Subordinators

The most common subordinators are:

although, even though, because, since*, so that, when, while, before*, after*, whenever, wherever, anywhere, if, unless, whether…[or not] as, as [adjective] as, whereas

(to show slight contrast) (to give reasons) (to indicate time relationships) (to indicate place) (to indicate conditions) (to give comparisons) (to show major contrast)

*These words can also be used as prepositions.

Subordinators have an interesting effect on words in a sentence. A clause (S +V) without a subordinator can stand alone as a complete statement.

I went to the store yesterday.

(Complete statement)

However, when a subordinator is added, the statement seems incomplete.

When I went to the store yesterday, . . .

(Well, what happened?)

The subordinating clause becomes dependent on something else to complete its meaning:

When I went to the store yesterday, I saw an old friend.

(Idea is complete)

Subordinating or “dependent” clauses can occur at the beginning or end of a sentence. When used at the beginning of a sentence, a comma is necessary after the clause itself.

S + V although S + V

Although S + V , S + V

In English, the subordinator always comes before the subject and verb in a clause.

I went to the grocery store after, I stopped at the bank.  After I went to the grocery store, I stopped at the bank.

(Incorrect) (Correct)

Subordinators and coordinators should not be used in the same sentence to introduce clauses. Choose one or the other, but do not use both together.

Although Nina won the prize, butshe was not happy. Although Nina won the prize, she was not happy. Nina won the prize, but she was not happy.

(Wrong) (Correct) (Also correct)

Sentence Structure and Punctuation

Basic English Sentence Structures

S – V S – V – O S – V – IO – DO

Jack is sleeping.  Jack ate an apple.  Jack gave Jill a ring.

S – LV – Adj.  S – LV – Adv S – LV – Noun

Jack is sick.  Jack is here. Jack is a doctor.

Combinations: One verb or one subject (no comma)

S V S and S V S V and V S V O and O S and S V O and O

Jack is drinking. Jack and Jill are drinking. Jack is eating and drinking. Jack drinks coffee and tea. Jack and Jill drink tea and coffee.

Combinations: Two subjects, two verbs

Subordination (One idea is stronger.)

Jack drinks coffee although Jill drinks tea. (without a comma)

Although Jack drinks coffee, Jill drinks tea. (with a comma)

Coordination (equal ideas, with coordinator: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet)

Jack is drinking, and Jill is eating. (A comma [,] is needed here.)

Jack drinks coffee, but Jill drinks tea. (closest connection between ideas)

Closely related ideas (without coordinator)

Jack drinks coffee; Jill drinks tea. (A semi-colon [;] is used here.)

Jack drinks coffee; however, Jill drinks tea. (with a sentence connector)

Separate sentences (strongest break between ideas)

Jack drinks coffee. Jill drinks tea. (Use a period [.] to separate complete sentences.)

Jack drinks coffee. However, Jill drinks tea. (with a sentence connector) 
Jack drinks coffee. Jill, however, drinks tea. (variation)

Note:
Do not use subordinators and coordinators to connect ideas in the same sentence:

Although Jack drinks coffee, but Jill drinks tea. Jack drinks coffee, but Jill drinks tea. Although Jack drinks coffee, Jill drinks tea.

(INCORRECT) (Okay) (Okay)

Sentence Elements

S - V	Time	Place	Manner	Reason
(He eats/He ate...)	(When)	(Where)	(How)	(Why)< p>
Adverbs	yesterday	there	quickly
	last night	here	sloppily
Prepositional	at 7:00	in the house	with a fork	for fun
Phrase
Adverbial Clause	when he	wherever he can	as a good	because he's
	finishes work		boy should	hungry
Other				to get fat
				(infinitive)
S - V	Duration	Frequency	Contrast	Condition
(He works/worked/	(How long)	(How often)	(To show a	(Under what
has worked...)			difference)	conditions)
Adverb	forever	sometimes	anyway
		always
Prepositional	for two hours	on Thursdays	despite his	for pay only
Phrase			illness
Adverbial Clause	as long as	whenever he	although he	if he feels good

Basic Sentence Structure 

There are five basic patterns around which most English sentences are built.* They are as follows: 

S-V	Subject-Verb	John sleeps.
		Jill is eating.
		Jack will arrive next week.
S-V-O	Subject-Verb-Object	I like rice.
		She loves her job.
		He’s eating an orange.
S-V-Adj	Subject-Verb-Adjective	He is funny.
		The workers are lazy.
		Karen seems angry.
S-V-Adv	Subject-Verb-Adverb	Jim is here.
		Flowers are everywhere.
		No one was there.
S-V-N	Subject-Verb-Noun	She is my mom.
		The men are doctors.
		Mr. Jones is the teacher.

At the heart of every English sentence is the Subject-Verb relationship. Other elements can be added to make a sentence more interesting, but they are not essential to its formation.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V pattern.

She sleeps.	Core sentence
She sleeps soundly.	An adverb is added to describe how she sleeps.
She sleeps on the sofa.	A prepositional phrase is added to tell where she sleeps.
She sleeps every afternoon.	A time expression is added to tell when she sleeps.
She is sleeping right now.	Verb tense is changed, but S-V relationship remains the same.
Mary will sleep later.	Subject is named and another tense is used.
The dogs are sleeping in the garage.	New subject may require a different form of the verb.

Note: Any action verb can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-O pattern.

They like rice.	Core sentence
The people like rice.	Specific subject
The friendly people like rice.	Subject modified with an adjective
The people in the restaurant like rice.	Subject modified with an adjective
The people like boiled rice.	Object modified with an adjective
The people like hot, white rice.	Object modified with more than one adjective

Note: Only transitive action verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-Adj pattern.

He is fine.	Basic sentence with “be” verb
He seems happy.	Basic sentence with another linking verb
Jordan is tall, dark and handsome.	Series of adjectives
He appears very comfortable.	Adverb or intensifier added
George became sick last night.	Different tense and linking verb

Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-Adv pattern:

The teacher is here.	Basic sentence
The teacher is over there.	Using an adverb phrase
Teachers are everywhere.	Plural noun and verb used
The teachers are in the lobby.	Prepositional phrase functioning as adverb

Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.

The following sentences are examples of the S-V-N pattern.

The man is a doctor.	Basic sentence
The women are doctors.	Using plural noun and verb
My father is a nice guy.	Modified subject and complement
My grandparents are senior citizens.	Modified plural subject and complement

Note: Only linking verbs can be used with this sentence pattern.