subordinating conjunction
- noun
- /səˈbɔːrdɪneɪtɪŋ kənˈdʒʌŋkʃən/
- Specialized
:
conjunción subordinante
- Words like ‘after’ and ‘although’ are classified as subordinating conjunctions.
Examples
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The sentence uses a subordinating conjunction to link the dependent clause to the main clause.
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A subordinating conjunction connects a dependent clause to a main clause.
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‘Because’ is a common subordinating conjunction in English grammar.
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Can you give me an example of a subordinating conjunction?
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A subordinating conjunction like 'although' connects a dependent clause to an independent clause.
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In the sentence, 'Although it was raining, we went for a walk,' the word 'although' is a subordinating conjunction.
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The subordinating conjunction 'because' introduces the reason for the action in the main clause.
Synonyms
A word that introduces a clause that cannot stand alone, like because or although
A word that introduces a dependent clause, for example because or although
Antonyms
- Specialized
A word that joins two words, phrases, and short sentences, for example and, but, or
How Strong
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly built from the parts: 'subordinating' (making something subordinate / connecting clauses) + 'conjunction' (a connecting word), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer this is a conjunction that links or introduces a subordinate (dependent) clause. This is a regular grammatical composition found across languages, so the relation is immediately comprehensible rather than idiomatic.
Etymology
The term subordinating conjunction comes from words that mean 'under' and 'to join', so subordinating means 'under' and conjunction means 'to join'. It is a small joining word that puts one clause 'under' a main clause and connects a dependent clause to the main clause.
