Here's a breakdown:
Independent Clause: A complete sentence that can stand alone.
Dependent Clause: A clause that cannot stand alone.
Subordinating Conjunction: The word or phrase that connects the dependent clause to the independent clause.
Here are some examples of subordinating conjunctions:
* Time: after, before, since, when, while, until
* Cause & Effect: because, since, so that, in order that
* Contrast: although, though, even though, whereas, while
* Condition: if, unless, in case, provided that
* Comparison: as, than
* Place: where, wherever
Examples:
* After the rain stopped, we went outside. ("After the rain stopped" is the dependent clause, and "we went outside" is the independent clause.)
* Because I was tired, I went to bed early. ("Because I was tired" is the dependent clause, and "I went to bed early" is the independent clause.)
* Although I was nervous, I gave a great presentation. ("Although I was nervous" is the dependent clause, and "I gave a great presentation" is the independent clause.)
Key Points:
* Subordinating conjunctions create complex sentences.
* The dependent clause always follows the subordinating conjunction.
* The dependent clause is grammatically incomplete and relies on the independent clause for its meaning.
Understanding subordinating conjunctions helps you to write more complex and interesting sentences. They add nuance and depth to your writing, allowing you to express a variety of relationships between ideas.