What Are Conjunctions/ Joining Words?
A conjunction is a word that we use to join two words, two phrases, and two clauses. It is a part of speech, and it is very important in the sentence. Joining words is the alternate name for conjunctions. That is, joining words are the words that join two words, two phrases, or two clauses.
There are many words used as conjunctions.
List of some conjunctions-
We use a few common conjunctions, but they perform many functions.
Here is a list of common joining words used in English.
- so
- yet
- because
- but
- and
- as
- for
- or
- either or
- neither nor
- so
- not only
- whether
Examples – Sentence with Conjunction
Examples of how to use conjunctions in sentences are given here-
- Sameer and Charwak are brothers.
- I met her and her mother on the same day.
- I ran fast but missed the train.
- You didn’t complete the work, but she did.
- Because it is difficult to learn, he joined the class.
- He got in/on the crowded bus because he had to reach there on time. (on-American English)
- I had dinner with my children.
- She saw a man with her boss.
In the above sentences:
Joining word ‘and’ is joining-
- two words; Sameer, Charwak
- a word and a phrase; her, her mother
Joining word ‘but’ is joining-
- a clause and a phrase; I ran fast, missed the train
- two clauses; You didn’t complete the work, and she did
Joining word ‘because’ is joining-
- two clauses: it is difficult to learn, he joined the class
- two clauses: He got in the crowded bus, he had to reach there on time
Joining word ‘with’ is joining-
- a word ‘dinner’ and a phrase ‘my children’
- a word ‘man’ and a phrase ‘her boss’
In the above sentences: and, but, but, because, with are conjunctions.
More examples of joining words in sentences
- They all started their work before sunrise.
- I went home after taking my son from his school.
- There will be no end of quarrel until somebody says sorry.
- Put the light off when the party had finished.
- I clean my computer whenever I start it.
- Kids go to the ground while the mother goes to work.
In the above sentences: before, after, until, when, whenever, and while are the joining words.
Types of Conjunctions
All conjunctions perform the same function of joining words, phrases, and clauses.
There are three types of conjunctions.
- Coordinating
- Correlative
- Subordinating Conjunctions
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• Noun
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• Adjective
• Verb
• Preposition
• Conjunction
• Interjection
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Five Alternatives to “Because”
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“Because” is a common conjunction that can be found often throughout various types of texts. If you’re seeking alternatives to help you avoid repetitiveness, continue reading.
Quick Summary on Words You Can Use in Place of “Because”
Five other ways to say because are:
- As
- Since
- For
- Inasmuch as
- As long as
What Does “Because” Mean?
Before we dive into the synonyms and examples of because, we want to first go over what it means. Because is a conjunction—a word that connects other words or groups of words together—that means “for the reason that.” Here’s an example:
I cried because my friend yelled at me.
=
I cried for the reason that my friend yelled at me.
Now that we’ve covered what type of word because is and what it means, let’s go over a few alternatives.
Five “Because” Alternatives
1. As
Similarly to because, as is a conjunction “used to state the reason for something.”
I took the bus home because I thought you forgot to pick me up.
I took the bus home as I thought you forgot to pick me up.
2. Since
Although since is a common alternative, some people consider it second-rate to because. This is because it can also function as a preposition that refers to elapsed time, and could cause confusion.
Because it was sunny, we decided to go to the beach.
Since it was sunny, we decided to go to the beach.
3. For
You can find for as an alternative to because in poetic writing. It is not commonly found in either casual or professional writing.
Let’s eat because I am hungry.
Let’s eat, for I am hungry.
4. Inasmuch as
This alternative is as formal as they come, but can be used exactly as because. If you do want to use it, keep in mind it’s uncommon, and usually found in professional and academic settings.
She was a famous and unique artist because she was considered legally blind.
She was a famous and unique artist inasmuch as she was considered legally blind.
5. As long as
This alternative to because expresses that because something is happening, will happen, or is true, then another thing can happen too.
Because you’re going to the store, can you bring back some cookies?
As long as you’re going to the store, can you bring back some cookies?
These Alternatives Are Helpful Because You Should Avoid Repetitiveness
This list is useful because whether you’re writing an essay, a book, or any other type of text, it’s always a good idea to switch up your vocabulary to avoid repetitiveness. Just remember to keep context in mind. For example, if you’re writing about something casual or funny, you might not want to use inasmuch as.
Another thing to keep in mind while writing is how important proper spelling and grammar are. LanguageTool is a multilingual text editor that can detect (and correct) various types of errors. It can also provide synonyms and formatting suggestions. Try it today because/as/since it’s free and user-friendly.
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For more information on the importance of joining words and how to use them, watch this video from York University:
In English, the most commonly used conjunctions (or joining words) are:
- and
- although
- as
- because
- but
- if
- or
There are
a number of
other important conjunctions that you can use.
These can be put
into categories of time, place, or agreement:
- TIME
- before
- after
- until
- since
- when
- whenever
- while
For example:
- We all went home before a fight broke out.
- She went to bed after she put the cat out.
- There will be no peace until somebody says that they are sorry.
- It has not been the same around here since our friends moved away.
- They put the television off when the program had finished.
- He washes his new car whenever it gets dirty.
- The children go to the crèche while Mum goes to work.
- PLACE
- where
For example:
Remember that restaurant where you ate a huge steak.
- AGREEMENT
- though
- although
- whether
For example:
- He could play the violin though he was only five years old.
- I would invite you to come in although the place is a mess.
- It was a great show whether you wanted to join in or just watch.
Tips:
- Try to avoid using the same conjunction over and over again. It is much better to ‘mix and match’.
