Conjunctions/Complex Sentences/Sub-ordinating Conjunctions

Conjunctions:

Subordinating Conjunctions- 

A sub-ordinate Conjunction joins a sub-ordinate clause (dependent clause) to the principal clause (main clause/independent clause). 

• Sub-ordinating conjunctions are used to form Complex sentences.
• In a complex sentence there are at least two clauses known as Principal clause and Sub-ordinating clause.
• There are three types of sub-ordinating clauses:

1. Noun clause
2. Adjective clause
3. Adverb clause

The most common subordinating conjunctions are:

after, although, as, because, before, if, since, that, though (though..... ,  yet), till, until, unless, so that, lest, as soon as, when, whenever, where, why, how, than, whether, while etc.

(some phrases also function as subordinating conjunctions . some of the most common ones are: as if, as far as, as long as, as well as, even if, even though, so that, in order to, in order that etc. )

Sub-ordinating Clauses :

1) Noun clause :

A Noun clause functions as a noun in a sentence. We use who, which, where, why, what, when, that, etc to make a noun clause. Noun clause can be used as five types:

A) Subject to a verb

B) Object to a verb

C) Object to a preposition

D) Complement to a verb

E) Case in apposition to a Noun

A) Subject to a verb:

•   That he is a thief, is known to all.

B) Object to a verb:

• Every teacher knows that he is an intelligent boy.

• Tell me where he is.

C) Object to a preposition:

• You must rely on what I told you yesterday.

• I did not agree to what you said.

• Pay attention to what they are saying.

D) Complement to a verb:

• The reason of his failure in the  examination is that he is careless.  

• My opinion is that you will get good marks.

E) Case in apposition to a Noun:

• The news,  that Gandhiji was shot dead, spread  all over the country like a fire.

2) Adjective Clause :

An adjective clause functions as an adjective in a sentence. To make an adjective clause, we use Relative Pronoun (who, whose, whom, which, that) or Relative adverb ( how, why, when, where).

• I know the boy who came here.

• I have lost the watch that you gave me.

• The time which is lost, is lost for ever.

•  This is the school where I was taught in my childhood.

• Nobody knew the reason why he was weeping. 

• I do not know the time when he will come from Delhi. 

Subordinating Conjunctions are classified according to their meaning :

The most common categories of Subordinating conjunctions (as an adverb clause) are:

1) Time (Adverb clause of Time)

    (when, whenever, while, after, before, as soon as, since, as, till, until, no sooner....than etc.)

• When you come, I shall go there.  (showing time)
          (will/shall will be used only in principal clause)   
Many things have happened since I saw you.    (showing time)
As soon as he heard the news of my success, he informed me.  (showing time)

2) Place  (Adverb clause of Place)

(where, wherever)

• Nehru was welcomed wherever he went.

3) Condition  (Adverb clause of Condition)

    (if, whether, unless)

• If you work too much, You will lose your health. 

• If you help me, I shall help you.

4) Manner  (Adverb clause of Manner)

(as, as if, so far as, as far as)

• He talks as if (or as though) he were mad.   (Showing manner)

I will treat you as you have treated me.    (Showing manner)

5) Cause  (Adverb clause of Cause)

(because, as, since)

• I shall teach him because he is weak.     (showing reason) 

• As he was not there, I spoke to his father.    (showing reason) 

• He cannot walk because he is weak.     (showing reason) 

• I am glad that you like it.    (showing reason) 

 6) Purpose  (Adverb clause of Purpose)

(that, so that, lest, in order that)

• Walk slowly lest you should fall.

• Passengers pushed one another so that they might enter the compartment.

7) Comparison  (Adverb clause of Comparison)

(as....as, so....as, than)

• Mohan is as intelligent as Rohan (is).        
•  You are not so strong as I (am).         
• Mohan is wiser than he (is).              

8) Contrast  (Adverb clause of Contrast)

(although, though, even if, however)

• Although he is poor, he is honest.

9)Effect or Result  (Adverb clause of Effect)

(that) use the adverb 'so' in first clause & start second clause using conjunction 'that'.

• He is so poor that he can not buy this book.

• He was so weak that he could not speak.

Some important point you need to know:

A Clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb. Some clauses are independent and some clauses are dependent. Independent clauses express a complete thought while dependent clauses can't stand alone. There are some important points given that we need to know: 

• An independent clause is a clause that could stand as a complete sentence on its own.
• Independent clauses are often joined via conjunctions, commas or semicolons to form compound sentences.
• Dependent clause (also known as subordinate clause) could not stand alone in a sentence.
• Dependent clauses may function as nouns (noun clauses, adjectives (relative clauses), or adverbs (adverbial clauses)

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