Subordinating Conjunctions create dependent clauses, which must be connected to independent clauses
Subordinating Conjunction Clauses All clauses have a subject and a verb Dependent clauses cannot stand alone Ex: before Nate left on his trip Independent clauses can stand alone as a complete sentence. Ex: Nate left on his trip. Subordinating Conjunction
List of Subordinating Conjunctions after although as because before even though if, even if in order to once provided that since so that (or implied that) though unless until when, whenever where, wherever, whereas whether while
Punctuating with subordinate conjunctions When the subordinating conjunction begins the sentence, place a comma after the dependent clause. No comma is used when the subordinating conjunction follows the independent clause.
Examples The tree will fall over unless we replace the top soil. Unless we replace the top soil, the tree will fall over. Whenever Jessica flips her hair, all the boys in the class lose their focus. All the boys in the class lose their focus whenever Jessica flips her hair.
Practice Write one sentence beginning with a subordinating conjunction. Write another sentence with the subordinating conjunction in the middle of the sentence separating the two clauses.