Conjunctions
A conjunction is a word that "joins". A conjunction joins two parts of a sentence.
Here are some example conjunctions:
| Coordinating Conjunctions | Subordinating Conjunctions |
| and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so | although, because, since, unless |
We can consider conjunctions from three aspects.
Form
Conjunctions have three basic forms:
- Single Word
for example: and, but, because, although - Compound (often ending with
as or
that)
for example: provided that, as long as, in order that - Correlative (surrounding
an adverb or adjective)
for example: so...that
Function
Conjunctions have two
basic functions or "jobs":
- Coordinating
conjunctions are used to join two
parts of a sentence that are
grammatically equal. The two
parts may be single words or clauses, for
example:
- Jack and Jill went up the hill.
- The water was warm, but I didn't go swimming. - Subordinating
conjunctions are used to join a
subordinate dependent clause to a
main clause, for
example:
- I went swimming although it was cold.
Position
- Coordinating
conjunctions always come between the
words or clauses that they
join.
- Subordinating conjunctions usually come at the beginning of the subordinate clause.
In this lesson we
will look in more detail
at:
Coordinating Conjunctions
The short, simple conjunctions are called "coordinating conjunctions":
- and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so
|
+ |
|
- I like [tea] and [coffee].
- [Ram likes tea], but [Anthony likes coffee].
When a coordinating conjunction joins independent clauses, it is always correct to place a comma before the conjunction:
- I want to work as an interpreter in the future, so I am studying Russian at university.
- She is kind so she helps people.
- He drinks beer, whisky, wine, and rum.
- He drinks beer, whisky, wine and rum.
The 7
coordinating conjunctions
are short, simple words. They
have only two or three letters. There's an
easy way to remember them - their
initials spell:
| F | A | N | B | O | Y | S |
| For | And | Nor | But | Or | Yet | So |
Subordinating Conjunctions
The majority of conjunctions are "subordinating conjunctions". Common subordinating conjunctions are:
- after, although, as, because, before, how, if, once, since, than, that, though, till, until, when, where, whether, while
|
+ |
|
| main or independent clause |
subordinate or dependent clause | |
| Ram went swimming | although | it was raining. |
| subordinating conjunction |
||
A subordinate or dependent clause "depends" on a
main or independent clause. It cannot exist alone. Imagine that somebody says to
you: "Hello! Although it was raining." What do you understand? Nothing! But a
main or independent clause can exist alone. You will understand very well if
somebody says to you: "Hello! Ram went swimming."
A subordinating conjunction always comes
at the beginning of a subordinate clause. It "introduces" a
subordinate clause. However, a subordinate clause can sometimes come after and
sometimes before a main clause. Thus, two structures are
possible:
| |||||
|
Ram went swimming although it was raining. |
| ||||||
|
Although it was raining, Ram went swimming. |
