SubordinationSubordination

Order, Emphasis, and Word Order, Emphasis, and Word RelationshipsRelationships

Coordination vs. Subordination Coordination vs. Subordination

Whereas coordination Whereas coordination organizes text, it does organizes text, it does not emphasize or not emphasize or show relationships show relationships between words between words phrases or clauses phrases or clauses

Subordination shows Subordination shows which of the which of the presented ideas is presented ideas is most important most important (emphasis).(emphasis).Subordination allows Subordination allows writers to identify the writers to identify the main idea of a main idea of a sentence or refine sentence or refine that sentences that sentences meaning.meaning.

What else can subordination do?What else can subordination do?

Subordination can:Subordination can:– Add order to a Add order to a

sentencesentence– Place an emphasis on Place an emphasis on

a particular idea within a particular idea within the sentencethe sentence

– Allow writers to add Allow writers to add details to a sentencedetails to a sentence

General TipsGeneral Tips

When you use subordinate elements as When you use subordinate elements as modifiers, make sure that it’s clear what modifiers, make sure that it’s clear what they are modifyingthey are modifying

Sentences where the subject and verb are Sentences where the subject and verb are near the beginning are typically easier to near the beginning are typically easier to follow than sentences that begin with follow than sentences that begin with modifiers (this cuts down on those modifiers (this cuts down on those dangling modifiers!)dangling modifiers!)

Phrase-Level Subordination Phrase-Level Subordination

This is probably the This is probably the most common type of most common type of subordinationsubordination

Its purpose is usually Its purpose is usually to add description or to add description or emphasis.emphasis.

This type can be quite This type can be quite complicated (See complicated (See sample on Gorrell pg. sample on Gorrell pg. 20)20)

Cumulative SentencesCumulative Sentences

Most common Most common sentences containing sentences containing subordinate elements subordinate elements are cumulative are cumulative sentences (sentences sentences (sentences where the subject and where the subject and verb are near the verb are near the beginning and beginning and modifiers are added modifiers are added onto them.)onto them.)

ExampleExample--– The boy ran into the The boy ran into the

room, where he kicked room, where he kicked his sister, stomped on his sister, stomped on the cat, and peed in the cat, and peed in the corner, before he the corner, before he exited to a chorus of exited to a chorus of his mother’s screams.his mother’s screams.

Subordinate Clauses as Parts of Subordinate Clauses as Parts of SpeechSpeech

Subordinate clauses can be parts of Subordinate clauses can be parts of speech, such as adjective clauses and speech, such as adjective clauses and adverb clausesadverb clausesYou can identify adjective clauses by You can identify adjective clauses by looking for looking for who, where, thatwho, where, that, and , and whichwhich at at the beginning of the clausethe beginning of the clauseYou can identify adverb clauses by looking You can identify adverb clauses by looking for for whilewhileNoun clauses often begin with Noun clauses often begin with thatthat..

How to find subordinate phrases How to find subordinate phrases and clausesand clauses

To find subordinate To find subordinate clauses, look for clauses, look for subordinate conjunctions subordinate conjunctions (for a list of these, refer to (for a list of these, refer to blackboard handout)blackboard handout)You can often find You can often find subordinate phrases by subordinate phrases by looking for prepositions or looking for prepositions or participles (These often participles (These often denote that the phrases denote that the phrases are being used as are being used as modifying parts of modifying parts of speech)speech)

Example-Example-– At the end of the day, At the end of the day,

Peter went berserkPeter went berserk, , throwing his toys, flailing throwing his toys, flailing his arms, and of course, his arms, and of course, harming the cat.harming the cat.

Work Time!Work Time!

Complete the Complete the exercise on page 23 exercise on page 23 of your Gorrell text. of your Gorrell text. Be prepared to Be prepared to discuss your answers.discuss your answers.