##  [Subordinating conjunctions](/writing-tips-plus/subordinating-conjunctions)

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## On this page

- [What’s a subordinating conjunction?](#what)
- [How do you join clauses with a subordinating conjunction?](#how-join-clauses)
- [Example 1: Conjunction showing a time relationship](#time-relationship)
- [Example 2: Conjunction showing a cause-effect relationship](#cause-effect)
- [What are some common subordinating conjunctions?](#common)
- [How can you tell a subordinating conjunction from a preposition?](#preposition)
- [Additional information](#additional)

## What’s a subordinating conjunction?

The word **conjunction** comes from a Latin root meaning “join.” In grammar, a conjunction is a joining word. Different types of conjunctions join words, phrases or even clauses (word groups containing a subject and a verb).

A **subordinating conjunction** is a type of conjunction that joins two clauses of unequal value: a subordinate (or dependent) clause and the main (or independent) clause.

As you will see below, a subordinating conjunction

- makes its own clause dependent and unable to stand alone
- shows a relationship (time, cause, condition, etc.) between the idea in its own clause and the idea in the main clause

## How do you join clauses with a subordinating conjunction?

Consider these two clauses:

- Audrey lit up a cigarette.
- Henry grabbed the fire extinguisher.

These clauses are grammatically equal: they’re both independent clauses that make sense by themselves and can stand alone as sentences.

We can join these clauses into a single sentence, using a subordinating conjunction. The conjunction should be placed at the beginning of one of the clauses and should show a relationship between the ideas in the two clauses.

The examples below show how you might use different subordinating conjunctions to show two possible types of relationship between these two clauses: time and cause-effect.

### Example 1: Conjunction showing a time relationship

Since the two actions seem to be happening at about the same time, we could join the clauses using a subordinating conjunction that shows a time relationship, like **as** or **when**:

- As Audrey lit up a cigarette, Henry grabbed the fire extinguisher.
- When Audrey lit up a cigarette, Henry grabbed the fire extinguisher.

### Example 2: Conjunction showing a cause-effect relationship

Or, since Audrey’s smoking seems to have prompted Henry’s reaction, we could use a conjunction that shows a cause and effect relationship, like **because** or **since**:

- Because Audrey lit up a cigarette, Henry grabbed the fire extinguisher.
- Since Audrey lit up a cigarette, Henry grabbed the fire extinguisher.

**Note:** In all of these examples, the dependent clause can no longer stand alone. A statement like **When Audrey lit up a cigarette** or **Because Audrey lit up a cigarette** doesn’t make sense by itself.

For that reason, a subordinate clause **must** be joined to a main clause so that the two clauses form a single sentence. (Left by itself, a subordinate clause is a fragment, a common type of sentence error.)

## What are some common subordinating conjunctions?

The table below shows some of the most common subordinating conjunctions, grouped into categories according to the relationships they express.

In the examples, the subordinate clauses are in square brackets, and the conjunctions are in bold.

Table showing common subordinating conjunctions and the relationships they express, with examples
| Relationship | Conjunctions | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Cause and effect | - as - because - since | - \[**Because** Heinrich’s joints were creaking\], he oiled them. - We decided to leave, \[**since** it was so late\]. |
| Comparison | - as - than | - Marika works as fast \[**as** Silvana does\]. - Lacey ate perogies faster \[**than** Hank could count\]. |
| Condition (governing the action in the main clause) | - if - provided (that) - unless | - \[**If** you plot revenge\], be prepared to dig two graves. (Chinese proverb) - I’m not going \[**unless** Thabo comes with me\]. |
| Contrast | - although - even though - whereas - while | - \[**Even though** Samina watered her cactus regularly\], it didn’t thrive. |
| Manner (how | - as - as if - as though | - Sylvester looked \[**as if** he had swallowed a canary\]. - \[**As though** she had the eyes of an eagle\], Miigwan spotted us far below. |
| Place | - where - wherever | - Tell me \[**where** you have been\]. - \[**Wherever** a man goes to dwell\], his character goes with him. (African proverb) |
| Purpose | - in order that - so that | - Ayuko is learning to moonwalk \[**so that** she can become an astronaut\]. |
| Time | - after - as - before - once - since - till - until - when - while | - \[**Before** you go\], please sign our guestbook. - Greta’s letters have become less regular \[**since** she moved to Come-by-Chance\]. - \[**While** he was skiing\], Ernesto broke his leg. |
| Other | - that (used in a clause that functions as a noun) | - Because of her offer to lend him a toque, Jean-Louis suspected \[**that** Lauren didn’t like his new haircut\]. |

## How can you tell a subordinating conjunction from a preposition?

Some words that act as subordinating conjunctions (especially those expressing time) can also act as prepositions. You can tell whether they’re conjunctions or prepositions by the word group they introduce.

If they’re acting as prepositions, they introduce a phrase (a word group without a subject and verb):

- **after** work
- **before** closing time
- **since** our arrival
- **until** lunchtime

If they’re acting as subordinating conjunctions, they introduce a clause (a word group containing a subject and verb):

- **after** you get off work \[subject: you; verb: get off\]
- **before** the bank closes \[subject: bank; verb: closes\]
- **since** we arrived \[subject: we; verb: arrived\]
- **until** lunch is served \[subject: lunch; verb: is served\]

## Additional information

- The section “Subordinating conjunctions” in the [article "Conjunction"](/en/hypergrammar-2/what-is-a-conjunction) (HyperGrammar 2)
- [Adverb clause](adverb-clause)
- [Noun clause](noun-clause)

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