What Are Subordinating Conjunctions? (with Examples)

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions are used to link subordinate clauses (also known as a dependent clauses) to main clauses (also known as an independent clauses).

subordinating conjunction explanation

The role of a subordinating conjunction and the dependent clause is to establish a time, a place, a reason, a condition, a concession, or a comparison for the main clause.

Easy Examples of Subordinating Conjunctions

In each example below, the subordinating conjunction is in bold, and the subordinate clause is shaded. (The normal text is the main clause.)

Keep your hand on the wound until the bleeding stops.
Steve will sleep wherever there's a bed.
She left early because Tony arrived with his new girlfriend.
If it rains, the bet is off.
Even though she's skint, she'll still look a million dollars.
I will succeed whereas you will fail.

A subordinating conjunction provides a bridge between the main clause and the subordinate clause.

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A List of Common Subordinating Conjunctions

Here is a list of common subordinating conjunctions:

after
although
as
as soon as
because
before
by the time
even if
even though
every time
if
in case

in order that
in the event that
just in case
now that
once
only if
provided that
rather than
since
so that
than
that

though
until
when
whenever
where
whereas
wherever
whether
whether or not
while
why

The Function of a Subordinating Conjunction

When a sentence has an independent clause (main clause) and at least one dependent clause, it is known as a complex sentence. In a complex sentence, the dependent clause establishes a time, a place, a reason, a condition, a concession, or a comparison for the main clause. (The subordinating conjunction provides the bridge between the main clause and the dependent clause.)

Real-Life Examples of Subordinating Conjunctions

I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book. (Comedian Groucho Marx)
Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity. (Greek physician Hippocrates)
People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.
Man is ready to die for an idea, provided that idea is not quite clear to him. (Author Paul Eldridge)
I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught. (Sir Winston Churchill)
Everyone else my age is an adult whereas I am merely in disguise. (Poet Margaret Atwood)

With one dependent clause and one main clause, these are all complex sentences.

Read more about the different types of sentence.

Some More Examples of Subordinating Conjunctions

Below are some more examples of subordinating conjunctions in sentences. Remember that the role of the subordinating conjunction and subordinate clause is to establish a time, a place, a reason, a condition, or a concession for the main clause. This means the clauses in bold are all functioning as adverbs. They're all adverbial clauses.

Subordinating Conjunction	Category	Example
as	reason	As it's raining, I'm staying in.
because	reason	I'm staying in because it's raining.
in order that	reason	In order that I don't miss the postman, I'm staying in.
since	reason	Since you're going out, I'm staying in.
so that	reason	I'm staying in so that I don't miss the postman.
although	concession and comparison	I'm staying in although I'd rather go out.
as	concession and comparison	I'm staying in as you should.
even though	concession and comparison	I'm staying in even though the sun is out.
just as	concession and comparison	I'm staying in just as you should.
though	concession and comparison	I'm staying in though I wish I weren't.
whereas	concession and comparison	I'm staying in whereas you are going out.
while	concession and comparison	I'm staying in while you are going out.
even if	condition	Even if it rains, I'm going out.
if	condition	If it rains, I'm staying in.
in case	condition	I'm staying in in case it rains.
provided that	condition	Provided it doesn't rain, I'm going out.
unless	condition	I'm going out unless it rains.
where	place	I fish where the waves start to form.
wherever	place	I will live wherever the weather is good.
after	time	I'm going out after the football has finished.
as soon as	time	I'm going out as soon as the football has finished.
as long as	time	I'm staying out as long as the weather stays good.
before	time	I'm going out before the rain starts.
once	time	I'm going out once the football has finished.
till	time	I'm staying out till the weather turns bad.
until	time	I'm staying out until the weather turns bad.
when	time	I'm going out when the weather improves.
whenever	time	I go out whenever the weather is good.
while	time	I'll stay out while the weather is good.

Why Should I Care about Subordinating Conjunctions?

As a native English speaker, you don't need to worry about whether your subordinating conjunction is heading up a clause that establishes a time, a place, a reason, a condition, or a concession. You'll do that bit naturally.

The most common question related to subordinating conjunctions is whether to offset the subordinate clause with a comma or not. Here's the guidance.

(Point 1) Put a comma after a fronted adverbial clause.

When a subordinate clause functioning as an adverb starts a sentence, separate it from the main clause with a comma.

If you shoot at mimes, should you use a silencer? (Comedian Steven Wright)
Now that I'm over sixty, I'm veering toward respectability. (Actress Shelley Winters)

These are often called fronted adverbial clauses. A comma is used with a fronted adverbial clause because the comma makes it clear where the main clause starts.

(Point 2) Don't use a comma if your adverbial clause is at the back.

When a subordinate clause ends a sentence, you can drop the comma.

Should you use a silencer if you shoot at mimes?
I'm veering toward respectability now that I'm over sixty.

There's a quirk though: You can use a comma for a deliberate pause.

Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons. (Film director Woody Allen)
Man is ready to die for an idea, provided that idea is not quite clear to him.

If you were told at school that a comma represents a pause, then your teacher was giving you reading advice not writing advice. There are specific rules on using commas and "to create a pause" isn't one of them, even though you'd likely whack in a few accurate commas if you adopted that rule. That said, this is a time when a comma can be used to create a pause. That's why it's a quirk. It's also pretty common.

Okay, let's complicate the issue a bit. The rule that states "drop the comma when your adverbial clause ends a sentence" is not really a rule. In fact, the rule for post-positioned adverbial clauses (as they're called) is the same as for post-positioned adjective clauses. In other words, use a comma if the adverbial clause is nonessential (i.e., you'd happily put it in brackets or delete it). The problem is that it's flippin' way more difficult to decide whether an adverbial clause is essential or nonessential than it is with an adjective clause. As the vast majority of adverbial clauses are essential, it's pretty safe, but not entirely safe, to declare that a post-positioned adverbial clause isn't preceded by a comma.

Read more about using commas with post-positioned adverbial clauses.

Key Points

If your subordinate conjunction heads up a clause at the start of your sentence, offset the clause with a comma.
Don't use a comma if your subordinate conjunction heads up a clause at the back of your sentence, unless you need to put some distance between the subordinate clause and the main clause.

Interactive Exercise

Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.

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