Conjunction, Junction, What’s Your Function: Part 2

When writing, whether for your blog or for personal reasons, conjunctions are grammatical tools that you use all of the time. Understanding the functions of these conjunctions (yes, that was pretty corny) is the first step in creating stronger writing skills.

Last week we looked at coordinating conjunctions which combined two independent clauses. If you missed the previous post click here. Coordinating conjunctions are used often in writing, but subordinating conjunctions are another tool at your disposal to use.

Coordinating conjunctions combine independent clauses and dependent clauses. An independent clause is a sentence that can stand on its own that contains a subject and a verb. For example “Kathy is singing”, the subject is “Kathy” and the verb (or verb phrase to be more accurate) is “is singing”. Independent clauses form a unit that can stand on their own.

Dependent clauses can’t stand alone and need an independent clause to go with them. For example “Because I said so” is a dependent clause. Although it is common to hear dependent clauses spoken, in writing it is not correct. For blogs, using dependent clauses without an independent clause to go with it isn’t that big of a deal, but it’s important to know the rules all the same.

The example “Because I said so” doesn’t mean anything without an independent clause, so a subordinating conjunction helps combine this dependent clause with an independent clause. “You can’t go to the park because I said so.”

Let’s look at the subordinating conjunctions and their functions.

Subordinating conjunctions show relationships between clauses:

since, as, because

These subordinating conjunctions show a relationship between ideas. With these words, a cause and effect relationship can be seen.

Example: “I need a new coat since my dog ate my red one.” “Mel can’t go to the store because her car is broken.”

Other subordinating conjunctions show a contrast between ideas:

although, even though, though, whereas, while

Example: “Even though you are smelly, I love you.” “You can eat ice cream although you don’t deserve it.”

Subordinating conjunctions help you create complete sentences instead of sentence fragments.

Other common subordinating conjunctions are:

after, although, as, as if, as long as, as though, because, before, even if, even though, if, if only, in order, that, now that, once, rather than, since, so that, than, that though, till, unless, until, when, whenever, where, whereas, wherever, while

The two articles I wrote gave you an introduction to conjunctions, or a refresher course if you already knew all of this information, but if you want more information click here.

Written by Patricia Vennes from Writer's Rants
Posted on November 9th, 2009 and filed under Blogging, Writing
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