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 already know how to join two ideas with 'and.' There are other special words that join ideas too, and each one does its own job. Because, if, when, but, and or all connect two ideas into one sentence.
Zara wanted to go to the park, but it started raining. She wrote: 'I wanted to go to the park, but it started raining.' The word 'but' shows that her plan and what happened do not match.
If it stops raining, we can go outside. When the bell rings, we line up. 'If' talks about something that might happen. 'When' talks about something that happens at a certain time.
After you write a short sentence, ask yourself why, when, or what if. If you can answer, join the two ideas with because, when, or if instead of writing two separate sentences.
One more joining word is so. Use it when the first idea makes the second one happen. It rained, so we stayed in. The rain came first, and staying in is what it made happen.
Because, if, when, but, or, and so each join two ideas in their own special way.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
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.