Print an Article

3. Subordinating Conjunctions

edgood — Grammar Tips

Starting Dependent Clauses

The third and final type of conjunction introduces subordinate clauses. We have a rather long list of these words, called subordinating conjunctions. Notice our friend, the word that. As a subordinating conjunction, it introduces a noun clause, as in He said that he would come. Here it acts as a subordinating conjunction, not as a relative pronoun and not as a demonstrative pronoun.

Subordinating Conjunctions	Subordinating Conjunctions	Subordinating Conjunctions
after	how	unless
although	if	until
as	in order that	what
as far as	provided that	whatever
as if	since	when
as long as	so (that)	whenever
as though	that	where
because	though	wherever
before	till	while

Each of these words introduces a subordinate clause, which can act as a subject, object, adjective, or adverb. Take a look:

Clause	Function	Example
That he won the award	subject	That he won the award surprised us.
that she would win	direct object	She said that she would win.
where she lives	adjective	Let’s meet on the street where she lives.
whenever the bell rings	adverb	The rat reacts whenever the bell rings.

Previous: 2. Correlative Conjunctions

Next: As Far As