
Key Takeaways
- Coordination and subordination join two sentences with related ideas.
- Coordination joins sentences with related and equal ideas, whereas subordination joins sentences with related but unequal ideas.
- Sentences can be coordinated using either a coordinating conjunction and a comma or a conjunctive adverb and a semicolon.
What is the meaning of subordinate in grammar?
Subordination in English Grammar
- Definition of Subordination. For a clear and complete definition of subordination and how it allows readers to connect ideas, read this excerpt from Sonia Cristofaro's book, Subordination.
- Adverbial Subordinate Clauses. ...
- Adjectival Subordinate Clauses. ...
- Analyzing Subordinate Structures. ...
- Subordination and the Evolution of Languages. ...
- Sources. ...
What are subordinators in grammar?
Subordinators in English grammar are words that introduce subordinate or dependent clauses. The three dependent clauses in English are noun clauses, adjective clauses, and adverb clauses. Subordinating conjunctions including relative pronouns perform the grammatical function of subordinator.
How to use "subordinate" in a sentence?
Use “subordinate” in a sentence | “subordinate” sentence examples
- (1) He had an essentially subordinate role.
- (2) A private is subordinate to a corporal.
- (3) The minority is subordinate to the majority.
- (4) He was always friendly to his subordinate officers.
- (5) In many societies women are subordinate to men.
- (6) He always liked to subordinate others’ effect.
What are subordinate clauses in English grammar?
In English grammar, a subordinate clause is a group of words that has both a subject and a verb but (unlike an independent clause) cannot stand alone as a sentence. Also known as a dependent clause. Contrast this with a main clause and coordinate clause . Subordinate clauses are usually attached to main clauses or embedded in matrix clauses .

What is coordination in grammar?
In English grammar, coordination or parataxis is the joining of words, phrases, or clauses of the same type to give them equal emphasis and importance. The common conjunctions and, but, for, or, not, yet and so to join the elements of a coordinate construction.
What is Subordination in grammar?
Subordination creates unequal emphasis between ideas and emphasizes a major idea in one independent clause, while placing minor ideas in subordinate, or dependent, clauses. Dependent clauses are marked by subordinating conjunctions, or dependent words.
What is the example of coordinating and subordinating?
Subordinating conjunctions are used to join a subordinate dependent clause to a main clause, for example: - I went swimming although it was cold....1. What do Conjunctions Do?Coordinating conjunctionsSubordinating conjunctionsand, but, or, nor, for, yet, soalthough, because, since, unless
What is an example of coordination in a sentence?
There needs to be better coordination between departments. the coordination of our schedules better coordination of the dancers' moves Playing sports improves strength and coordination. The illness causes a loss of coordination.
What are coordinating conjunctions?
A coordinating conjunction is a conjunction that connects words, phrases, and clauses that are coordinate, or equal to each other. There are seven coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. They can be remembered using the acronym FANBOYS.
What is subordination in English example?
Example of Subordination "In the sentence, I swear that I didn't dream it, where one clause is part of the other, we have subordination," begins Kersti Börjars and Kate Burridge in Introducing English Grammar. "The higher clause, i.e., the whole sentence, is the main clause and the lower clause is a sub-clause.
What are 5 examples of coordinating conjunctions?
Examples of Coordinating ConjunctionsAlex stood first and got a prize.Robin and Russel went the beach.Sleep now or you will miss the class tomorrow.Robin did not try hard so he did not succeed.He is sad but not broken.Rita, as well as Shaun, came here yesterday.Shaun played well still he lost.More items...
What is a subordinating sentence?
A subordinate clause is a clause that modifies an independent clause. A subordinate clause cannot stand by itself. For example, the clause whenever they see cats is a subordinate clause. This clause doesn't express a complete thought.
What are the 7 examples of coordinating conjunctions?
The seven coordinating conjunctions are: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So.
What is a coordinator?
Coordination is a process by which we link two grammatical units that are equal in status together by means of a coordinator. For example: The children ate and went to bed. The sentence above contains two main clauses but ‘and’ is not part of either of the clauses.
