A second kind of conjunction is the subordinating conjunction. It joins an independent clause and a dependent clause and can be used to combine short, simple sentences to increase variety and minimize or emphasize ideas. Some subordinate conjunctions are because, if, once, when, and whenever.

Subordinating conjunctions can often be found introducing subordinate clauses. Subordinate clauses can act as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs depending on their positions in a sentence

Still, there's one more thing you to need to know. Sometimes subordinate clauses are introduced by relative pronouns such as what, who, whose, that, and which. Knowing subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns will give you that little bit of magic you need to spot subordinate clauses.

Take a look at the subordinate clauses in the chart below (shown in red).

Simple sentence:	I want some fruit.
Noun clause:	Some fruit is what I want.
Adjective clause:	I want some fruit that tastes fresh.
Adverb clause:	Because I want some fruit, I raid the kitchen.

Notice that the subordinate clauses are fragments. They cannot stand alone. Also, take a look at the punctuation of the adverbial subordinate clause. When such a clause appears at the beginning of the sentence, it should be set apart from the rest of the sentence with a comma.

In the exercise below, pair the independent or main clauses with subordinate clauses to create meaningful sentences. Choose your answer from each drop-down menu.

Subordinate clauses, of course, can also work at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence. Consider the examples below.

Sentences with a subordinate clause at the beginning

• When he was a baby, Harry Potter witnessed his parents’ murder.
• If Harry doesn’t stop him, Lord Voldemort will conquer the wizard world.

Sentences with a subordinate clause in the middle

• Harry’s greatest wish, which is to see his dead parents, is highlighted in the mirror scene in the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
• Lord Voldemort, who has practiced dark magic for many years, attempts to kill Harry and his parents.

To create variety, a writer may combine simple sentences (consisting of a subject and a verb) into a complex sentence through the process of subordination. Study the example below. The subordinate clause in the complex sentence is red.

 

Simple sentences:	J.K. Rowling has written seven Harry Potter novels. She is an award-winning British author.
Complex sentence:	J.K. Rowling, who is an award-winning British author, has written seven Harry Potter novels.

1. Harry must overcome Lord Voldemort.
   Lord Voldemort is a threat to Muggles as well as wizards.


2. Rebeus Hagrid found Harry in an isolated Hut-on-the-Rock.
   Hagrid forced his way in, much to Uncle Vernon and Aunt Perunia's displeasure.


3. Lord Voldemort kills Harry’s parents.
   He also attempts to murder the infant boy.

Subordinate clauses are not that mysterious after all. Add them to your simple and compound sentences to achieve greater variety and enchantment. Consider the following quotation:

Now, keep in mind the magic charms you have learned in this lesson for enchanting your audience.

• Vary sentence beginnings, middles, and ends with adjectives, adverbs, and phrases.
  
  
• Vary sentence endings with emphatic appositives and epistrophe.
  
  
• Combine sentences with coordinators.
  
  
• Add to and combine sentences with subordinate clauses.

In this lesson, you have learned strategies to make your writing magical, and you have proven another of Gilles Haman’s claims:  “the worst kept secret about writing’s magic spell is that anyone can pick up the pen and do the same.”

Actual supernatural powers are not required. Neither is a Hogwarts education. All you need to do is think about this lesson the next time you revise an essay and consider how you can add variety and a little magic to your sentences.