1. Subordinating clauses
AwUBIS add-ons
Subordinating clauses

2. Subordinate clause Is an add-on to a sentence that already exists
Has extra information that relates to the main sentence
Creates a NEW INFO + KNOWN INFO situation
KNOWN = main sentence; NEW = subordinate clause

3. Order is important and has punctuation rules
New and known order
Order is important and has punctuation rules
1. KNOWN INFO followed by NEW INFO needs no punctuation. This is the usual way we write.
Ex: My brother actually drove the family car for about a block when he was four years old.
2. NEW INFO introducing KNOWN info must have a comma at the end of the NEW INFO.
Ex: When he was only four years old, my brother actually drove the family car about a block.

4. Why Move/change the order?
To create tension and make the reader wait for the key idea.
To create a transition from previous sentence or paragraph
To make the reader notice. If you interrupt the usual order, the change adds stress and details to the idea you want to reinforce.
What is the impact on the subject brother when you move the subordinate clause?

5. AWUBIS phrases
A sentence opener or closer (dependent clause) beginning with an AWUBIS word (subordinating conjunction). An AWUBIS phrase is NOT a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. It must always be paired with a real sentence (complete thought) and will add more details to the original sentence.

6. Meet Awubis KEY Letter Catch phrase letter Catch Phrase A After As if
Although As long as
As As soon as
(just) as As though B
Because
Before W
When Whereas
Whenever Wherever
Where While I
If in case
If only in order to/that U
Unless
Until S
Since So
So that

7. The when and why of AWUbis
Time:
Concession:
When, whenever, after, as, before, once, since, till, until, now that, while, as long as, as soon as
Contingency:
Though, although, even though, is, while
Condition:
If, once
Reason:
If, in case, as long as, unless, provided that, because, since as long as
Result:
So, so that
Comparison:
As, just as, as if
Contrast:
While, whereas

8. Awubis in action
Complex sentence: After I finish my homework, I plan to spend the evening relaxing. Complex/compound sentence: Because I stayed up so late, I’m extremely tired this morning, and I feel grumpy.

9. Punctuating awubis
When AWUBIS is a sentence opener, use comma after the dependent clause. Ex: Because I stayed up so late, I’m extremely tired this morning, and I feel grumpy. You will not usually need a comma when the AWUBIS follows the main sentence. Ex: I’m extremely tired this morning because I stayed up so late last night.