5.1.1: Clause Joining and Punctuation

Clause Joining and Connectors

The Three Families of Connectors

There are three families of connectors: coordinators, subordinators, and transitional adverbs. Coordinators can join phrases (not complete ideas with both a subject and verb) or clauses (sentence parts that include a subject and a verb). Subordinators create dependent clauses that are connected to independent clauses. Transitional adverbs can join clauses but are rarely used in this way. Each type of connector takes different punctuation, and sometimes the punctuation depends on where the connector appears in the sentence. This is part of the reason why punctuation can be so confusing!

Below is a table of common connectors. . After the table, you will see the punctuation rules for each type.

Table 12.18 -- The Three Families of Connectors

Logical Relationship	Coordinators	Subordinators	Transitional Adverbs
	(Can join two independent clauses or phrases)	(Create dependent clauses which are connected with independent clauses)	(Usually used as transitions, but can connect independent clauses)
Addition	and		additionally also further furthermore moreover similarly
Cause	for	as because since
Choice/alternative	nor or		alternatively on the other hand conversely
Condition		if provided that unless as long as until	otherwise
Contrast	but yet	although even if even though though whereas while	however instead nevertheless nonetheless otherwise on the other hand
Effect/result	so	in order to (that) in that so that	as a result consequently hence therefore thus
Time		before after when while as soon as as

Coordinators and Compound Sentences

Coordinators can join two clauses or two phrases. When they join two independent clauses, the result is a compound sentence. There are only seven coordinators: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So. You can remember them by this acronym:

F A N B O Y S

How to punctuate when using coordinators:

Only use a comma if you are using a coordinator to join two clauses. No commas is needed if you are joining two phrases. Here are some examples with brackets around the clauses and phrases.

[I am usually afraid of dogs], but [I love my sister's dog, Rex]. (Joining two independent clauses)

[Roses are red], and [violets are blue]. (Joining two independent clauses)

[I was tired after my journey], for [I had been traveling for hours.] (Note: "For" is used to introduce a reason.)

[The prickly rose] and [the lengthy brambles] scratched my skin. (Joining two phrases)

The following is a very tricky example:

{The instincts of both [dogs] and [cats] have been crippled by the human need to make these animals dependent upon us}, so {they rely on us for [their every need] and even for [emotional satisfaction]}. (Joining 2 phrases, 2 clauses, 2 phrases)

Watch Out! Students tend to overuse “and” and “but," yet they neglect the other coordinators that may more effectively show the relationship between their ideas.

Exercise 1

Join the following sentence pairs with a coordinating conjunction that represents the correct logic, and punctuate the new sentence correctly. You may need to change the order of the sentences.

1. Diane went to the animal shelter. She wanted a new dog.            Diane wanted a new dog, so she went to the animal shelter.

2. She loved her previous dog. He had passed away.

3. She had mourned for a while. Now she was ready for a new pet.

4. She played with a Yorkie. She played with a Terrier mix.

5. She couldn't decide whether to adopt a big dog. She couldn't decide whether to adopt a smaller dog.

6. They were both so sweet. She had to make a choice.

7. In the end, she decided on the Terrier mix. He seemed like a perfect mix of being snuggly, loving, and protective.

Complex Sentences

A complex sentence is composed of a dependent clause and an independent clause.

A clause is part of a sentence that includes a subject and a verb.

A dependent clause has a subject and a verb, but it does not have a complete thought. Dependent clauses always begin with a subordinator or a relative pronoun (Common relative pronouns are: that, which, who, whom, whose )

An independent clause has a subject and verb combination and a complete thought. Independent clauses can stand alone as complete sentences.

A subordinator de-emphasizes the clause it is attached to, making it a dependent clause, and emphasizes the independent clause. Only use a comma between the clauses. when the sentence begins with the dependent clause. If the dependent clause is after the independent clause, don't use any punctuation with it.

How to punctuate complex sentences:

               Dependent Clause           ,     Independent Clause

Although I am usually afraid of dogs, I love my sister's dog, Rex.

In this case, the subordinator that begins the dependent clause (although) de-emphasizes the fact that the writer is usually afraid of dogs because that is the clause the subordinator begins. A comma is placed between the two clauses because the dependent clause is at the beginning of the sentence.

              Independent Clause                Dependent Clause

I love my sister's dog, Rex although I am usually afraid of dogs.

Here, the dependent clause (beginning with "although") is at the end of the sentence. No comma separates the two clauses.

