Conjunction

Subordinating Conjunctions for Class 5 English

The students will study subordinating conjunctions and their usage in English. They will learn how subordinating conjunction joins one complete sentence with an incomplete sentence. There are some subordinating conjunction examples and common mistakes shared in this concept.

In this learning concept, the students will learn the following:

• To identify subordinating conjunction.
• To use subordinating conjunctions in sentences.

Every concept is taught to class 5 English students with the help of examples, illustrations, and concept maps. Once you go through a concept, assess your learning by solving the two printable subordinating conjunction worksheets given at the end of the page.

Download the worksheets and check your answers with the worksheet solutions for the concept subordinating conjunction provided in PDF format.

Conjunction Definition:

• Conjunctions are those words that join words, phrases, or clauses and to make one sentence.
• There are three types of conjunctions. They are coordinating conjunction, subordinating conjunction, and correlative conjunction.

We will learn about subordinating conjunctions today.

Subordinating Conjunctions Definition:

1. A subordinating conjunction helps to join one complete sentence with an incomplete sentence. An incomplete sentence cannot stand alone nor can it give meaning like a complete sentence.

Examples:


2. Subordinating conjunctions forms a relation between the complete sentence and the incomplete sentence.

• The subordinating conjunction adds more details to the incomplete sentence.
• Usually, there is no comma before a subordinating conjunction.

Example:

Now let us study some of the subordinating conjunctions.

1. If

‘If’ usually used to show some condition.

Examples:

Seema can write the story if you ask her.

In the sentence above, the first part of the sentence ‘She can write the story’ is a complete sentence. This complete sentence is joined with an incomplete sentence ‘if you ask her’. A conjunction ‘if’ is used to show the condition that Seema can write a story only if someone were to ask her to do so. Hence the word ‘if’ shows condition in a sentence.

2. Where

The conjunction ‘where’ is used to show a place or location.

Examples:

I don’t know where he has gone.

Here ‘where’ is the subordinating conjunction that connects the incomplete sentence ‘I don’t know’ with the complete sentence ‘where he has gone’.

3. Unless

‘Unless’ is a conjunction that shows the result on not fulfilling a condition.

Examples:

He may miss the train unless he runs fast.

Here the subordinating conjunction ‘unless’ shows the possible result of not running fast. It is joining the incomplete sentence ‘he may miss the train’ with the subordinate clause unless he runs fast.

4. Since

‘Since’ shows the duration of a certain time in the past until the present time. It is used to mention time.

Examples:

Ravi couldn’t come to school since last week.

In the above sentence, it shows that the duration of his absence from school has been mentioned starting from last week until today.

5. While

The conjunction while is usually used to join two actions at the same time.

Examples:

Somali was watching television while her mom was cooking.

In this example above ‘while’ is joining the incomplete sentence ‘her mom was cooking’ with the complete sentence ‘Somali was watching television’.

Common Mistake

For subordinating conjunctions, do not use a comma before the conjunction.

Examples:

• Sheetal will get to eat the cake if she helps her mother to bake it.
• Sheetal will get to eat the cake, if she helps her mother to bake it.