5.4 Subordination, Coordination, and Clause Relationships

ACCUPLACER Writing Study Guide Exam

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1 Introduction & ACCUPLACER Writing Overview

1.1 About the ACCUPLACER Writing Test 1.2 Test-Taking Strategies & Passage-Based Revision

2 Expression of Ideas: Development

2.1 Proposition, Thesis Statements, and Topic Sentences 2.2 Supporting Details, Evidence, and Textual Relevance 2.3 Audience, Rhetorical Purpose, and Essay Focus

3 Expression of Ideas: Organization

3.1 Logical Sentence and Paragraph Sequence 3.2 Transitional Words and Cohesive Devices 3.3 Effective Introductions, Conclusions, and Summary Sentences

4 Expression of Ideas: Effective Language Use

4.1 Precision and Contextual Vocabulary 4.2 Concision and Eliminating Redundancy 4.3 Style, Tone, and Formal Academic Diction 4.4 Sentence Combination, Syntactic Variety, and Structure

5 Standard English Conventions: Sentence Structure

5.1 Sentence Fragments, Run-Ons, and Comma Splices 5.2 Parallel Structure in Lists and Compound Elements 5.3 Misplaced, Dangling, and Illogical Modifiers 5.4 Subordination, Coordination, and Clause Relationships

6 Standard English Conventions: Conventions of Usage

6.1 Subject-Verb Agreement 6.2 Pronoun Agreement, Antecedent Clarity, and Pronoun Case 6.3 Verb Tense, Sequence, and Aspect 6.4 Frequently Confused Words and Idiomatic Prepositions

7 Standard English Conventions: Conventions of Punctuation

7.1 End-of-Sentence Punctuation and Comma Rules 7.2 Semicolons, Colons, and Dashes 7.3 Apostrophes, Possessives, and Quotation Marks

5.4 Subordination, Coordination, and Clause Relationships

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

Coordination joins two independent clauses of equal grammatical weight and importance, typically using FANBOYS conjunctions.

Subordination joins an independent clause and a dependent clause, indicating that one idea is less important or serves as context for the other.

Conjunctive adverbs (like however, therefore, moreover) require a semicolon before them and a comma after them when joining two independent clauses.

Choosing the correct conjunction requires understanding the logical relationship (addition, contrast, cause/effect, or time) between the two clauses.

Using both a coordinating conjunction and a subordinating conjunction to join the same two clauses creates a grammatical error.

Last updated: July 2026

Connecting Ideas: The Architecture of Sentences

Writing is essentially the act of weaving individual ideas together into a coherent tapestry. When we combine clauses, we use specific grammatical tools to signal to the reader exactly how those ideas relate to one another. Are the two ideas equally important? Does one cause the other? Do they contrast?

The ACCUPLACER Writing test frequently assesses your ability to combine clauses properly. This requires both grammatical knowledge (knowing which punctuation goes with which word) and logical reasoning (knowing which word creates the correct meaning).

Coordination: Joining Equals

Coordination is the process of joining two independent clauses that are of equal importance. We use coordinating conjunctions to achieve this.

The FANBOYS Acronym There are exactly seven coordinating conjunctions in the English language, easily remembered by the acronym FANBOYS:

F or (shows cause; similar to because)
A nd (shows addition)
N or (shows a negative addition)
B ut (shows contrast)
O r (shows an alternative)
Y et (shows contrast)
S o (shows effect/result)

The Grammatical Rule: When a FANBOYS conjunction joins two independent clauses, it MUST be preceded by a comma.

Example: The company launched a massive marketing campaign, but sales remained stagnant for the rest of the quarter.

Subordination: Establishing Hierarchy

Subordination involves joining an independent clause with a dependent clause. By turning one idea into a dependent clause, you signal that it is less important than the main clause. The dependent clause acts as background information, a condition, or a cause.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions (SWABIs and more):

Time: After, before, since, when, whenever, while, until
Cause/Effect: Because, since, so that, in order that
Condition: If, unless, provided that
Contrast/Concession: Although, even though, though, whereas

The Grammatical Rules:

If the dependent clause comes before the independent clause, you MUST use a comma after the dependent clause.

