Expressing Concurrent Action

3) Expressing Concurrent Action:

Clarify simultaneous action by combining your two simple sentences with the conjunctions while or as. Understand that neither of these conjunctions shows coordination like the conjunctions listed in the previous section. Instead, these words create a dependent clause—a clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence. The dependent clause literally depends on the other half of the sentence, the independent clause.

For example—

Jack recites verses while Jim plays bongos.

 Or—

While Jim plays bongos, Jack recites verses.

 Jack recites verses is the independent clause. Jack recites verses could stand alone as a sentence. While is the conjunction. While Jim plays bongos is the dependent clause. This means that While Jim plays bongos cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Aside from expressing concurrent action, writers can use this structure to help direct the reader’ s attention. The dependent clause carries less emphasis than the other half of the sentence, the independent clause. Emphasis is placed on the part of the sentence that could stand alone. While expressing concurrent action, the above sentences emphasize Jack reciting verses. The writer, however, may shift this emphasis.

For example—

Jim plays bongos while Jack recites verses.

 Or—

While Jack recites verses, Jim plays bongos.

 The sentences still express the same concurrent actions, but now they emphasize Jim playing bongos.

Also notice that the writer only needs a comma when expressing the dependent clause first.