Subordinating Conjunctions

• The horse and carriage will be gone if you are late. .

Table of Contents

• A List of Common Subordinating Conjunctions
• Easy Examples of Subordinating Conjunctions
• Find the Subordinating Conjunction Test
• Real-Life Examples of Subordinating Conjunctions
• More Examples Showing the Role of Subordinating Conjunctions
• Why Subordinating Conjunctions Are Important
• Test Time!

When a sentence has a main clause (an independent clause) and at least one subordinate clause, it is known as a complex sentence.

A List of Common Subordinating Conjunctions

• after, although, as, as soon as, because, before, by the time, even if, even though, every time, if, in case, in order that, in the event that, just in case, now that, once, only if, provided that, rather than, since, so that, than, that, though, until, when, whenever, where, whereas, wherever, whether, whether or not, while, why

Easy Examples of Subordinating Conjunctions

• Keep your hand on the wound until the bleeding stops . (The subordinate clause sets a time.)
• Steve will sleep wherever there's a bed . (The subordinate clause sets a place.)
• She left early because Tony arrived with his new girlfriend . (The subordinate clause sets a reason.)
• If it rains , the bet is off. (The subordinate clause sets a condition.)

• Even though she has no money , she will still look a million dollars. (The subordinate clause sets a concession. Concession is an unusual concept when you first encounter it. The subordinate clauses of concession are "even though," "although," and "though.")
• I will succeed whereas you will fail. (The subordinate clause sets a comparison.)

Find the Subordinating Conjunction Test

Real-Life Examples of Subordinating Conjunctions

• I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set , I go into the other room and read a book. (Comedian Groucho Marx) (The subordinate clause establishes a time for the main clause.)
• Wherever the art of medicine is loved , there is also a love of humanity. (Greek physician Hippocrates) (The subordinate clause establishes a place for the main clause.)
• People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs . (The subordinate clause establishes a reason for the main clause.)
• Man is ready to die for an idea, provided that idea is not quite clear to him . (Author Paul Eldridge) (The subordinate clause establishes a condition for the main clause.)
• I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught . (Sir Winston Churchill) (The subordinate clause establishes a concession for the main clause.)
• Everyone else my age is an adult whereas I am merely in disguise . (Poet Margaret Atwood) (The subordinate clause establishes a comparison for the main clause.)

More Examples Showing the Role of Subordinating Conjunctions

Here are some more examples of subordinating conjunctions in sentences. Remember that the role of the subordinating conjunction and subordinate clause is to establish a time, a place, a reason, a condition, or a concession for the main clause. This means the clauses in bold are all functioning as adverbs. They're all adverbial clauses.

Why Subordinating Conjunctions Are Important

As a native English speaker, you don't need to worry about whether your subordinating conjunction is heading up a clause that establishes a time, a place, a reason, a condition, or a concession. You'll do that bit naturally.

The most common question related to subordinating conjunctions is whether to offset the subordinate clause with a comma or not. Here's the guidance.

(Point 1) Put a comma after a fronted adverbial clause.

• If you shoot at mimes , should you use a silencer? (Comedian Steven Wright)
• Now that I'm over sixty , I'm veering toward respectability. (Actress Shelley Winters)

(Point 2) Don't use a comma if your adverbial clause is at the back.

• Should you use a silencer if you shoot at mimes ?
• I'm veering toward respectability now that I'm over sixty .

• Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons . (Film director Woody Allen)
• Man is ready to die for an idea, provided that idea is not quite clear to him .

Okay, let's complicate the issue a bit. The rule that states "drop the comma when your adverbial clause ends a sentence" is not really a rule. In fact, the rule for post-positioned adverbial clauses (as they're called) is the same as for post-positioned adjective clauses. In other words, use a comma if the adverbial clause is nonessential (i.e., you'd happily put it in brackets or delete it). The problem is that it's flippin' way more difficult to decide whether an adverbial clause is essential or nonessential than it is with an adjective clause. As the vast majority of adverbial clauses are essential, it's pretty safe, but not entirely safe, to declare that a post-positioned adverbial clause isn't preceded by a comma. Read more about using commas with post-positioned adverbial clauses.

Key Points

• If your subordinate conjunction heads up a clause at the start of your sentence , offset the clause with a comma.
• Don't use a comma if your subordinate conjunction heads up a clause at the back of your sentence , unless you need to put some distance between the subordinate clause and the main clause .

This page was written by Craig Shrives.