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Sentence Combining
Practice 15: Sentence-Combining Option #4
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To combine an idea of lesser importance with one of greater importance, use subordination, the fourth sentence-combining option, to create a complex sentence. An idea of greater importance is usually expressed in an independent clause, and an idea of lesser importance is usually expressed in a dependent clause. A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb; however, it cannot stand alone because it begins with a dependent word. A dependent clause depends upon an independent clause for it to make sense.
Complete Idea: Mrs. Mallard weeps.
Incomplete Idea: After she receives the news of her husband's death.
Complex Sentence:
(Generally, a comma is not used when the independent clause comes first)
The writer has chosen to emphasize “Mrs. Mallard weeps” by expressing it in an independent clause, and the writer has chosen to de-emphasize or subordinate “after she receives the news of her husband’s death” by expressing it in a dependent clause.
Notice that both independent clauses are related: they discuss the main character in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin. Also, notice that no internal punctuation is used.
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Common Subordinating Conjunctions |
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Subordinating Conjunctions |
Meaning |
Example |
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after
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next |
Teresa paid her taxes after she balanced her budget. |
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although
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in spite of the fact that |
The morning remained calm although a breeze swept through camp in the afternoon. |
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as (as if)
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equally, while |
The entrepreneur studied the market as the stocks plummeted. |
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because
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for the reason or cause that |
He paints rural settings because he prefers to depict tranquil scenes. |
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before
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in advance, prior to |
The sailors signaled for help before the mast broke. |
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if
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on condition that |
The work can be done if we upgrade the computers. |
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since
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from then until now, because |
The population has doubled since poachers have been prosecuted. |
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unless
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except if |
The people will be safe unless the hurricane moves west. |
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until
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up to the time of |
The company produced a profit until the cost of raw materials soared. |
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when (whenever)
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at the time that |
The main character suffered a series of health problems when her son died. |
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whereas
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but on the other hand |
The white bars are horizontal whereas the black bars are vertical. |
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while
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during or through the time that |
The band played while the flags rose. |
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Additional subordinating conjunctions and dependent words include the following: afterward, even though, even if, even though, even since, ever since, how, in order that, just as, just as if, now that, once, provided that, rather than, so, so that, than, that, though, till, what, whatever, where, wherever, whether, which, whichever, who, whoever, whom, whomever, whose, why. See Chapter 15 for a discussion of subordination with relative pronouns like that, which, and who. |
Instructions:
Insert a subordinating conjunction (after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, whereas, while) between the following independent clauses. Check the definitions in the table above.
Example question: Accurate records are important in our business _______ we are audited each year.
Example answer: Accurate records are important in our business because we are audited each year.
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