English Grammar for the Utterly Confused - Laurie Rozakis 2003

Coordination versus Subordination
Chapter 9 Sentence Coordination and Subordination
Part 3 Sentence Sense

How can you decide which ideas need to be coordinated and which ones need to be subordi­nated? Base your decision on the ideas in your sentences. As you read in the previous section, rely on the logic of the sentence. Here are some guidelines you can use as you’re deciding whether to coordinate or subordinate:

• Coordinate when you want to link related independent clauses.

• Subordinate when you want to put the most important idea in the main clause.

Here are some examples.

Two clauses: The ground began to tremble. The air was heavy with fear.

Coordinated: The ground began to tremble and the air was heavy with fear.

Subordinated: When the ground began to tremble, the air was heavy with fear.

subordinate clause     main clause

The emphasis is on the feeling of fear, the information in the main clause.

Subordinated: The air was heavy with fear as the ground began to tremble.

main clause     subordinate clause

The emphasis is on trembling ground, the information in the main clause.