What type of conjunction establishes a relationship between a subordinate clause and an independent clause?

The correct answer is subordinating conjunction. Subordinating conjunctions are used specifically to link a subordinate clause, which cannot stand alone as a complete sentence, to an independent clause, which can exist independently as a complete thought. This relationship allows the subordinate clause to provide additional information, context, or detail related to the main clause.

For instance, in the sentence "Although it was raining, we went for a walk," the word "although" is a subordinating conjunction that connects the subordinate clause "Although it was raining" to the independent clause "we went for a walk." This structure creates a complex sentence that enhances understanding by showing how the two ideas are related.

In contrast, coordinating conjunctions connect parts of sentences that are of equal grammatical rank, while correlative conjunctions function in pairs to link balanced phrases or clauses. Adverbial conjunctions, though not a standard term, might refer to adverbs that connect clauses but do not function in the specific way that subordinating conjunctions do. Thus, the role of establishing a relationship between subordinate and independent clauses is unique to subordinating conjunctions.