How Subordinating Conjunctions Connect Independent and Dependent Clauses

Khan Academy

This educational video provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to subordinating conjunctions and their role in sentence structure. The narrator breaks down the fundamental difference between independent and dependent clauses, explaining that while all sentences are clauses, not all clauses are sentences. Using the helpful analogy of a tree (independent clause) and a ladder (dependent clause), the video demonstrates how subordinating conjunctions function to connect these two types of clauses to add context and detail to writing. The content covers key grammatical concepts including the definition of a clause (subject plus verb), the identifying features of sentence fragments, and the distinction between coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) and subordinating conjunctions. Through humorous example sentences involving characters like Herbert and Sir Reginald, viewers learn practical tests—such as the "Yeah? So what?" test—to identify dependent clauses and determine if a sentence is grammatically complete. For educators, this video is an excellent resource for teaching complex sentence structure and helping students avoid sentence fragments. It simplifies abstract grammatical terms into tangible concepts using visual aids and memorable analogies. The video concludes with a comprehensive list of common subordinating conjunctions, making it a useful reference tool for students looking to add variety and sophistication to their writing.