Example: Although the company launched a massive marketing campaign, sales remained stagnant.

If the dependent clause comes after the independent clause, you generally DO NOT use a comma.

Example: Sales remained stagnant even though the company launched a massive marketing campaign.

STUDENT TRAP: Double Conjunctions You cannot use both a subordinating conjunction and a coordinating conjunction to join the same two clauses. It creates a sentence that never actually resolves into an independent thought.

Faulty: Although the weather was terrible, but we went hiking anyway.

Correction 1: Although the weather was terrible, we went hiking anyway.

Correction 2: The weather was terrible, but we went hiking anyway.

Conjunctive Adverbs: The Formal Transitions

Conjunctive adverbs (also known as transitional phrases) are words that show logical relationships but are grammatically distinct from conjunctions. They are adverbs that transition between ideas.

Common Conjunctive Adverbs (THAMO and more):

T herefore, thus, consequently, hence (Cause/Effect)
H owever, nevertheless, conversely (Contrast)
A lso, furthermore, moreover, additionally (Addition)
M eanwhile, subsequently (Time)
O therwise (Alternative)

The Grammatical Rule: When a conjunctive adverb is used to join two independent clauses, it MUST be preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma.

Example: The company launched a massive marketing campaign; however, sales remained stagnant.

If the conjunctive adverb interrupts a single independent clause, it is simply set off by commas.

Example: The executives, however, remained optimistic about the upcoming product launch.

Choosing the Right Logical Relationship

On the ACCUPLACER, grammar is only half the battle. You will often see questions where all the answer choices are grammatically correct (the punctuation is perfect), but only one choice conveys the correct logical relationship between the clauses.

You must analyze the context to determine which category of conjunction or transition to use:

Addition / Continuation: The second clause builds on the first or adds similar information. (and, furthermore, moreover, in addition)

Contrast / Concession: The second clause contradicts the first, presents an obstacle, or introduces an unexpected result. (but, yet, although, however, nevertheless)

Cause and Effect: One clause causes the other to happen. (so, because, since, therefore, consequently)
Time / Sequence: The clauses are related chronologically. (when, before, subsequently, meanwhile)

Context Clue Example:

Sentence: The new hybrid crops require significantly less water to grow; [BLANK], they yield 20% more produce per acre than traditional seeds.

Analysis: The first clause presents a positive attribute (less water). The second clause presents another positive attribute (more produce). The ideas are building on each other in the same direction. Therefore, a contrast word like "however" would be incorrect. We need an addition word.

Correct Fill: furthermore, moreover, or additionally.

Passage-Based Editing Breakdown

Let's examine how subordination and coordination are tested in paragraphs.

Original Text: (1) The city council voted to expand the public transportation grid, so traffic congestion in the downtown area has actually worsened over the past year. (2) Because many commuters still prefer the convenience of their personal vehicles, but the new train lines remain underutilized. (3) City planners hope that ridership will increase; consequently, gas prices continue to rise.

Analysis & Correction:

Sentence 1 uses the coordinating conjunction "so," which implies cause and effect (expanding the grid caused traffic to worsen). This is illogical; expanding transit should improve traffic. The worsening traffic is an unexpected result, requiring a contrast conjunction. Correction: "...grid, but traffic congestion..." or "...grid, yet traffic congestion..."

Sentence 2 falls into the double conjunction trap. It uses both "Because" (subordinating) and "but" (coordinating). We must eliminate one to make the sentence grammatical. Correction: "Because many commuters still prefer the convenience of their personal vehicles, the new train lines remain underutilized."

Sentence 3 uses the conjunctive adverb "consequently" (meaning "as a result"). However, ridership increasing does not cause gas prices to rise. The relationship is likely reversed, or it indicates a chronological condition. Correction: "City planners hope that ridership will increase as gas prices continue to rise."

Summary of Strategies

When you see conjunctions or transitional words underlined on the test, first check the grammar: is the punctuation correct for a FANBOYS, a SWABI, or a THAMO? If multiple options are grammatically correct, read the sentence before and the sentence after to determine if the relationship is addition, contrast, or cause-and-effect. Choose the word that perfectly matches that logical bridge.