Detailed Study Notes on Coordination & Subordination in Grammar

GRAMMAR: LESSON THREE

Coordination & Subordination

WHAT ARE CLAUSES?

• A clause is defined as a word group containing both a subject and a verb.

• There are two types of clauses:

  • Independent Clause:

  • Definition: A clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence.

  • Dependent Clause:

  • Definition: A clause that cannot stand alone and is dependent upon the independent clause.

  • Example:

    • "Because it was a surprise, Rachel failed the quiz yesterday."

• Combining clauses allows for the creation of both coordinating and subordinating combinations.

COORDINATION

• Coordination is the process of connecting ideas within writing to show relationships clearly to the reader.

• There are two primary methods for achieving coordination:

  • Using a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

  • Using a semicolon, occasionally with an adverb.

COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

• Coordinating conjunctions function to connect two independent clauses when used with a comma.

• List of coordinating conjunctions:

  • For

  • And

  • Nor

  • But

  • Or

  • Yet

  • So

PRACTICE: COMBINE SENTENCES

• Task: Connect each of the following sentence pairs using a comma and a conjunction:

  • Group One:

  • Clinging to the side of the house, a lizard basked in the sun.

  • It slithered up the eaves when a cat tried to reach it.

  • Group Two:

  • The sky is filled with stars.

  • The moon was a silver crescent against the darkness.

USING SEMICOLONS AND ADVERBS

• Adverbs used in combination with a semicolon can help clarify the relationship between two independent clauses. Here is a list of common adverbs to use with a semicolon:

  • Accordingly

  • Also

  • As a result

  • Besides

  • Finally

  • Furthermore

  • However

  • In addition

  • In fact

  • Instead

  • Meanwhile

  • Nevertheless

  • Of course

  • On the other hand

  • Therefore

PRACTICE: CONNECT SENTENCE PAIRS

• Task: Connect each of the following sentence pairs using a semicolon, an adverb, and a comma:

  • Group One:

  • The professor asked Aubrey a question in class.

  • Her mind immediately went blank.

  • Group Two:

  • Julie tried desperately to start her stalled car.

  • The driver behind her began to honk the horn repeatedly.

SUBORDINATION

• Subordination involves constructing a dependent clause by placing a subordinating conjunction before an independent clause. This changes the independent clause into a dependent clause that cannot stand alone.

• Examples of subordinating conjunctions include:

  • because, although, if, when, after.

• Example Illustration:

  • "Because Rashida had no time to sit down for breakfast, she picked up a banana and a granola bar and walked out the door."

LIST OF SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

• After

• Although

• As

• As if

• As long as

• As long

• As though

• Because

• Before

• Even though

• If

• Once

• Since

• So that

• That

• Though

• Unless

• Until

• What

• When

• Where

• Which

• While

• Who

PRACTICE: CONNECT SENTENCE PAIRS WITH SUBORDINATION

• Task: Using subordinating conjunctions, connect the following sentence pairs:

  • State troopers were patrolling the highways.

  • Heavy traffic was expected on the holiday weekend.

  • The forecast called for snow.

  • The grocery store was crowded with people stocking up on food.

CREATING EMPHASIS THROUGH SUBORDINATION

• Subordination can be used to rank and emphasize ideas.

• Using dependent clauses allows you to downplay one idea while elevating another.

• Usually, the independent clause expresses the greater importance while the dependent clause offers secondary significance.

• Examples:

  • "Although the job pays well, the work is dangerous."

  • Here, the emphasis is shifted to the danger of the work.

  • "A cheer went up from the crowd as the home team scored the winning run."

  • In this case, emphasis is placed on the cheer from the crowd.