Activity For Subordinating Conjunction

Read along silently as your teacher reads the story.
A Surprise for Me
by Michelle B. Balatbat
As soon as I opened my eyes that beautiful Saturday morning, Papa told me that I should get ready for he’s got a
surprise for me! Though I still feel like staying in bed for I am still sleepy, I knew it was something I’ll definitely enjoy!
Just as I finished preparing myself up, Mom came up and told me to hurry up.
Once we got to the car, Papa told me that I would definitely enjoy where we are going! I’m feeling all the excitement
and once we parked into this unfamiliar garage I wonder, whose house that was? Until we knocked on the door, I kept
trying to make guesses of who’s house could that be? And just as the door opens, I heard a familiar voice!
“Come in, come in!” says that lovely voice.
It’s grandma! While I was jumping up and down Grandma showed up with a wonderful smile! As soon as I saw her, my
heart felt so happy. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her and this is such a wonderful surprise! Even though the house
is quite old, it felt so comfortable and welcoming. While they were preparing for lunch, I went to Papa and whispered,
“Thank you for this surprise Papa! I really missed, Gradma!”
“You’re welcome, my son. Whenever you want to visit her just tell me and I’ll bring you here.”
Answer these questions:
 Why did the boy wake up early?
 Where did they drive to see the surprise?
 Do you think he had fun with that surprise? Explain your answer.
Look at the underlined words used in the story.
just as although while though once even though
as soon as until whenever
These words are called conjunctions known as subordinating conjunctions. These are also joining words used to join
two words, phrases and clauses to make one long sentence.
Common Subordinating Conjunctions
Conjunctions can bring different flavors of meaning to writing, building into the resulting sentence the relationship
between the main and subordinate clause. There are five main classes of conjunctions, based on the type of meaning
they convey.
 Time-related conjunctions establish a period when the main clause will be performed. These include after, as
soon as, as long as, before, once, still, until, when, whenever, and while. For example, "I will do the
dishes after everyone has gone home" might be said by a hostess who prefers to enjoy her guests while they are
there.
 Concession and comparison conjunctions redefine the main clause in the context of the process being delivered.
Concession conjunctions include although, as though, and even though. "Eliza wrote the Higgins report, even
though it was assigned to Colonel Pickering." Comparison conjunctions include just as, though, whereas, in
contrast to, and while: "Ellen v-logged about the results of the political meeting, in contrast to her arch-enemy
who merely blogged."
 Cause conjunctions illuminate the reason that the main clause activities were performed and are commonly
engineered by using as, because, in order that, since, and so that. "Grant dreamed about cheese because he had
eaten so much of it the night before."
 Condition conjunctions set the rules under which the main clause will be performed and are indicated by even if,
if, in case, provided that, and unless. "Unless it rains on Saturday, we will have the picnic in the park." Note that
subordinate clauses can come first in a sentence, but they're still subordinate because without the main point
they can't exist.
 Place conjunctions determine where activities might occur and are primarily where, wherever, and whereas. "I
will place my conjunction in the sentence wherever I please."
Putting the Subordinator First

"We'll have a picnic on Saturday" is an independent clause that can be modified by the dependent clause "it rains" using
the conjunction "unless." But when we risked a picnic on Saturday's sunniness, we put the conjunction in front of a
sentence: It rains on Saturday. Putting a subordinate conjunction (unless) in front of that sentence makes it dependent,
and now requires a main clause to support it: "we'll have a picnic."
Putting the subordinate clause first can have interesting or even witty results. In his play "The Importance of Being
Earnest," Oscar Wilde commented on the way people speak effusively when they are madly in love. Gwendolyn says to
Jack, "If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life."
The 20th-century humorist Robert Benchley wrote, "After an author has been dead for some time, it becomes
increasingly difficult for his publishers to get a new book out of him each year." Because Benchley put the conjunction
and its subordinate clause first, he made the line funnier by delaying the effect.
Let’s Do This
The following exercises will help you gain greater understanding about how subordinating conjunctions work. Choose
the best answer to complete each sentence.
1. _________ the basement flooded, we spent all day cleaning up. ( After, Although, Before, Even if)
2. I don’t want to go to the movies _____________ I hate the smell of popcorn. ( although, because, whenever, so that)
3. I paid Larry, ___________ garden design work is top-notch. ( whenever, whose, after, if)
4. ___________ spring arrives, we have to be prepared for more snow. ( Because, Until, Although, Now that)
5. _____________ the alarm goes off, I hit the snooze button. ( As soon as, Because, Before, Now that)
Let’s Remember This
Subordinating conjunctions joins a subordinate clause to a main clause
A subordinate clause cannot exist alone as a single sentence because it depends on a main clause for its meaning.
 They often show comparison, a reason, a purpose, time, or place.
Let’s Test Ourselves
The sentences below either have subordinating clause or a coordinating clause. Circle the conjunction used in each
sentence, then write CC if it is Coordinating Conjunction and SC if it is Subordinating Conjunction.
1. James picked the dinner, and Nadine picked the dessert.
2. Malia laughed when the puppy chased its tail.
3. The lion limped as it crept through the jungle.
4. Because it began to rain, the game was called off.
5. I called Alyana, but she didn’t answer.
6. If the door is open, you should close it.
7. It was a good movie, yet no one saw it.
8. Whenever Anne is ready, we all leave.
9. The class picnic will be at the beach, or it will be at the zoo.
10. The campers stopped to rest although they were in a hurry.

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Read along silently as your teacher reads the story.

“Come in, come in!” says that lovely voice.

Answer these questions:

 Why did the boy wake up early?

 Where did they drive to see the surprise?

Look at the underlined words used in the story.

just as although while though once even though

as soon as until whenever

Common Subordinating Conjunctions

Putting the Subordinator First

Let’s Remember This

Subordinating conjunctions joins a subordinate clause to a main clause

 They often show comparison, a reason, a purpose, time, or place.

Let’s Test Ourselves

1. James picked the dinner, and Nadine picked the dessert.

2. Malia laughed when the puppy chased its tail.

3. The lion limped as it crept through the jungle.

4. Because it began to rain, the game was called off.

5. I called Alyana, but she didn’t answer.

6. If the door is open, you should close it.

7. It was a good movie, yet no one saw it.

8. Whenever Anne is ready, we all leave.

9. The class picnic will be at the beach, or it will be at the zoo.

10. The campers stopped to rest although they were in a hurry.

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