. used in comparisons: He is taller than you are.

Unless
1. except when, if not: Unless he helps us, we cannot succeed.

Until or till
1. up to the time when: I will wait until I hear from you.

Whereas
1. because: Whereas this is a public building, it is open to everyone.
2. on the other hand: He is short, whereas you are tall.

Whether
1. if: I do not know whether she was invited.

While
1. at the time when: While it was snowing, we played cards.
2. on the other hand: He is rich, while his friend is poor.
3. although: While I am not an expert, I will do my best.

In addition, the following phrases are often used at the beginning of subordinate clauses.

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As if
1. in a similar way: She talks as if she knows everything.

As long as
1. if: As long as we cooperate, we can finish the work easily.
2. while: He has lived there as long as I have known him.

As soon as
1. immediately when: Write to me as soon as you can.

As though
1. in a similar way: It looks as though there will be a storm.

Even if
1. in spite of a possibility: I am going out even if it rains.

In case
1. because of a possibility: Take a sweater in case it gets cold.

Or else
1. otherwise: Please be careful, or else you may have an accident.

So as to
1. in order to: I hurried so as to be on time.

The door opened because the man pushed it.

I wondered whether the homework was necessary.
They will visit you before they go to the airport.
Before they go to the airport, they will visit you.