Grammar
74 Coordination and Subordination for Sentence Variety
In the previous section, we learned how to use different patterns to create sentence variety and to add emphasis to important points in our writing.
- Coordination: Joining two related ideas of equal importance.
- Subordination: Joining two related ideas of unequal important.
Connecting sentences with coordinate or subordinate clauses creates more coherent paragraphs, and in turn, produces more effective writing. Read the following writing excerpt:
When the red grapes arrive at the winery, they are destemmed and crushed. The liquid that is left is made up of skins, seeds, and juice. The stems are removed. They contain harsh-tasting tannins. Once the grapes are destemmed and crushed, the liquid is pumped into a fermentation container. Here, sulfur dioxide is added. It prevents the liquid from becoming oxidized. It also destroys bacteria. Some winemakers carry out the fermenting process by using yeast that is naturally present on the grapes. Many add a yeast that is cultivated in a laboratory.
This section examines several ways to combine sentences with coordination and subordination, using this excerpt as an example.
Coordination
Coordination joins two independent clauses that contain related ideas of equal importance.
In their current form, these sentences contain two separate ideas that may or may not be related. Am I staying home this week because I spent my paycheck, or is there another reason for my lack of enthusiasm to leave the house? To indicate a relationship between the two ideas, we can use the coordinating conjunction so:
The revised sentence illustrates that the two ideas are connected. Notice that the sentence retains two independent clauses (I spent my entire paycheck; I am staying home this weekend) because each can stand alone as a complete idea.
Coordinating conjunctions
A coordinating conjunction is a word that joins two independent clauses. The most common coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. Note that a comma precedes the coordinating conjunction when joining two clauses.
| Independent Clause | Coordinating Conjunction | Independent Clause | Revised Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| I will not be attending the dance. | for (indicates a reason or cause) | I have no one to go with. | I will not be attending the dance, for I have no one to go with. |
| I plan to stay home. | and (joins two ideas) | I will complete an essay for class. | I plan to stay home, and I will complete an essay for class. |
| Jessie isn’t going to be at the dance. | nor (indicates a negative) | Harjot won’t be there either. | Jessie isn’t going to be at the dance, nor will Harjot be there. |
| The fundraisers are hoping for a record-breaking attendance. | but (indicates a contrast) | I don’t think many people are going. | The fundraisers are hoping for a record-breaking attendance, but I don’t think many people are going. |
| I might go to the next fundraising event. | or (offers an alternative) | I might donate some money to the cause. | I might go to the next fundraising event, or I might donate some money to the cause. |
| My parents are worried that I am antisocial. | yet (indicates a reason) | I have many friends at school. | My parents are worried that I am antisocial, yet I have many friends at school. |
| Buying a new dress is expensive. | so (indicates a result) | By staying home I will save money. | Buying a new dress is expensive, so by staying home I will save money. |
Conjunctive adverbs
Another method of joining two independent clauses with related and equal ideas is to use a conjunctive adverb and a semicolon. A conjunctive adverb is a linking word that demonstrates a relationship between two clauses. Read the following sentences:
Since these sentences contain two equal and related ideas, they may be joined using a conjunctive adverb. Now, read the revised sentence:
The revised sentence explains the relationship between Bridget’s desire to take part in the next Olympics and their daily training. Notice that the conjunctive adverb comes after a semicolon that separates the two clauses and is followed by a comma.
Review the following chart of some common conjunctive adverbs with examples of how they are used:
| Function | Conjunctive Adverb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Addition | also, furthermore, moreover, besides | Alicia was late for class and stuck in traffic; furthermore, her shoe heel had broken and she had forgotten her lunch. |
| Comparison | similarly, likewise | Recycling aluminum cans is beneficial to the environment; similarly, reusing plastic bags and switching off lights reduces waste. |
| Contrast | instead, however, conversely | Most people do not walk to work; instead, they drive or take public transit. |
| Emphasis | namely, certainly, indeed | The Siberian tiger is a rare creature; indeed, there are fewer than five hundred left in the wild. |
| Cause and Effect | accordingly, consequently, hence, thus | I missed my train this morning; consequently, I was late for my meeting. |
| Time | finally, next, subsequently, then | Danzel crossed the barrier, jumped over the wall, and pushed through the hole in the fence; finally, he made it to the station. |
Take a look at the excerpt on wine production and identify some areas in which the writer might use coordination.
When the red grapes arrive at the winery, they are destemmed and crushed. The liquid that is left is made up of skins, seeds, and juice. The stems are removed. They contain harsh-tasting tannins. Once the grapes are destemmed and crushed, the liquid is pumped into a fermentation container. Here, sulfur dioxide is added. It prevents the liquid from becoming oxidized. It also destroys bacteria. Some winemakers carry out the fermenting process by using yeast that is naturally present on the grapes. Many add a yeast that is cultivated in a laboratory.
Now look at this revised paragraph. Did you coordinate the same sentences? You may find that your answers are different because there are usually several ways to join two independent clauses.
When the red grapes arrive at the winery, they are destemmed and crushed. The liquid that is left is made up of skins, seeds, and juice. The stems are removed, for they contain harsh-tasting tanins. Once the grapes are destemmed and crushed, the liquid is pumped into a fermentation container. Here, sulfer dioxide is added. It prevents the liquid from becoming oxidized and also destroys bacteria. Some winemakers carry out the fermenting process by using yeast that is naturally present on the grapes, however, many add a yeast that is cultuvated in a laboratory.
