What is a Subordinating Conjunction?

- Subordinating conjunctions are parts of speech that join dependent clauses to

independent clauses.

Subordinating conjunctions are essential parts of complex

sentences with include at least two clauses, with one of the
clauses being main (independent) and the other being
subordinate (dependent).
There is only one rule to remember about using subordinate conjunctions:

A subordinate conjunction performs two functions within a sentence.

First, it illustrates the importance of the independent clause.
Second, it provides a transition between two ideas in the same sentence.

The transition always indicates a place, time, or cause and effect

relationship.

For example: We looked in the metal canister, where Ginger often hides
her candy.
Examples of Subordinating Conjunctions

In the following examples, the subordinating conjunctions are in bold for

easy identification:

1. As Sherri blew out the candles atop her birthday cake, she caught her
hair on fire.

2. Sara begins to sneeze whenever she opens the window to get a breath
of fresh air.

3. When the doorbell rang, my dog Skeeter barked loudly.

Subordinating Conjunctions List

There are many subordinating conjunctions. This list contains 25

of those most commonly used.
After Although As As soon as
Because Before By the time
Even if Even though Every time
If In case Now that
Once Since So that
Than The first time Unless
Until When Whenever
Whether or not While Why
Using Subordinating Conjunctions
In English, there are a lot of subordinating conjunctions. Let's take a
look at the most common ones, along with a few examples from some
classic songs:

•After - "Your heart will break like mine, and you'll want only me after
you've gone" (Ella Fitzgerald)
•Although - "Although I've been here before, he's just too hard to
ignore" (Amy Winehouse)
•As - "As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a
look at my life and realize there's nothing left" (Coolio)
•As long as - "I don't care who you are, where you're from or what
you did as long as you love me" (Backstreet Boys)
•Because - "I'm everything I am because you loved me" (Celine
Dion)
•Before - "Just call me angel of the morning, angel. Just touch my
cheek before you leave me, baby" (Juice Newton)
•Even if - "Even if the sky is falling down, you'll be my only" (Jay
Sean)
•If - "If you leave me now, you'll take away the biggest part of me"
(Chicago)
•Once - "Once in a blue moon, something good comes along." (Van
Morrison)
•Now that - "Baby, now that I've found you, I won't let you go" (Tony
Macaulay/John MacLeod)
•Since - "I guess I'll never be the same since I fell for you" (B.B. King)
•Though - "Walk on through the rain though your dreams be tossed and
blown" (Rodgers and Hammerstein)

•Unless - "We're never going to survive unless we get a little crazy"

(Seal)

•Until - "I'll keep on dreaming until my dreams come true." (Charlie

Louvin)
•When - "When I see you smile, I can face the world" (Bad English)
•Where - "There's a light burning bright, showing me the way, but I
know where I've been" (Scott Wittman)
•While - "I look at the world, and I notice it's turning while my guitar
gently weeps" (The Beatles)
 You'll notice that when a dependent clause
precedes an independent clause, there's a comma
between the two, indicating the beginning of the
independent clause. However, when the independent
clause comes first, there's usually no need to separate
the two clauses with a comma.
Subordinating Conjunction Exercises
The following exercises will help you gain greater understanding about how
subordinating conjunctions work. Choose the best answer to complete each
sentence.
1._________ the basement flooded, we spent all day cleaning up.
a. After b. Although c. Before d. Even if
2. I don’t want to go to the movies _____________ I hate the smell of popcorn.
a. Although b. Because c. Wheneverd. So that
3. I paid Larry, ___________ garden design work is top-notch.
a. Whenever b. Whose c. After d. If
4. ___________ spring arrives, we have to be prepared for more snow.
a. Because b. Until c. Although d. Now that
5._____________ the alarm goes off, I hit the snooze button.
a. As soon as b. Because c. Before d. Now that