Subordination: Combining Sentences when one is less important

WHY??? Another strategy for combining sentences and a pattern to help us remember correct punctuation. Sentence combining is important because it creates variety of sentence lengths and types, making our writing more interesting for our reader. Sentence combining gets rid of repetition, making our writing more concise.

To make a subordinate clause, you take a regular sentence and put a subordinating conjunction in front of it. Subordinator + Sentence = Subordinate Clause (which means that it can no longer stand on its own and must be “attached” to another sentence)

Subordinators (a partial list) Although Even though While Because Since As When Whenever Once Before After Until Where Unless Provided that

Because + I am a kid at heart. (Subordinator)+(Sentence)=Subordinate Clause Subordinate clause (Because I am a kid at heart) is NO LONGER a sentence and must be attached to another sentence.

So we take our subordinate clause and attach it to another sentence… Because I am a kid at heart, I really get along well with kids. OR I really get along well with kids because I am a kid at heart.

What do we notice about punctuation? Subordinate Clause, Sentence. Sentence Subordinate Clause. (No comma)

Now you try it… Combine the two sentences using subordination. I will pay my bills on time. I receive my paycheck.

If I receive my paycheck, I will pay my bills on time.

For this reason, King Lear lost his kingdom and eventually his life. He was unable to tell the difference between real love and false love.

King Lear lost his kingdom and eventually his life because he was unable to tell the difference between real love and false love.

Homework: Complete worksheet.