Which term joins independent and subordinate clauses?

• A. Subordinating conjunction
• B. Coordinating conjunction
• C. Helping verbs
• D. Prose

Answer: (A)

Subordinating conjunctions connect a subordinate (dependent) clause to an independent clause, signaling how the ideas relate. The key is that the clause it introduces can’t stand alone on its own, so it needs the main clause to complete the thought. For example: We stayed inside because it was raining. Here, because introduces the subordinate clause it was raining, tying it to the main clause we stayed inside and showing the reason.

This is different from coordinating conjunctions, which link two independent clauses of equal importance (like We went to the park and played soccer). Helping verbs are auxiliary verbs and don’t serve to connect clauses, and prose is a writing form, not a connective term. So the term that joins independent and subordinate clauses is subordinating conjunction.