25 Subordinating Conjunctions

If youre having trouble developing sentences with sufficient variety to keep your writing fresh, take a ride on A WHITE B !" #o, I$ not shouting at you% A WHITE B ! is a $ne$onic initialis$ that re$inds you about a set of con&unctions with which you can begin dependent clauses" 'A dependent clause is a phrase that $ust be attached to an independent clause ( a series of words that can stand on its own as a sentence ( to $ake gra$$atical sense") Below, youll find the words or phrases that the letters in A WHITE B ! represent, and sa$ple sentences in which theyre e$ployed"

A
*" +After dinner, well go see a $ovie", -" +Although Id rather not, Ill $ake an e.ception", /" +As you know, shes rather eccentric",

W
0" +When were done, lets get so$e ice crea$", 1" +Whenever I go, I try to see so$ething Ive never seen before", 2" +Whether or not you agree, I think it looks fine", 3" +Where I go, they always have sales", 4" +Wherever I go, I try to en&oy $yself", 5" +While I$ there, I play $usic on a &ukebo.",

H
*6" +How is it that even though you go there all the ti$e, youve never noticed that before7,

I
**" +If you find out, please let $e know", *-" +In case you hadnt heard, I couldnt care less", */" +In order to en&oy your trip, take your ti$e and en&oy the sights",

T
*0" +That I like wearing red ( that has never been in dispute", *1" +Though I$ fle.ible, I draw the line about that",

E
*2" +Even if it is true, Ill forgive hi$", *3" +Even though Id heard the song before, I hadnt known who sang it", *4" +Ever since I $et her, I havent been able to think about anything else",

B
*5" +Because Ive been there before, Id rather go so$ewhere else", -6" +Before I saw the house, I was ready to &ust rent an apart$ent",

U
-*" +Unless youre willing to wait, youll have to co$e back to$orrow", --" +Until we find it, we cant leave",

S
-/" +Since then, Ive had a different opinion of hi$", -0" +So sure were you of your theory about the$, you ignored evidence that you were wrong", -1" +So that I$ sure I understand you, please repeat what you said", !o$eti$es, 8#, representing +only if, '+8nly if I get to drive will I go with you,) and +now that, '+#ow that we understand each other, things are $uch better,) precedes A WHITE B ! in the $ne$onic phrase" Note, too, that the order in which the dependent and independent clauses appear can be reversed (though often, the comma separating the clauses is then not necessary). However, because the independent clause generally contains the essential information, the sentence is usually more effective when the independent clause trails the dependent clause.