Everything English

Subordinating conjunctions – e.g., “while,” “though,” “because,” “since,” “after” – introduces a subordinating clause, which is also know as a dependent clause. These clauses cannot stand on their own, and they complement or add to the meaning of the sentence as a whole. In some instances, they are used to indicate exceptions to a rule or highlight an alternative as in the following:

• While he was happy in his new home, he missed his friends and family.

The same sentence could just as easily be written as:

• Though he was happy in his new home …
• Although he was happy in his new home …

Here’s another example:

• While there are numerous ways to learn a language, the best is through a combination of study and application.
• Though there are numerous ways to learn a language …
• Although there are numerous ways to learn a language …

Following is another example:

• While he preferred to go to the park, he agreed to go to the movies.
• He agreed to go to the movies though he preferred to go the park.
• Although he preferred to go to the park, he agreed to go to the movies.

In this case, while the subject’s preference exists, it is still possible that he will act in a way that doesn’t agree with this preference. Also, note that if the clause appears at the beginning of the sentence, you should use a comma to set it off. However, if the clause appears at the end of the sentence, no comma is used.

Thus, therefore, because, since, as, hence

“Thus”, “because”, “since”, and “as” are used to imply that one condition follows from (i.e., is caused by) another.

• Because he had the flu, he did not go to work.
• Since he had the flu, he did not go to work.
• As he had the flu, he did not go to work.