Exercises
Combine each sentence pair into a single sentence using either a coordinating conjunction or a conjunctive adverb. Then copy the combined sentence onto your own sheet of paper.
- Pets are not allowed in Mr. Taylor’s building. He owns several cats and a parrot.
- New legislation prevents drivers from sending or reading text messages while driving. Many people continue to use their phones illegally.
- The professor concluded that the student had forgotten to submit his assignment. By the time the deadline had passed, there was still no assignment.
- Amphibians are vertebrates that live on land and in the water. Flatworms are invertebrates that live only in water.
- Tara carefully fed and watered her tomato plants all summer. The tomatoes grew juicy and ripe.
- When he lost his car key, Simon attempted to open the door with a wire hanger, a credit card, and a paper clip. He called the manufacturer for advice.
Collaboration
Please share with a classmate and compare your answers.
Subordination
Subordination joins two sentences with related ideas by merging them into a main clause (a complete sentence) and a dependent clause (a construction that relies on the main clause to complete its meaning). Coordination allows a writer to give equal weight to the two ideas that are being combined, and subordination enables a writer to emphasize one idea over the other. Take a look at the following sentences:
To illustrate that these two ideas are related, we can rewrite them as a single sentence using the subordinating conjunction even though.
In the revised version, we now have an independent clause (she stopped to help the injured man) that stands as a complete sentence and a dependent clause (even though Tracy would be late for work) that is subordinate to the main clause. Notice that the revised sentence emphasizes the fact that Tracy stopped to help the injured man, rather than the fact she would be late for work. We could also write the sentence this way:
The meaning remains the same in both sentences, with the subordinating conjunction even though introducing the dependent clause.
Subordinating conjunctions
A subordinating conjunction is a word that joins a subordinate (dependent) clause to a main (independent) clause. Review the following chart of some common subordinating conjunctions and examples of how they are used:
| Function | Subordinating Conjunction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Concession | although, while, though, whereas, even though | Sarah completed her report even though she had to stay late to get it done. |
| Condition | if, unless, until | Until we know what is causing the problem, we will not be able to fix it. |
| Manner | as if, as, though | Everyone in the conference room stopped talking at once, as though they had been stunned into silence. |
| Place | where, wherever | Rita is in Toronto where she has several important client meetings. |
| Reason | because, since, so that, in order that | Because the air conditioning was turned up so high, everyone in the office wore sweaters. |
| Time | after, before, while, once, when | After the meeting had finished, we all went to lunch. |
Take a look at the excerpt and identify some areas in which the writer might use subordination.
When the red grapes arrive at the winery, they are destemmed and crushed. The liquid that is left is made up of skins, seeds, and juice. The stems are removed. They contain harsh-tasting tannins. Once the grapes are destemmed and crushed, the liquid is pumped into a fermentation container. Here, sulfur dioxide is added. It prevents the liquid from becoming oxidized. It also destroys bacteria. Some winemakers carry out the fermenting process by using yeast that is naturally present on the grapes. Many add a yeast that is cultivated in a laboratory.
Now look at this revised paragraph and compare your answers. You will probably notice that there are many different ways to subordinate sentences.
When the red grapes arrive at the winery, they are destemmed and crushed. The liquid that is left is made up of skins, seeds, and juice. Because the stems contain harsh-tasting tannins, they are removed. Once the grapes are destemmed and crushed, the liquid is pumped into a fermentation container. Here, sulfer dioxide is added in order to prevent the liquid from becoming oxidized. Sulfer dioxide also destroys bacteria. Although some winemakers carry out the fermenting process by using yeast that is naturally present on the grapes, many add a yeast that is cultivated in a laboratory.
Exercises
Combine each sentence pair into a single sentence using a subordinating conjunction and then copy the combined sentence onto your own sheet of paper.
- Jake is going to Haida Gwaii. There are beautiful beaches in Haida Gwaii.
- A snowstorm disrupted traffic all over the east coast. There will be long delivery delays this week.
- My neighbor had his television volume turned up too high. I banged on his door and asked him to keep the noise down.
- Kathryn prepared the potato salad and the sautéed vegetables. Stewart marinated the chicken.
- Romeo poisons himself. Juliet awakes to find Romeo dead and stabs herself with a dagger.
Join the underlined sentences using coordination or subordination. Check your revised sentences for punctuation.
The yeast is added to the must. Alcoholic fermentation then begins. Here, the red wine production process differs from the method used in white wine production. Red wine is fermented for a shorter time. It is fermented at a higher temperature. Whereas white wines may ferment for over a month, red wines typically ferment for less than two weeks. During fermentation, contact between the skins and the juice releases tannins and flavor compounds into the must. This process is known as maceration. Maceration may occur before, during, or after fermentation. The fermentation process is completed. The next stage is pressing. Many methods are used for pressing, the most common of which is basket pressing.
Text Attributions
- This chapter was adapted from “Coordination and Subordination” in Writing for Success by a publisher who has requested that they and the original author not receive attribution (and republished by University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing), which is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence. Adapted by Allison Kilgannon.
