Coordinating Conjunctions Used to combine two ideas and to show their relationship. Usually used with a comma before the coordinating conjunction, except when the second clause is very short and simple. How the sentence will look: Clause,CC Clause. Example: I like oatmeal, but my friend doesn’t. - Notice the placement of punctuation in this pattern.

Subordinating Conjunctions Used to combine a dependent (subordinate) clause to an independent clause. Makes the subordinate clause into an idea that needs the independent clause for explanation to be a complete idea in English. There are two patterns for this in English: Pattern 1: SC Dependent Clause,Independent Clause. Example: Because the boy broke the vase, his mother got angry. Pattern 2: Independent Clause SC Dependent Clause. Example: The boy’s mother got angry because he broke the vase. Notice the differences in punctuation in these patterns.

Subordinating Conjunctions (Continued) Note: If you try to change the order of clauses it changes the meaning of the sentence. The examples on the previous slide show a cause-effect relationship between the ideas in them. The main idea in the examples is that the boy’s mother was angry. The subordinate clause (the clause starting with the subordinating conjunction) explains why the boy’s mother was angry. Let’s try changing the order of ideas in the example: The boy broke the vase because his mother got angry. Now the main idea is that the boy broke the vase. The second clause explains why.