What is the process of linking a clause that is inferior in status to another clause that is superior in linguistic status
Subordination is a process by which we link a clause that is inferior in status to another clause that is superior in linguistic status. The way we achieve this linkage is through the use of Subordinators. Subordinators belong to the Part of Speech we refer to as Conjunction.
What is the difference between a compound and a complex sentence?
Typically, complex sentences contain a subordinate clause and the main clause while compound-complex sentences contain two main clauses and, at least, a subordinate clause.
What is a subordinate sentence?
Subordinate sentences are characterized by the use of a subordinate conjunction. In a subordinate sentence, a comma is used to separate the main clause from the dependent clause if the dependent clause is placed at the beginning of the sentence. Previous: 7.1 Sentence Variety. Next: 7.3 Parallelism.
What is a coordinating conjunction?
Coordinating Conjunctions. A coordinating conjunction is a word that joins two independent clauses. The most common coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. Note that a comma precedes the coordinating conjunction when joining two clauses. Independent Clause.
How to punctuate a sentence correctly?
To punctuate sentences correctly, look at the position of the main clause and the subordinate clause. If a subordinate clause precedes the main clause, use a comma. If the subordinate clause follows the main cause, no punctuation is required.
How many coordinating conjunctions are there in a sentence?
To help you remember the seven coordinating conjunctions, think of the acronym FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Remember that when you use a coordinating conjunction in a sentence, a comma should precede it.
What is the revised sentence in Bridget?
The revised sentence explains the relationship between Bridget’s desire to take part in the next Olympics and her daily training.
Coordination
If clauses which we combine are independent clauses (that is, if they can stand on their own) then we talk about coordination and we use a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, etc.
Subordination
Subordination is when the conjunction turns an independent clause into a subordinate clause.
Useful Links
Conjunctions In English Grammar – a look at other types of conjunctions.
What is subordination in a sentence?
Subordination uses conjunctions (for example: although, because, since, when, which, who, if, whereas) to connect one dependent clause to an independent clause, creating a complex sentence. By using a complex sentence, you indicate to your reader that one idea carries more weight than the other. Subordination is better than coordination in showing ...
Why is subordination better than coordination?
Subordination is better than coordination in showing relationships between ideas because it more closely reflects complex life situations. In the subordination of two related ideas, the more important idea is put into an independent clause, which could stand alone. The less important idea is put into a subordinate clause, ...
Should the subordinate section follow the independent clause?
On occasion, the subordinate section should follow the independent clause for the sake of logic or dramatic effect. Example: She toasted the bread while he scrambled the eggs. Pattern: Independent sentence while dependent clause. Once you have learned the pattern of subordination, use it!
Is it better to put a subordinate section before an independent sentence?
While it is better to put the subordinate section before the independent sentence, the opposite is possible. When this is done, no comma is put between the independent clause and the subordinate section. On occasion, the subordinate section should follow the independent clause for the sake of logic or dramatic effect.
What is the difference between subordination and coordination?
Coordination means combining two sentences or ideas that are of equal value. Subordination means combining two sentences or ideas in a way that makes one more important than the other. Using these strategies will help add variety to your sentences.
Can you use transition words in a sentence?
You can also use transition words (also known as conjunctive adverbs) to coordinate sentences, although they require different punctuation. If you are joining two sentences with a conjunctive adverb, you need to have a semi-colon before the word and a comma after it.
Do you put a comma after the subordinator?
If you begin a sentence with a subordinator, you must put a comma after the subordinating phrase. However, if the subordinator comes in the middle of a sentence you usually do not need to put a comma before it
What is Coordination and Subordination?
Coordination and Subordination are commonplace ways for writers, speakers, knowledge workers . . . to combine sentences.
Coordination
Writers, speakers, knowledge workers . . . use coordination when they want to join sentences when the ideas expressed in those sentences are coequal or equivalent.
74 Coordination and Subordination for Sentence Variety
In the previous section, we learned how to use different patterns to create sentence variety and to add emphasis to important points in our writing.
Coordination
Coordination joins two independent clauses that contain related ideas of equal importance.
Subordination
Subordination joins two sentences with related ideas by merging them into a main clause (a complete sentence) and a dependent clause (a construction that relies on the main clause to complete its meaning).