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# subordinating

«subordinating» in Mova's school dictionary: **a joining word such as because, when, if, although…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

verb form (present participle of subordinate: subordinate, subordinates, subordinated, subordinating); adjective (subordinating conjunction)

### meaning for a pupil

1) (grammar) 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. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinating/#m1)

2) (formal) Subordinating something means treating it as less important than something else. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinating/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In English grammar lessons (and UK SATs), pupils learn subordinating conjunctions to write complex sentences: "I stayed inside because it was raining." The memory trick "I SAW A WABUB" (if, since, as, when, although, while, after, before, until, because) helps. Coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or) join equal parts instead.

### examples

- "Because" is a subordinating conjunction. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinating/#x1)
- Underline the subordinating conjunction: "We went home when the bell rang." [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinating/#x2)
- "Although" is a subordinating conjunction that shows contrast. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinating/#x3)
- Use a subordinating conjunction to join the two sentences. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinating/#x4)
- Subordinating conjunctions start subordinate clauses. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinating/#x5)
- (formal) She was subordinating her own wishes to the needs of the team. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinating/#x6)
- Start your sentence with a subordinating conjunction, like "If it snows, ...". [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinating/#x7)

### note

Subordinating ≠ coordinating: coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) join equal parts; subordinating ones make one part depend on another. A comma goes after the subordinate clause when it comes first: "When it rains, we stay in."

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «subordinating» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subordinating/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.