Conjunction

A conjunction is the glue that holds words, phrases and clauses (both dependent and
independent) together. There are three different kinds of conjunctions––coordinating,
subordinating, and correlative––each serving its own, distinct purpose, but all working to
bring words together.
What Is a Coordinating Conjunction?
Coordinating conjunctions are what come to most people’s minds when they hear the word
“conjunction.” They can join together words, phrases and independent clauses. There are
seven of them, and they’re easy to remember if you can just remember FAN BOYS:
 For - Explains reason or purpose (just like “because”) I go to the park every Sunday, for I
love to watch the ducks on the lake.
 And - Adds one thing to another I go to the park every Sunday to watch the ducks on the
lake and the shirtless men playing soccer.
 Nor - Used to present an alternative negative idea to an already stated negative idea I don’t
go for the fresh air nor really for the ducks. Honestly, I just like the soccer.
 But - Shows contrast The soccer in the park is entertaining in the winter, but it’s better in the
heat of summer.
 Or - Presents an alternative or a choice The men play on teams: shirts or skins.
 Yet - Introduces a contrasting idea that follows the preceding idea logically (similar to
“but”) I always take a book to read, yet I never seem to turn a single page.
 So - Indicates effect, result or consequence I’ve started dating one of the soccer
players, so now I have an excuse to watch the game each week.
Learn more about coordinating conjunctions.

What Is a Subordinating Conjunction?

A subordinating conjunction always introduces a dependent clause, tying it to an
independent clause. In contrast to coordinating conjunctions, a subordinate conjunction
can often come first in a sentence. This is due simply to the nature of the relationship
between the dependent and the independent clause. In English, there are lots of
subordinating conjunctions, but the most common ones are "after," "although," "as,"
"because," "before," "how," "if," "once," "since," "than," "that," "though," "until," "when,"
"where," "whether," and "while." Here are a few examples of how subordinating
conjunctions are used:
 “Because of you, I never stray too far from the sidewalk” (Kelly Clarkson).
 “If you leave me now, you’ll take away the biggest part of me” (Peter Cetera/Chicago).
 “When I see you smile, I can face the world” (Bad English).
 “[You] don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” (Cinderella).
 “I guess I’ll never be the same since I fell for you” (B.B. King).
 “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life and realize
there’s nothing left” (Coolio).
Learn more about subordinating conjunctions.
 What Are Correlative Conjunctions?
Correlative conjunctions are sort of like tag-team conjunctions. They come in pairs, and you
have to use both of them in different places in a sentence to make them work. They include
pairs like “both/and,” “whether/or,” “either/or,” “neither/nor,” “not/but” and “not
only/but also.”
 I either want the cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate.
 I’ll have both the cheesecake and the frozen hot chocolate.
 I didn’t know whether you’d want the cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate, so I got you
both.
 Oh, you want neither the cheesecake nor the frozen hot chocolate? No problem.
 I’ll eat them both - not only the cheesecake but also the frozen hot chocolate.
 I see you’re in the mood not for dessert but appetizers. I’ll help you with those too.
Learn more about correlative conjunctions or study a correlative conjunction flashcard set.
Now that you know what a conjunction is, how many different kinds there are and how
they’re used, you can make all manner of compound and complex sentences, but whether
you’re using them for work or play, just make sure you use them for good and not for evil.

Further reading please visits the following links:

Read more at http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/conjunctions/what-is-

a-conjunction.html#LTeRVbRL1ZJJWJaa.99

Conjunction Based on Cambridge dictionary

Conjunctions are linking words like and, or, but, then and because:

They knocked down all the houses and they built a car park.

Are there four or five people living in that house?

My shoes look great but are not very comfortable.

And, but, either … or, etc. (coordinating conjunctions)

Coordinating conjunctions connect items which are the same grammatical type, e.g.
words, phrases, clauses. The most common coordinating conjunctions are and, or, but.

One-word conjunctions
Connecting words

Which do you prefer? [word]Red or [word]blue?

Connecting phrases

The meal was [phrase]very expensive and [phrase]not very nice.

Connecting clauses

[clause]There are seats outside but [clause]some people don’t like sitting outdoors.

Connecting sentences

My grandmother’s name was Wall. But she became Jenkins when she got married to my
grandfather. (In very formal writing, we don’t normally start a sentence with but.)

Connecting prefixes

[prefix]Pro- and [prefix]anti-government supporters waited outside the parliament.

Two-word conjunctions

Some coordinating conjunctions have two parts: either … or …, neither … nor …, both …
and …:

You can drink chocolate milk either hot in the winter or cold in the summer.

Neither Lisa nor Helena had been to Italy before. (Lisa hadn’t been to Italy before and
Helena hadn’t been to Italy before.)

Both you and I know what really happened. (You know and I know what happened.)

Warning:

Apart from two-word conjunctions, we only use one conjunction to connect words or
phrases:

Because my alarm didn’t go off, I was late for work.

Not: Because my alarm didn’t go off, so I was late for work.

