When a sentence has more than 1 clause, the clauses can be joined together either as coordinated clauses of equal status (coordination) or as a main clause and dependent clauses (subordination).
Coordination
Coordinated clauses are equal in status. They are joined by and, but, however, or or nor:
- And is used to add additional information.
- But and however are used to give contrasting information.
- Or and nor are used to give positive or negative alternatives.
We were keen to continue the bushwalk
and find the smugglers cave.
We were keen to continue the bushwalk, but the smugglers cave was too far.
We were keen to continue the bushwalk; however, the group decided they would set up camp first.
We could continue the bushwalk or camp for the night.
We could neither keep walking nor find shelter from the rain.
Note that however used in this way should be preceded by a semicolon or a full stop, not a comma:
I wanted to have lunch; however, I was running late.
not
I wanted to have lunch, however, I was running late.
Subordination
Clauses related by subordination are unequal in status: the subordinate clause depends on the main clause. Subordinate clauses can be joined to the main clause with:
- adverbial subordinators – such as although, because, since, until, when
We walked fast
because it was raining.
We will keep walking until we find a suitable spot.
- complement links – that, what, how, if (used with verbs such as say, think, ask, wonder)
We thought
that it was a good idea.
He wondered what he should do.
The children,
who were hungry, ate everything on the plate.
[nondefining]
The children who were hungry ate everything on the plate. [defining]
[The first sentence is about all the children: every child ate up, and their hunger is incidental. The second statement makes it just the hungry children who ate up, and the sentence defines that subset of them.]
See also That and which, Who and whom.
Did you know?
With is not a subordinator but a preposition. It is often used in bureaucratic writing to join clauses, but it is clearer to use the appropriate conjunction:
The smoke haze is affecting civilian health, with increasing admissions to Sydney hospitals.
is better as
The smoke haze is affecting civilian health, and admissions to Sydney hospitals are increasing.
