Question

Complete the given sentence using an appropriate subordinator:
You want to sell your car. Jim is interested in buying it but he hasn't decided yet.
You ask: Can you let me know _________ you decide?
This question has multiple correct options.
a. if
b. while
c. as soon as
d. after

Answer 1

Hint: Subordination in English grammar is the process of linking two clauses in a sentence so that one clause is dependent on (or subordinate to) another.

Complete answer:
In the given question, the speaker who wants to sell the car can do so only when Jim has decided to buy it. ‘Jim is interested in buying it but he hasn't decided yet’ is the subordinate sentence since it depends on ‘You want to sell your car’ which is the principal sentence.
A subordinate conjunction is used to combine the two sentences when they are contracted as a question. These sentences are time related.
Let us thus analyze the options given to us in this question:
- Option (a), 'if', refers to a subordinate which is used when the subordinate sentence is conditional, but this sentence is time related.
Therefore, option (a.) is incorrect.
- Option (b), ‘while', refers to a subordinate because even though it is a time-related subordinate, it is used when two events occur simultaneously, which is not the case here.
Therefore, option (b.) is incorrect
- Option (c), ‘as soon as', refers to a subordinate that is time related and denotes urgency.
Therefore, option (c.) is correct.
- Option (d), ‘after', refers to a subordinate that is time related.

> Therefore, option (d) is correct.

Note: Keep in mind that in this question, both the options are correct. Which option is more appropriate depends on whether the speaker wants to urgently sell his car, or not.