Subordinating Conjunctions and Clauses, Oh My!

Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions and cannot survive without an independent clause.

Independent clauses are complete thoughts or sentences that CAN exist without dependent clauses.

Subordinating conjunctions are words that relate dependent clauses to independent clauses.

COMMON SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS after since although so that as than as if though as long as unless as soon as until as though when because whenever before wherever even though while if

is an acronym to help you remember them. AAAWWUBBIS is an acronym to help you remember them. After, Although, As, When, While, Until, Because, Before, If, Since, etc…

Can you find the dependent clause? Rick and John Smithers enjoy hearing their father’s stories because he performs them so cleverly. When Mr. Smithers performed on Saturday, he told the story “Aunty Misery.” Since the main character is a very old woman, Mr. Smithers crumples his face and walks with a stoop.

Can you find the dependent clause? Aunty Misery, who lives alone, is teased by children. Mr. Smithers pulls a cape across his face so that he looks mysterious. The audience laughs when Mr. Smithers portrays naughty children stuck to a pear tree.

Aaaahhhh… Poetry You will write a two-stanza poem based around subordinating conjunctions and clauses. Each stanza will have five lines. The first four lines will be dependent clauses that begin with different subordinating conjunctions. The fifth line will be an independent clause. The poem must be on one topic (school, sleep, lunch, clothes, nature, etc.). Each line must begin with a capital letter and end with the correct punctuation mark. Write your subordinating conjunctions in a different color than the rest of the poem.

EXAMPLE Whenever I get up, After the alarm clock has gone off, Before the sun comes up, As I stumble to the shower, I slowly get ready for my day of school. When I arrive at school, Unless I am talking to my friends, As soon as classes begin, While I do my work, I long to be back in my cozy bed.

Your turn! On your index cards, write six dependent clauses and six independent clauses (ONE CLAUSE PER CARD). Make sure your sentences begin with capital letters and have correct punctuation marks – commas too! Mix your cards up and wait for your neighbor to finish. Trade cards with your neighbor and see how many sentences you can correctly match.