What is a clause?
What is an independent clause?
What is a dependent clause?
What is a subordinate clause?
Do you need a comma?
Some clauses are sentences.
Jonas ate an apple.
Some clauses are NOT sentences.
After Jonas ate an apple.
Dependent means it relies on others.
Look at this toddler.
This toddler DEPENDS on others.
Independent means it does not rely on others.
You probably feel independent sometimes. You don't need someone else.
Getting a drivers license makes us feel independent.
subjects and verbs
can stand on their own
subjects and verbs
they cannot stand on their own
The cat ate cereal.
Jerry will graduate college.
While the cat ate cereal
If Jerry will graduate from college
Notice a curious thing:
The dependent clauses here are actually longer - they have more words.
Can stand on their own
Does not need babysitter.
The band performed three songs.
Need to be helped by an independent clause
It needs a grown up who is independent.
While the band performed three songs, Jemima did a dance routine.
Here is a video that might help.
Link to the source of this list
50 Subordinating Conjunctions
These words or phrases subordinate a part of the sentence.
What?
They make one part of the sentence subordinate to another. They lower the rank of that part so it is dependent on the other.
Do you see how a subordinating conjunction makes one part of the sentence of lower rank or position?
The red text is the subordinate clause (it is dependent and needs an independent clause as a babysitter)
Is the dependent / subordinate clause before or after the independent clause?