Another example

Because I was hungry, I ate a sandwich.

I ate a sandwich because I was hungry.

To repeat: Dependent clauses must be used with independent clauses. If the dependent clause is first, a comma separates the two clauses. If the dependent clause comes after the independent clause, no comma is needed. 

However, there is an exception!

When you use "while" and "whereas" to express contrast, a comma is used before the dependent clause. However, this is not true when "while" is used in a time clause.

• John loves to swim in the ocean, while Sherry only likes swimming in the neighborhood pool.
• The math class was challenging for Joe, whereas the English class was relatively easy.
• We watched the football game while the children were playing outside.

Exercise 2

Join the following sentence pairs with a subordinating conjunction that represents the correct logic and punctuate the new sentence correctly. Use the chart to help you.

1. Diane brought home her new dog, Buster. She went to the store to get supplies.

2. The pet store allowed dogs in the store. Diane brought Buster with her.A

3. Buster was a little overwhelmed with the new situation. He became very quiet and put his tail between his legs.

4. Diane thought he might be afraid. He was not used to meeting new people.

5. She didn't want to bring Buster back to the car. She thought doing so might scare him.

6. Diane purchased only the supplies they really needed. They went home to get settled.

Transitional Adverbs (aka Transitions, Adverbial Conjunctions, or Conjunctive Adverbs)

Transitional adverbs indicate logical relationships between clauses but -- unlike coordinators and subordinators -- can move around and create various effects in the sentence.

Transitional adverbs always take some kind of punctuation after them. This is how to punctuate transitional adverbs:

• [Most dogs scare me]. However, [Rex is an exception].

(The first clause ends with a period and stands alone as a sentence. The second clause begins with the transitional adverb, which is capitalized and has a comma after it.)

• [Most dogs scare me]; however, [Rex is an exception]. (Note: This structure is rarely used and should generally be avoided.)

(The first clause ends with a semi-colon. The second clause begins with the transitional adverb, which is lowercase and has a comma after it.)

• [Most dogs scare me]. [Rex, however, is an exception].

(The first clause ends with a period and stands alone as a sentence. The transitional adverb interrupts the second clause and has commas around it to emphasize the contrast.)

• [Most dogs scare me]. [Rex is an exception, however].

(The first clause ends with a period, and stands alone as a sentence. The transitional adverb appears at the end of the sentence with a comma before it and a period after it. Placing the transitional adverb at the end of the sentence de-emphasizes the contrast.

In these examples, notice that the transition word could be placed in several different places in the second clause. The ability to move around and still sound right is how you know it is a transition word! You can’t do this with coordinators or subordinators.

Notice that when a transition word begins the second clause, the punctuation before the transition word is either a semi-colon or a period. If the transition word is in the middle of a clause, commas surround the transition word. If the transition word is at the end of the second clause, a comma comes before it and a period after.

Exercise 3

Use a transitional adverb that represents the correct logic, and punctuate the new sentence correctly. Place the transitional adverb in various locations: before a sentence, as an interrupter within the sentence, or at the end of a sentence. (Do NOT use a semicolon.)

1. Diane decided to take Buster to training. She wasn't sure what level of class they should attend.

2. He knew the commands "sit," "stay," and "heel." He did not know how to walk past other dogs politely.

3. She had not worked with Buster. She had taken classes with her previous dog.

4. She explained this to the SPCA employee, who could not really observe Buster in action. The employee recommended taking the beginning class.

5. Buster and Diane's first class went well. They decided to continue and ultimately finished the course

Exercise 4

In the following paragraph, punctuate the various types of connectors correctly. You may need to add or remove punctuation marks. Do not use semicolons. There are ten mistakes in punctuation in the paragraph. (Some mistakes require more than one punctuation marks.)

After finishing the first dog/people training course at the SPCA Diane decided to sign Buster up for the next level class, which required more socialization. Diane knew this would be a useful experience for Buster, because he growled at other dogs when she took him on walks. Because of this she started walking across the street whenever she saw another dog approach. As a result Buster received less socialization. She was worried about whether the strategies from class would work on the other hand if she didn't bring him to the class his behavior would not improve because he could only learn with other dogs around him. The first session did not go well therefore the instructor asked Diane and Buster to work one-on-one with a trainer. Although, Diane knew this would be more expensive, she figured it was a bit like having a child: Sometimes you have to pay for things, although you'd rather not pay for. In the end, it would be the best for both of them.

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