What are SUBORDINANT conjunctions?

the conjunctions, also known as links, are words that serve as a bridge between other syntactic elements, such as propositions, phrases or words. This grammatical element is responsible for linking each of the parts of a sentence and providing cohesion to the language. However, there are several types of conjunctions and it is important that you know how each of them works.

For this reason, in this lesson from a PROFESSOR we are going to explain in detail what the subordinating conjunctions and examples so that you learn to recognize them in a text.

Index

1. What are subordinating conjunctions? easy definition
2. Types of subordinating conjunctions
3. Examples of subordinating conjunctions

The conjunctions They are words devoid of their own lexical meaning, that is, they have only a grammatical meaning that allows them to connect the elements of a sentence. Conjunctions are very common words that are present in most of the languages ​​that exist. They fulfill a vital function in the construction of an orderly and logical speech, preventing us from speaking like a robot. These conjunctions can be classified into two large types.

coordinating conjunctions

They are those that allow linking two or more grammatical units that can be interchanged, without ranking none of them nor alter the meaning of the entire sentence. That is, it leaves all propositions at the same syntactic level.

The subordinating conjunctions

These are the conjunctions we want to focus our attention on in today's lesson. The subordinating conjunctions are those that link grammatical units building a hierarchy between them. That is to say, when we add this type of conjunctions we find ourselves with two propositions and one of them is more important than the other. These two propositions are the main and the secondary.

The subordinating conjunctions are needed to build subordinate clauses and in general they tend to unite entire propositions and, not so much, words or phrases. The propositions that are formed cannot be interchanged with each other, which is the case with coordinating conjunctions. This is because a sentence hierarchy which makes the secondary sentence meaningless if the main sentence does not exist.

Depending on the type of relationship that they introduce between the main clause and the secondary one, the subordinate conjunctions can be classified into different types and they are the ones that we present below:

• Concessive conjunctions: They are those in which the subordinate clause expresses a difficulty that does not prevent action. These are: although, for more than, even when, although.
• causal conjunctions: They indicate the consequence, the cause or the reason of what is indicated in the main sentence. They are as follows: since, because, then, that and of course.
• final subordinating conjunctions: They express the purpose, that is, the reason or objective of what they state. These are: so that, in order that, in order that, with a view to that, for.
• Temporal subordinating conjunctions: They express the temporal relationship that subordinates one sentence to another. These conjunctions are: while, when, before, after, as soon as, whenever, right away.
• comparative conjunctions: They are used to compare something that occurs, or is shown in one of the sentences in relation to the other. These conjunctions are: more than, less than, the same as, like, worse than, better than, as well as.
• Consecutive conjunctions: Also called ilatives, they express a consequence between what is said in the first sentence and the second. These can be: so, then, therefore, so, well, so that, so much that, such that, in such a way that.
• Conditional conjunctions: In this case, the sentences are connected by an uncertain condition. Conjunctions of this type are: as long as, whenever, if, provided that, but if, as long as.

In unProfesor we discover the different types of conjunctions that exist in Spanish.

Let's leave you with some Examples of Sentences containing subordinating conjunctions. We have marked the conjunction in bold, so that you are able to easily identify it and see how it separates two propositions of different importance:

• I hope to see you there well it is important to our father that we are with him at this time.
• we will win the match because That's what we've trained for so long.
• I want to tell you something that I should have told you a long time ago.
• The work of Juana and Jeremias was better than that of Daniela and Javier.
• he knew more that you for the exam.
• The pilots of this company had less flight hours than those of the other airline.
• Committee elections will be suspended as much as not we want to do it.
• I'll give you a kiss although Do not want.
• I'll lend you my coat although I don't think you're doing well.
• We will continue betting on this company by more than we are already a little tired of how he neglects his employees.
• I will tell provided that shut up
• You will lose weight in the next few days as long as Follow the diet that I have prescribed.
• I'll go look for you provided that Come with me to the parent meeting.
• I will study all night Yeah I don't fall asleep.
• The restructuring of the company must be total, that way that employees and customers feel motivated to participate in an innovative and modern company.
• First I saw the fire and then I ran to save myself.
• We just have to deal the cards and then start playing.
• You have finished your homework thereforeYou can go out and play.
• The championship started just when you were going on a trip
• we will go as soon as we can.
• i will wear this dress Everytime that I can because it's beautiful.
• When we wake up we get out of bed and brush our teeth. before nothing.
• They studied every detail in order to there were no questions they couldn't answer.
• The agency hired new staff with a view to what it would open branches in a short period of time.
• I will learn Italian for be able to understand what these documents say.
• I have prepared the food in order to you eat healthily.

What did you think of our lesson on subordinating conjunctions? We hope that we have helped you to understand this concept well and that now you can find them in any sentence. If you are interested in continuing to learn more about this grammatical category and many others, do not hesitate to consult our grammar and linguistics section.

If you want to read more articles similar to What are subordinating conjunctions - with examples, we recommend that you enter our category of Grammar and Linguistics.

Granvic, A. (2013). Adverbs, prepositions and subordinating conjunctions: the role of de and que in the establishment of contrastive grammatical categories in Spanish and Portuguese. Comparing and contrasting syntactic structures: From dependency to quasi-subordination. Helsinki: Neophilological Society, 67-96.

Lucero, m. v. Q. (2016). conjunctions. In Encyclopedia of Hispanic Linguistics (pp. 473-483). Routledge.