Avoid Fragments with Subordinating Conjunctions

Fill in the Blanks

Which subordinating conjunction would you use to join this sentence?

unless

because

although

Hip hop music was invented in the South Bronx in New York City.

It spread around the world.

​Although Hip hop music was invented in the South Bronx in New York City, it spread around the world.

​Hip hop music spread around the world although it was invented in the South Bronx in New York City.

​Two Ways to Combine

Avoid Fragments Caused by Subordinating Conjunctions

By John Zeller

Open Ended

These are Sentence Fragments (incomplete thoughts). Can you explain why?

"Although it was expensive."

"When the bell rings."

"Unless you study hard."

• Main Clause

  • The Sentence's Primary Message

  • A Complete Thought

• Subordinate Clause

  • Provides Context for the Main Clause

    • Time

    • Cause and Effect

    • Contrast

  • Not a Complete Thought

​Subordinate Clauses and Main Clauses.

Multiple Choice

In the following sentence, which is the main clause?

Whenever the mailman arrives, my dog starts barking.

• Whenever the mailman arrives,

• my dog starts barking.

Use the same phrase in a pair of complex sentences

Main clause: Even if it is raining, the mailman arrives.

Subordinate clause: Unless the mailman arrives, we won't have today's mail.

Open Ended

Use the phrase "the dog starts barking" as

the main clause in a complex sentence,

then as the subordinate clause in a complex sentence.