- The conjunction you use can change the meaning of the sentence. You cannot use every conjunction everywhere — so choose wisely!
For more on joining words, see the Tip Sheets on Connecting Words and Transitions Signals, The Important Joining Words, and Five Useful Ways to Join Words.
Conjunctions are words we use to link other words or ideas together. In this posting I talk about 3 types of conjunctions and how they work. You will see many example sentences. The download at the end will give you additional practice using and understanding these important words.
What are conjunctions?
Conjunctions are words that join other words, phrases, clauses, and ideas together. They help our speech and writing to be more complex and flowing. In addition, they keep our expression from being choppy. There are 3 types of conjunctions: coordinating, correlative, and subordinating conjunctions. We will now look at each type.
Coordinating conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions link words, phrases, ideas, or clauses that are of equal importance in the sentence. There are 7 common coordination conjunctions. We can remember them with the mnemonic device FANBOYS.
- for (means because)–He had no trouble traveling in Mexico, for he speaks fluent Spanish.
- and (means in addition or also and joins similar ideas together)–Bob lives in Denver, and he drives a Toyota. Bob and Mary both drive Toyotas.
- nor (joins two ideas together in a negative sentence)–He has no money, nor does he have any plans for earning money.
This means that he has no money, but he does not have any plans to get a job and earn money. - but (links tow contrasting, but equally important ideas)–Bob likes apples, but Mary likes oranges.
- or (links two ideas where there is an alternative or a choice)–We could go to the zoo, or we could go to the art museum. Would you prefer animals or art?
- yet ( means someone continues to do something)–The doctor told her she has diabetes, yet she keeps on eating sugar.
- so (shows that the second idea is the result of the first)–He was always late for work, so the boss fired him.
Correlative conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions work in pairs. Each must have its partner with him to function correctly. Here are the 3 most common correlative conjunctions.
- either…or (This gives and alternative or a choice)–Either you pay your rent on time, or the landlord will evict you.
Note that the first idea follows either, and the second idea follows or. All correlative conjunction pairs work in this way. - neither…nor ( This shows and alternative in a negative sentence.)–Neither his friends nor his neighbors realized that he had gone on vacation.
- This means that his friends did not know that he had gone an vacation. His neighbors, also, did not know that he had gone on vacation.
- not only…but also (This means that in addition to one idea. there are also others.)-He wants not only a high-paying job, but also a lot of time off. I’m not sure he can have both.
This means that he wants a high-paying job, but that isn’t enough. He insists on lots of time off as well.
Subordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions link and independent clause (a group of words with a subject and verb that can stand alone) with a dependent clause (a clause that can’t stand alone). They can signal a cause/effect relationship, a contrast, or other things. Many subordinating conjunctions also introduce adjective or adverb clauses. You may wish to label these words as adjectives or adverbs rather than conjunctions. That is not a problem. These words have a “double identity.” There are a large number of these words or expressions–far to many to discuss in one posting. Below are some of the more common ones.
- after (shows time)–After you finish work, call me.
- although (shows contrast)–Although she was tired, she kept on dancing.
The as family of subordinating conjunctions
- as (means because)–He grew up speaking Chinese, as his parents are from China.
- as if (shows contrast between what is reality and what is not)–Cindy acts as if she knows everything.
- as long as (shows a condition)–As long as my neighbor keeps his dog in the yard, I won’t be afraid of it.
- as though (means the same as as if)–My brother spends money as though he were a millionaire.
Additional subordinating conjunctions
- because (shows a reason for something or cause/effect)–She went to the doctor because she was sick.
- before (shows time)–I eat breakfast before I leave for work.
- if (shows a condition)–I will cook dinner tonight if you bring the dessert.
- rather than (shows a preference)–She would prefer to work and night rather than work a split shift.
- since (means because)–He drove slowly since he was in a school zone.
- though (shows contrast about what you would think logically makes sense)–Though he has a PhD in theoretical mathematics, he can’t do simple math calculations.
- unless (shows a condition)–Unless he finishes his project at work, he will not get a raise.
- until (shows time)–Simmer the rice on low until all the water is absorbed.
- whatever (shows a preference)–Order whatever you want on the menu. It’s my treat.
- when (shows time)–He will move when he finds an apartment he can afford.
- whenever (shows time)–Come whenever you want. I’ll be home.
- whereas (shows contrast)–Diego prefers jazz, whereas Anita prefers classical music.
- wherever (shows location)–You can vacation wherever you want to.
- while (shows contrast)–I need 8 hours of sleep every night, while my brother only needs four.
Conjunctions at the beginning of a sentence
You may have heard that you should never begin a sentence with a conjunction. This is not always true. There is no problem beginning a sentence with a correlative or subordinating conjunction. Beginning an sentence with a coordinating conjunction is acceptable in conversation. However, you should not do this in writing.
You now know that conjunctions are linking words. The join together other words, phrases, clauses, or ideas. Coordinating conjunctions connect equal elements. Correlative conjunctions work in pairs. Both member of the pair must be there to be correct. Subordinating conjunctions link independent and dependent clauses. Most subordinating conjunctions can also be called adjectives or adverbs, and introduce an adjective or adverb clause. Sentences often begin with correlative and subordinating conjunctions. They may begin with coordinating conjunctions in conversation, but not in writing.
You can download the practice sheet now!
Idioms of the day
- from the get-go–This means from the beginning. Roberto never did his work correctly, so his co-workers never liked him from the get-go.
- to face the music–This means to accept the unpleasant consequence of a poor choice you made. Dave hardly ever went to class and failed every test. Now he needs to face the music. He’s failed the class.