Hello there, I'm delighted to assist you today. As a language expert with a keen interest in linguistics and grammar, I've spent considerable time dissecting and understanding the intricacies of sentence structure. Let's delve into the fascinating world of conjunctions and their various roles in English grammar.
A subordinating conjunction is a type of conjunction that connects a dependent (or subordinate) clause to an independent clause. It's crucial to note that while some words can function as both prepositions and subordinating conjunctions, their role in a sentence determines how we classify them. When they are used to introduce a clause and make it subordinate to an independent clause, they are considered subordinating conjunctions.
Let's consider the examples you've provided: "after," "before," and "since." These words can indeed serve dual roles. As prepositions, they can indicate relationships in terms of time or space. For instance, "after the meeting" or "before the concert" can denote a time preceding or following an event. However, when they are used to connect clauses, they take on a different function.
For instance, in the sentence "I will call you after I finish my work," the word "after" introduces a dependent clause "I finish my work" and makes it clear that the action of calling is contingent upon the completion of the work. Here, "after" is functioning as a subordinating conjunction, not a preposition.
Similarly, "since" can be used to indicate the time from a past event until the present (e.g., "I've been working here since 2015"), but when it connects clauses, it indicates a reason or a time frame. For example, "Since it's raining, we should cancel the picnic" uses "since" to show the cause for the decision to cancel the picnic.
Understanding the distinction between the roles of such words is vital for constructing clear and grammatically correct sentences. It's also important to recognize that not all subordinating conjunctions have dual roles. Some, like "although," "because," "if," and "when," are exclusively used to connect clauses and cannot function as prepositions.
Now, let's take a broader look at the variety of subordinating conjunctions and their uses:


1. Time: when, while, as, whenever, until

2. Place: where, wherever

3. Reason: because, since, as, now that

4. Condition: if, unless, in case, provided that, on condition that

5. Concession: although, though, even though, despite the fact that

6. Purpose: so that, in order that
7.
Result: so, such that, so much so that
8.
Comparison: as if, as though, than

Each of these conjunctions serves a specific purpose in linking clauses and providing additional information about the relationship between the ideas expressed.

In summary, whether a word is a subordinating conjunction depends on its use within a sentence. Words like "after," "before," and "since" can be prepositions, but when they are used to introduce a clause and subordinate it to another part of the sentence, they are indeed subordinating conjunctions.

Now, let's proceed to the next step of our discussion.

read more >>

Notice that some of the subordinating conjunctions in the table below -- after, before, since -- are also prepositions, but as subordinators they are being used to introduce a clause and to subordinate the following clause to the independent element in the sentence.read more >>