After, although, as soon as, etc. (subordinating conjunctions)

Common subordinating conjunctions are: after, (al)though, as, before, if, since, that, until,
when, whereas, while, once, so, as soon as, provided that. When a clause follows these
conjunctions, it becomes a subordinate clause, which needs a main clause to make a
complete sentence.

One-word conjunctions

[subordinate clause]After we had talked on the phone, [main clause]I wrote down what we
had decided.

[main clause]Everyone enjoyed the fishing trip [subordinate clause]although no one

caught any fish!

[subordinate clause]Before we left at four o’clock, [main clause]we had something to eat.

When the subordinate clause comes before the main clause, we usually put a comma at
the end of the clause. When the main clause comes first, we don’t need to use a comma.

See also:
 Although or though?
 As
 As … as
 Before
 If
 Once
 Since
 So
 That
 Until
 When
 Whereas
 While and whilst
Conjunctions with more than one word

Some subordinating conjunctions consist of more than one word: as long as, as soon
as, except that, in order that, so as to, provided that:
As long as the waves are high enough, we can go surfing.

Provided that he pays a fine, he will not have to go to jail. (formal)

Conjunctions that can be modified by adverbs

Some subordinating conjunctions may be modified by adverbs (underlined). For

example just when, ever since, only if, just as, simply because, right before:

The phone rang just when I’d gone to bed.

I have been afraid to swim in the sea ever since I was young.

Position of subordinating conjunctions

Words and phrases such as above all, anyway, as a result, as

well, eventually, firstly, however, overall, rather, then, therefore, though, on the
contrary (linking adjuncts) can create similar meanings to conjunctions (e.g. adding,
cause and effect). These words are adverb phrases and can come in any position which an
adverb can occupy:

He left home late. (As a result) he (as a result) didn’t arrive until 8 pm (as a result).

We cannot do this with subordinating conjunctions, which must come at the beginning of
the clause. Subordinating conjunctions create a grammatical connection between two
clauses, making one dependent on the other.

Compare

These two sentences mean the same thing but

Subordinating
conjunction so:
He couldn’t get money
from the bank so he
couldn’t buy a house.
they are connected differently:
 So makes a subordinating link between the
cause/reason (He couldn’t get money from the
bank) and the result (he couldn’t buy a house).
This is a grammatical link. The position
of so cannot change.

Linking adjunct as a  As a result creates a link between two clauses

result: based on meaning. We can move as a result
He couldn’t get money (He couldn’t get money from the bank. He
from the bank. As a couldn’t buy a house as a result).
result he couldn’t buy a
house.
 Exercise:
Put the verbs in the following pair of sentences into "The Present Simple" and combine them
with the "Conjunctions" in brackets.

Example: Lisa (put on) her clothes. She (get up) in the morning, (when)

Lisa puts on her clothes when she gets up in the morning.

1) Jane (not, understand) the reading passage. She (read) it twice, (until)
2) My teacher (get) angry with me. I (leave) my books at home, (if)
3) It (get) dark. We (turn on) the lights. (when)
4) I (always, play) tennis with her. I (start) doing my homework, (before)
5) Children (live) with their parents. They (get) married, (until)
6) I (get) dressed. I (finish) my work, (as soon as)
7) My father (smoke) a pipe. He (drive) his car. (while)
8) We (throw) a stone into the sea. It (sink) to the bottom, (if)
9) They (spend) their time visiting the historical places. They (be) in France, (while)
10) She (take) a shower. She (play) tennis in the morning, (as soon as)
11) I always (take off) my shoes. I (enter) a mosque, (before)
12) My father (shout at) me. I (come) home after midnight, (whenever)
13) I (go) to the dentist, I (have) toothache (the moment)
14) Pamela (not, sleep) well. She (have) some problems, (when)
15) There (be) no danger in using this machine. You (stick) to the safety regulations, (as
long as)
Combine the following pairs of sentences using the conjunctions "BEFORE" and "AFTER".
Example: Mandy cleaned her room. She did her homework.

a. Mandy cleaned her room before she did her homework,

b. After Mandy cleaned her room, she did her homework.
1. I did my homework. I went to bed.
2. I asked some questions to the teacher. The exam started.
 3. I took a cold shower. I ran for ten miles.
4. The meeting began. We discussed this problem.
5. The student cleaned the board. The teacher entered the classroom.
6. We put the fire out. The firemen arrived.
7. The referee blew his whistle. The match began.
8. Stella got dressed. She got out of bed.
9. Linda went to school by car. She had her breakfast.
10. The thief stole the money. He ran away.

Combine the following pairs of sentences with the conjunctions "WHEN" or "WHILE" using
"The Past Simple" or "The Past Continuous".

Example: I (hear) a strange noise. I (read) the newspaper.

a. I was reading the newspaper when I heard a strange noise.

b. I heard a strange noise while I was reading the newspaper.

1. I (eat) my breakfast. I (receive) a phone call.

2. I (see) an accident. I (drive) home from work.
3. The students (quarrel) with each other. The teacher (enter) the room.
4. Sandra (walk) along the street. She (run into) an old friend of hers.
5. My sister (take) a walk in the park. She (lose) her wallet.