Module 1, Video 13: Comparative Structures (Part

Two) Transcript
Another comparative structure is subordinating conjunctions. Which we can also use to discuss the similarities and
differences between two things.

For example, Amy is always on time while her sister is not.

When a subordinating conjunction joins two clauses it creates a main clause, Amy is always on time, and a
subordinate clause, while her sister is not.

A subordinate clause is a dependent clause or an incomplete thought. A dependent clause can not stand alone. It is
not a complete sentence.

For example, her sister is not, is an incomplete thought and does not mean anything on it's own.

The information in the dependent clause is often less important than the information in the independent clause.

Common subordinating conjunctions used for discussing differences are whereas, and while.

A common subordinating conjunction used for discussing a similarity is, just as.

Notice that there are two ways to structure sentences containing subordinating conjunctions. The main clause can
come first, or the subordinate clause can come first.

When the sentence starts with the subordinate clause, use a comma between the two clauses. When the
sentence starts with the main clause no comma is needed.

The last comparative structure we'll review in this video is correlative conjunctions, which are useful for discussing
similarities. Here's an example of correlative conjunctions used to discuss two things that are true.

Both Amy and her brother are always on time.

The correlative conjunctions in that sentence are both and and.

Here's an example of correlative conjunctions used to discuss two things that are not true.

Neither Amy nor her brother are late for meetings.

The correlative conjunctions in that sentence are neither and nor. Look at these examples where correlative
conjunctions are used to joined two nouns.
Notice that the verb in the sentence must agree with the second noun in the pair.

This is the last video of unit 1, and we have completed our review of three
kinds of comparative structures: sentence connectors, subordinate conjunctions and correlative conjunctions.

© 2022 by FHI 360 M1 T13 Comparative Structures (Part Two) Transcript for the Online Professional English
Network (OPEN), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. government
and administered by FHI 360. This work is an adaptation Language Focus: Comparative Structures University
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