Combine Sentences: Subordinating Conjunctions Guide

Let's explore how to effectively combine sentences using subordinating conjunctions. This method adds depth and clarity to your writing by showing the relationship between ideas. We'll dissect a specific example and explain why certain revisions work better than others.

Understanding Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions are words that connect a dependent clause to an independent clause. The dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence, while the independent clause can. These conjunctions are crucial for creating complex sentences that express cause-and-effect, time, contrast, or other relationships between ideas. Common subordinating conjunctions include "after, although, as, because, before, if, since, than, that, though, until, when, where, while." When you start a sentence with a subordinating conjunction, you typically need a comma before the independent clause. For instance, "Because it was raining, we stayed inside." However, if the independent clause comes first, you usually don't need a comma: "We stayed inside because it was raining." Mastering the use of subordinating conjunctions will significantly enhance your writing style, making it more sophisticated and fluent.

Consider various ways that subordinating conjunctions affect meaning. "Although the team lost, they played with heart," shows contrast. "Because the team practiced hard, they won the championship," illustrates cause and effect. "After the game, we went out for pizza," indicates time. The correct choice of subordinating conjunction is vital for accurately conveying the intended relationship between the two clauses. Effective use of these conjunctions allows you to write more concisely and avoid choppy, short sentences. By embedding one idea within another, you create a smoother flow of information and engage the reader more effectively. In essence, subordinating conjunctions are powerful tools for building well-structured and meaningful sentences. They enable you to express complex ideas with clarity and precision, making your writing more compelling and persuasive.

Analyzing the Original Sentences

We start with two simple sentences: "The concert attendees roared their approval." and "The band played a new song." These sentences are grammatically correct, but they lack a clear connection. To improve the flow and show the relationship between these events, we can use a subordinating conjunction. The goal is to combine these sentences in a way that illustrates how one event relates to the other, creating a more cohesive and informative statement. Simply stringing them together with a semicolon, as in "The concert attendees roared their approval; the band played a new song," doesn't fully capture the potential relationship. A subordinating conjunction can specify why the audience roared, when the band played, or under what circumstances both events occurred. Choosing the right conjunction enhances the sentence's meaning and provides a clearer picture to the reader. Without a subordinating conjunction, the sentences feel disconnected, leaving the reader to infer the connection. By carefully selecting the appropriate conjunction, we can create a more dynamic and engaging sentence that effectively communicates the intended message. This approach transforms two separate thoughts into a unified and compelling statement. The transformation not only improves readability but also adds depth and sophistication to the overall narrative.

Evaluating Revision A: Semicolon and Conjunctive Adverb

Revision A states: "The concert attendees roared their approval; meanwhile, the band played a new song." This revision uses a semicolon to connect the two independent clauses and adds the conjunctive adverb "meanwhile." While grammatically correct, this approach doesn't establish a subordinate relationship. The semicolon merely joins two related but independent thoughts, and "meanwhile" only indicates that the events occurred at the same time. It doesn't explain why the audience roared or how their approval relates to the band's performance. The connection remains weak and somewhat ambiguous. In essence, this revision treats both clauses as equally important and provides only a temporal link. To create a stronger, more meaningful connection, a subordinating conjunction is needed. This would embed one clause within the other, clarifying the relationship and providing a more cohesive understanding of the events. While the semicolon and conjunctive adverb do create a smoother flow compared to two separate sentences, they fall short of fully integrating the ideas into a single, unified thought. The reader is still left to infer the underlying connection, which can weaken the impact of the statement.

Identifying the Correct Revision

To correctly combine the sentences using a subordinating conjunction, we need to select an option that clearly establishes a dependent relationship between the two clauses. An effective revision might look something like this: "Because the band played a new song, the concert attendees roared their approval." Here, "because" is the subordinating conjunction, indicating that the band's performance caused the audience's reaction. This revision effectively combines the two sentences to illustrate cause and effect and provides a clearer understanding of the events. Alternatively, you could phrase it as: "When the band played a new song, the concert attendees roared their approval." In this case, "when" is the subordinating conjunction, indicating the timing of the events. This revision combines the sentences to show the sequence and timing of the events and provides a cohesive and informative statement. By using a subordinating conjunction, we transform the two independent clauses into a single, complex sentence that conveys a richer and more nuanced meaning. This approach not only improves the flow of the text but also enhances the reader's comprehension by explicitly stating the relationship between the events. The choice of subordinating conjunction depends on the specific relationship you want to emphasize.

Conclusion

Combining sentences with subordinating conjunctions is a powerful way to improve your writing. It allows you to create complex sentences that show the relationship between ideas, making your writing more sophisticated and engaging. Understanding how to use these conjunctions effectively can significantly enhance your ability to communicate clearly and persuasively. Remember to choose the subordinating conjunction that best reflects the relationship between the clauses you are combining, whether it's cause and effect, time, contrast, or another type of connection. By mastering this skill, you can transform your writing from simple and straightforward to rich and nuanced.

For more information on subordinating conjunctions, visit Grammarly's comprehensive guide.