Subordinating conjunctions are often used to form the basic form of the complex sentence. These are often referred to as adverbial clauses

1. Subordinating
conjunctions
aka adverbial clauses
crafting sentences with commas

2. Let’s imitate
Model sentence:
If there was an Olympic contest for talking, Shelly Stalls would sweep the event
Flipped (2001)
Let’s imitate the model sentence with something of our own by replacing the missing
parts. As always, normal classroom expectations apply:
Your sentence:
If there were an Olympic contest for ____________, ____________ would sweep the event.

3. A simple mnemonic
AAAWWUBBIS
Our last sentence began with ‘If’ and after the introductory part we used a comma.
There are some common words that follow this structure. You can see this on the table to the right.
An easy way to remember the subordinating conjunctions and how to use them is with a
mnemonic.
AAAWWUBBIS sentences
After…,
When these words
begin a sentence, at
some point you need to
use a comma.
Although…,
As…,
When…,
While…,
Until…,
Before…,
Because…,
If…,
Since…,

4. Examples
Some examples of AAAWWUBBIS
After a rebellion led by army leaders, the HAN Dynasty finally lost power in 220CE.
Although he was trying to be cheerful, his voice seemed sad.
As it drew within a few feet of me, it opened its mouth.
When the tinkling melody began, Winnies sobbing slowed.
While she sat there, a fuzzy spider paced across the room.
Before she had closed the door, Mrs Rachel had taken mental note of everything on the table.
Because Ramona wanted to save the best for last, she at the centre of her sandwich.
If it matters to you, the Sorting Hat will take your feelings into account.
Since my childhood feels like a story, I decided to tell it that way.

5. Imitate
If it matters to you, the Sorting Hat will take your feelings into account.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Before we imitate this sentence. What do you notice about the sentence and how it is
written?
Capitals for proper
nouns
Begins with “If” and a
comma is used after
the opener

6. Imitate
If it matters to you, the Sorting Hat will take your feelings into account.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Let’s imitate this sentence, carefully following the correct punctuation.
Capitals for proper
nouns
Begins with “If” and a
comma is used after
the opener
[Some examples provided in slide speaker
notes]

7. Sharing your sentences
Model:
If it matters to you, the Sorting Hat will take your feelings into account.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

8. Sample sentence
If it matters to you, the Sorting Hat will take your feelings into account.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
How else could we write this sentence?
The Sorting Hat will take your feelings into account if it matters to you.
Notice how the change in punctuation between the two sentences. If you begin with ‘if’,
there will be a comma. If the word occurs later in the sentence, there is no comma

9. Exercise
Change the structure
Change the structure of the following sentences
● After a rebellion led by army leaders, the HAN Dynasty finally lost power in 220CE.
● Although he was trying to be cheerful, his voice seemed sad.
● As it drew within a few feet of me, it opened its mouth.
● When the tinkling melody began, Winnies sobbing slowed.
● While she sat there, a fuzzy spider paced across the room.
● Before she had closed the door, Mrs Rachel had taken mental note of everything on the table.
● Because Ramona wanted to save the best for last, she at the centre of her sandwich.
● Until…,
● If it matters to you, the Sorting Hat will take your feelings into account.
● Since my childhood feels like a story, I decided to tell it that way.

10. Recap
AAAWWUBBIS
An easy way to remember the subordinating conjunctions and how to use them is with a
mnemonic.
Remember, when the words begin a sentence, at some point you need to use a comma.
AAAWWUBBIS sentences
After…,
When these words
begin a sentence, at
some point you need to
use a comma.
Although…,
As…,
When…,
While…,
Until…,
Before…,
Because…,
If…,
Since…,

11. Guided
Let’s write a sentence together, imitating our model sentence.
Model sentence
As it drew within a few feet of me, it opened its mouth.
What do we notice about this
sentence?
How is the punctuation
functioning?
Sample
As the lion approached me,
Sample
I could smell its hideous breath.

12. Independent
Choose one of the model sentences to imitate, then share your imitation with the class.
Sentence models
1. While she sat there, a fuzzy spider paced across the room.
2. When the tinkling melody began, Winnies sobbing slowed.

13. Extension skills

14. Teacher notes
The following slides develop student knowledge about clauses and subordinate clauses. Use these if students already have a
good understanding of simple, compound and complex sentences.

15. Recap
What do you notice about the sentence below? How else could we write it?
When you are a kid, you think you are going to remember everything.
Esme Raji Codell, Sing a Song of Tuna Fish (2006)
When … ,
You think you are going to remember
everything when you are a kid

16. Subordinate clauses
Exercise 1
There are two types of clauses. An independent clause and a subordinate clause.
A clause contains a verb. Identify the independent and the subordinate clause.
When you are a kid, you think you are going to remember everything.
Esme Raji Codell, Sing a Song of Tuna Fish (2006)
Independent clause
An independent clause can stand
as a complete sentence
Subordinate clause
A subordinate clause cannot stand
as a complete sentence.

17. Subordinate clauses
ANSWERS
Notice how the independent clause could be a complete sentence, and the subordinate clause
provides extra detail. The subordinating conjunction provides a clue for subordinate clause.
When you are a kid, you think you are going to remember everything.
Esme Raji Codell, Sing a Song of Tuna Fish (2006)
Independent clause
you think you are going to
remember everything
Subordinate clause
When you are a kid,

18. Subordinate clauses
Exercise 2
Identify the independent and the subordinate clause.
When the river flooded, this enriched the soils along the Huang’s banks and created rich
farmland
From Stage 4 History textbook
Independent clause
this enriched the soils along the
Huang’s banks and created rich
farmland
Subordinate clause
When the river flooded,

19. Subordinate clauses
Exercise 3
Identify the independent and the subordinate clause.
Before the creation of the world, God made rugby league.
SMH – 25th June, 2018 – Freddy leads Blues to the promised land.
Independent clause
God made rugby league
Subordinate clause
Before the creation of the world,