Subordinating Conjunctions: Definition and Examples

Subordinating conjunctions may sound a bit tricky, but they’re actually easy to understand. These small words help connect ideas and show the relationship between two parts of a sentence.

In this article, we’ll go through what subordinating conjunctions are, how they work, and see some clear examples you can use in everyday writing and speaking.

What Is a Subordinating Conjunction?

A subordinating conjunction is a word that connects two ideas in a sentence, but it does so in a way that shows one idea depends on the other. Think of it like a bridge: it links a main clause (a complete thought) with a subordinate clause (an incomplete thought that needs support).
For example:

• I stayed home because it was raining.
  • Here, “because” is the subordinating conjunction. The main clause “I stayed home” makes sense on its own, but “because it was raining” only makes sense when attached to it.
    

Subordinating conjunctions help show time, cause, condition, contrast, or place between ideas.

• Time: I’ll call you when I reach home.
  • “when I reach home” tells us when the action happens.
• Reason: She smiled because she passed the test.
  • “because she passed the test” shows why she smiled.
• Condition: You can’t play outside if it rains.
  • “The action depends on a condition—whether it rains or not.
• Contrast: Although he was tired, he finished the project.
  • “Although he was tired” shows contrast with the main action.
• Place: We sat where the breeze was strongest.
  • “where the breeze was strongest” tells us the place.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions You Can Use Daily:

Below list is a collection of subordinating conjunctions for everyday use:

after	as soon as	as	as if	as long as
as much as	even if	as though	because	before
by the time	in order that	even though	if	if only
in case	since	once	only if	provided that
rather than	till	so that	than	that
though	although	unless	untill	when
whenever	where	wherever	whereas	while

How to Use Subordinating Conjunctions?

Subordinating conjunctions aren’t complicated. Just keep these basics in mind:

• They can come at the start or in the middle of a sentence.
• If the sentence starts with the dependent clause, add a comma before the main clause.
  • Because it was late, we decided to go home.
• If the dependent clause comes second, no comma is needed.
  • We decided to go home because it was late.
• A dependent clause alone doesn’t make sense — it always needs the main clause.

Subordinating Conjunctions vs Coordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions and coordinating conjunctions are both connectors, but they link ideas in different ways:

Coordinating Conjunctions What they do: They join two equal things (words, phrases or independent clauses). Common ones: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS). Example: ◉ I wanted to go for a walk, but it started raining. (Both parts of the sentence are complete.)

Subordinating Conjunctions What they do: They join an independent clause (complete thought) with a dependent clause (incomplete thought). Common ones: because, although, if, since, when, while, unless. Example: ◉ I stayed home because it started raining. (The first part is complete, but “because it started raining” can’t stand alone.

Why Subordinating Conjunctions are Improtant?

Subordinating conjunctions may look like small words, but they play a big role in joining ideas. They show us when, why, or under what condition something happens. The tricky part is not the words themselves—it’s usually knowing when to use a comma.

Rule 1: Use a comma if the subordinate clause comes first.

When a sentence begins with a subordinating conjunction, add a comma before the main clause.

• Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
• Although I was tired, I finished my homework.

Rule 2: No comma if the subordinate clause comes last.

When the subordinate clause comes after the main sentence, you usually don’t need a comma.

• We stayed inside because it was raining.
• I finished my homework although I was tired.

Think of it this way: front = comma, back = no comma.
Of course, writers sometimes add a comma at the end for a pause or special emphasis, but the general rule is pretty simple.

Examples that explain how subordinating conjunctions work

Here are a few more sentences with subordinating conjunctions. Keep in mind, subordinating conjunctions and their clauses show things like time, place, reason, condition, or contrast. In these cases, the bold parts act like adverbs, so we call them adverbial clauses.

Subordinating Conjunction	Category	Example
where	Place	I like sitting where the trees give shade.
wherever	Place	I’ll travel wherever my friends are going.
after	Time	We’ll eat after the guests arrive.
as soon as	Time	Call me as soon as you reach home.
as long as	Time	You can play outside as long as it doesn’t get dark.
before	Time	Wash your hands before dinner is served.
once	Time	I’ll relax once my homework is done.
because	Reason	I stayed home because I wasn’t feeling well.
in order that	Reason	She spoke loudly in order that everyone could hear her.
even if	Condition	I’ll join you even if I’m busy.
if	Condition	If it’s sunny, we’ll go for a picnic.
in case	Condition	Take an umbrella in case it rains.
although	Concession	Although it’s cold, I’m not wearing a jacket.
though	Concession	He went jogging though he was tired.
even though	Concession	She smiled even though she was sad.

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