Subordinate clauses
Use subordination (when, if, that, because) and co-ordination (or, and, but) to join clauses and create compound and complex sentences
What a learner can do afterwards
- Write 'I stayed inside because it was raining' using a subordinating conjunction
- Use 'but' and 'or' to join ideas: 'I wanted to play but it was raining'
- Use 'when' and 'if' clauses in writing: 'If it stops raining, we can go outside'
1 · Read
You have joined ideas with and. And adds an idea: 'I packed socks, and I packed shoes.' Or offers a choice: 'Would you like a peach or a pear?' Because gives a reason: 'I closed the window because the room was cold.' Ask why the window was closed. The words after because answer that question.
But shows a contrast, such as something unexpected or something that gets in the way of a plan. 'Zara wanted to visit the park, but the gate was locked.' The locked gate gets in the way of her plan. And would add an idea without pointing out this contrast.
If gives a condition: 'If the ground is dry, we can have a picnic.' This picnic plan depends on the ground being dry. It does not promise a picnic. When points to a time: 'When the music starts, we dance.' It tells us when we dance.
That can join what someone thinks or says to an idea. 'I think that the dog is hungry.' The idea after that is what I think. 'Sam said that the shop was shut.' The idea after that is what Sam said.
So points to a result: 'The door was shut, so I knocked.' Knocking was my response to the shut door. To find the two short sentences, take out so: 'The door was shut.' 'I knocked.' Keep both ideas and their words when you split the sentence.
A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb. 'The dog barked' can be a complete sentence. Add because: 'because the dog barked'. This is a subordinate clause. On its own, it leaves the reader waiting for the rest. Add a main clause: 'I woke up because the dog barked.'
Choose a joining word for an added idea, a choice, a reason, a contrast, a condition, a time or a result.
Original lesson, practice questions and flashcards written for this learning dataset.
Five original reading activities written for this learning dataset. Khan Academy grammar records were consulted for grammar concepts; the explanations and examples were written for this dataset.
More to read
Give a reason
Omar chose a small bag. He had only one book to carry.
He explained his choice: 'I chose a small bag because I had only one book.'
Ask why Omar chose that bag. The words after because give his reason.
Think of something you chose today. Say what you chose. Add because and explain your reason. Read the whole sentence to check that the reason explains your choice.
Move the time part
A light turned green. The toy train began to move.
Read: 'The train moved when the light turned green.' Now put the time first: 'When the light turned green, the train moved.'
Both versions tell when the train moved. In the second version, put a comma after the opening when part.
Say both versions aloud. Point to the words that tell the time in each one.
Offer a choice
Two games are on a shelf. You ask a friend, 'Shall we play cards or dominoes?' Or joins the two options.
Now you want to play cards, but the cards are missing. You say, 'I wanted to play cards, but I could not find them.' But points out the problem with your plan.
Make a question offering two games. Then make a sentence about a plan and something that gets in its way.
Finish the sentence
Read: 'Because the lid was tight.' These words tell a reason, but leave you waiting to hear what happened.
Add another part: 'Because the lid was tight, I asked Nan to help.' Now the sentence tells what happened and why.
The because part is a subordinate clause. The main clause, 'I asked Nan to help', completes this sentence.
Finish this opening in your own way: 'Because the floor was wet, ...'
Find the condition
A club can meet in the garden if a helper is there. Its plan says, 'If a helper is there, we can meet in the garden.'
The garden plan depends on a helper being there. The if part gives that condition. It does not promise a garden meeting.
Compare: 'When the meeting begins, we put our bags away.' The when part gives a time.
Point to the condition in the club's plan. Then point to the time in the other sentence.
2 · Watch
به انگلیسیTake it off screen
Where it sits
Learn first
Optional connections
This opens up
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
24 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.