1. Clarity and Precision:
* Connecting Ideas: Subordinate clauses allow you to connect related ideas in a clear and logical way. They show the relationship between the main clause and the information they provide.
* Specificity: They provide more specific details, explaining why something happened, how something happened, or under what conditions something happened.
Example:
* Without a subordinate clause: "The dog barked." (This tells us what happened, but not why)
* With a subordinate clause: "The dog barked because he heard a noise." (This clarifies the reason for the barking.)
2. Avoiding Choppy Sentences:
* Smooth Flow: Subordinate clauses create a smoother flow in your writing by avoiding short, choppy sentences. They help you avoid sounding like you're simply listing facts.
* Compelling Narrative: By weaving ideas together, they make your writing more engaging and interesting to read.
Example:
* Choppy: "The cat sat on the windowsill. It watched the birds outside."
* With a subordinate clause: "The cat sat on the windowsill, watching the birds outside."
3. Adding Emphasis:
* Focus on Important Information: You can strategically place a subordinate clause before or after the main clause to highlight the most important information.
* Varying Sentence Structure: This adds variety to your writing, making it more dynamic and interesting to read.
Example:
* Emphasis on the action: "The cat sat on the windowsill, watching the birds outside with intense curiosity."
* Emphasis on the cat's curiosity: "Watching the birds outside with intense curiosity, the cat sat on the windowsill."
4. Showing Relationships and Complexity:
* Cause and Effect: "The dog barked because he heard a noise."
* Time: "After she finished her homework, she went to bed."
* Contrast: "Although it was raining, they decided to go for a walk."
5. Making Your Writing More Sophisticated:
* Impressing Your Reader: Subordinate clauses are a mark of sophisticated writing. They demonstrate your command of grammar and your ability to express complex ideas in a clear and concise way.
In conclusion, subordinate clauses are powerful tools that can elevate your writing from simple statements to more nuanced, engaging, and effective prose.