What Is a Subordinating Conjunction A conjunction is
What Is a Subordinating Conjunction? A conjunction is a word that joins two parts of a sentence together. Parts of sentences are called clauses. A subordinating conjunction is a special conjunction. It still links two clauses together in a sentence, but the subordinate clause it adds does not make sense on its own. Let’s look at a few examples: I will be late if I don’t get on the next bus. Main Clause. Subordinating Conjunction Subordinate Clause ‘I will be late’ is the main clause (the main part of the sentence). This clause makes sense on its own. The subordinating conjunction in this sentence is ‘if’. It starts the subordinate clause. Remember, conjunctions join two sentence parts together. ‘if I don’t get on the next bus’ is the subordinate clause. This doesn’t make sense on its own but does add extra information to the main clause.
Now that we’ve learnt about why we have subordinating conjunctions. . . Here’s an easy way to remember which conjunctions are ‘subordinating’! It’s as easy as…
A WHITE BUS!
A WHITE BUS… …is an acronym to help you remember the first letters of some of the most important subordinating conjunctions.
Next Steps A WHITE BUS! Can you spot the subordinate clause and the subordinating conjunction in this sentence? The eager pupils sped into school when the bell rang.
Next Steps Can you spot the subordinate clause and the subordinating conjunction in this sentence? Whales give birth to live young as they are mammals.
Next Steps Can you spot the subordinate clause and the subordinating conjunction in this sentence? The hopeless rugby team lost the game because they hadn’t trained.
Next Steps In the sentences we have looked at so far, the subordinate clause has always come after the main clause but watch. . . When thepupils bell rang, The eager sped the intoeager school pupils school. whensped the into bell rang.
Next Steps When the bell rang, the eager pupils sped into school. Subordinating conjunctions can also be used as the first word in a sentence!
Practise Your Skills Now, it’s your turn. Which subordinating conjunction would fit best at the start of this subordinate clause? Is there more than one possibility? I am sending you a letter I am your biggest fan.
Practise Your Skills Now, it’s your turn. Which subordinating conjunction would fit best at the start of this subordinate clause? Is there more than one possibility? I eat lunch, I am going to an important meeting.
Practise Your Skills Now, it’s your turn. Which subordinating conjunction would fit best at the start of this subordinate clause? Is there more than one possibility? he was thrown from his saddle, Henry was wary of riding his horse.
Let’s Play Can you use different subordinating conjunctions accurately in sentences about certain topics? Spin the two spinners to give you a topic and a subordinating conjunction. Write your sentences down. Spin
Quick Quiz: Question 1 Can you spot the subordinating conjunctions in these sentences? a) Until she tried, Daphne didn’t know that she could whistle. b) Heavy snow poured from the skies while the children made a snowman. c) Although it was expensive, the couple enjoyed their meal at the award-winning restaurant.
Quick Quiz: Question 2 Complete the sentences below by writing the subordinating conjunctions from the box in the correct places to form complex sentences. Use each conjunction only once. a) b) c) The greenhouse got smashed playing football. the house. the boys were they were in trouble, they had to go inside they were well-behaved, they could have their ball back next week.
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