---
title: subordinating — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «subordinating» in the school dictionary: A subordinating conjunction is a joining word such as because, when, if, although, while, since, before or until that starts a subordinate clause — a part of a sentence that cannot stand alone. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatic
---

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# subordinating

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** subordinating conjunction, that, sentence, Subordinating, you, We · **What happens:** subordinate, join, be, start, not stand, mean · **To what, where:** joining word, subordinate clause, something, it, subordinating conjunction, contrast · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«subordinating» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [subordinating in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/subordinating.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: grammar — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A subordinating conjunction is a joining word such as because, when, if, although, while, since, before or until that starts a subordinate clause — a part of a sentence that cannot stand alone.

<!-- fold The tree, 33 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinating:m1:1
# text = A subordinating conjunction is a joining word such as because, when, if, although, while, since, before or until that starts a subordinate clause — a part of a sentence that cannot stand alone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	subordinating	subordinate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	conjunction	conjunction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	joining	join	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	although	although	SCONJ	IN	_	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
18	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
20	since	since	ADP	IN	_	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
22	before	before	ADP	IN	_	20	conj	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	fixed	_	_
24	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	26	mark	_	_
25	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	26	nsubj	_	_
26	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	advcl	_	_
27	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
28	subordinate	subordinate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	29	amod	_	_
29	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obj	_	_
30	—	-	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
31	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
32	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	appos	_	_
33	of	of	ADP	IN	_	35	case	_	_
34	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
35	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	nmod	_	_
36	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	39	nsubj	_	_
37	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	39	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	39	advmod	_	_
39	stand	stand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	35	acl:relcl	_	_
40	alone	alone	ADV	RB	_	39	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
41	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subordinate** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **join** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** | present | a subordinating conjunction | a joining word |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **start** | present | that | a subordinate clause |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **not** **stand** | can | a sentence |  |  |  |  | alone *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Subordinating something means treating it as less important than something else.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinating:m2:1
# text = Subordinating something means treating it as less important than something else.
1	Subordinating	subordinate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	csubj	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	treating	treat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	as	as	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	8	advmod	_	_
8	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	_
9	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obl	_	_
11	else	else	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subordinate** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Subordinating |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **treat** *not said to happen* | gerund | Subordinating *not said here* | it |  |  |  |  | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent it=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Because" is a subordinating conjunction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinating:x1:1
# text = "Because" is a subordinating conjunction.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	subordinating	subordinate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	conjunction	conjunction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subordinate** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a subordinating conjunction |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Underline the subordinating conjunction: "We went home when the bell rang."

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinating:x2:1
# text = Underline the subordinating conjunction: "We went home when the bell rang."
1	Underline	underline	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	subordinating	subordinate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
4	conjunction	conjunction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
9	home	home	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	13	advmod	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	bell	bell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	rang	ring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **underline** | imperative | you *not said here* | the subordinating conjunction |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **subordinate** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** *in a quote* | past | We |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **ring** *in a quote* | past | the bell |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Although" is a subordinating conjunction that shows contrast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinating:x3:1
# text = "Although" is a subordinating conjunction that shows contrast.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Although	although	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	subordinating	subordinate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	conjunction	conjunction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	contrast	contrast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subordinate** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a subordinating conjunction |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **show** | present | a subordinating conjunction | contrast |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent contrast=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use a subordinating conjunction to join the two sentences.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinating:x4:1
# text = Use a subordinating conjunction to join the two sentences.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	subordinating	subordinate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
4	conjunction	conjunction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	join	join	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	sentences	sentence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a subordinating conjunction |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent conjunction=Patient |
| 2 | **subordinate** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **join** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the two sentences |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sentence=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Subordinating conjunctions start subordinate clauses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinating:x5:1
# text = Subordinating conjunctions start subordinate clauses.
1	Subordinating	subordinate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	amod	_	_
2	conjunctions	conjunction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	subordinate	subordinate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	clauses	clause	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subordinate** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **start** | present | Subordinating conjunctions | subordinate clauses |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) She was subordinating her own wishes to the needs of the team.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinating:x6:1
# text = (formal) She was subordinating her own wishes to the needs of the team.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	subordinating	subordinate	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	wishes	wish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	needs	need	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subordinate** | past · progressive | formal | her own wishes |  |  |  | to the needs of the team | tree rules |
| 2 | **wish** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom wish «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |
| 3 | **need** |  |  | the team |  |  |  |  | nom need «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Start your sentence with a subordinating conjunction, like "If it snows, ...".

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subordinating:x7:1
# text = Start your sentence with a subordinating conjunction, like "If it snows, ...".
1	Start	start	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	subordinating	subordinate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
7	conjunction	conjunction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
10	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	snows	snow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	...	...	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | imperative | you *not said here* | your sentence |  |  |  | with a subordinating conjunction | tree rules |
| 2 | **subordinate** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **snow** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 4 | **sentence** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom sentence «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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