Is there a joining word

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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.

Asked by: Porter Braun DDS

Score: 4.9/5
(57 votes)

A conjunction (also called a connective) is a word such as and, because, but, for, if, or, and when. Conjunctions are used to connect phrases, clauses, and sentences.

What is an example of a conjunction word?

A conjunction is a word that joins words, phrases, clauses, or sentences. e.g., but, and, because, although, yet, since, unless, or, nor, while, where, etc. Examples.

What are 7 conjunction words?

The seven coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.

What is a conjunctive word?

Something that’s conjunctive tends to connect or combine two things. A conjunctive effort between two people is a combined attempt to get something done, and the word «and» in this very sentence is conjunctive since it’s joining two phrases together.

What words are clauses?

A clause is a group of words that contain a subject (the noun or pronoun about which something is being said, usually the doer of the action) and a verb (a doing word). An example of a clause is: The fast, red squirrel darted up a tree. The subject of this clause is the fast, red squirrel and the verb is ‘darted’.

34 related questions found

What’s the easiest way to memorize a list of conjunctions, also known as joining words? One answer is to break down your learning into manageable sections. Otherwise, your brain will need to learn dozens of words at once. But, what if you don’t have the time to manually divide up joining words into groups or create flashcards? Well, don’t worry! All the hard work was already done for you. You’ll find an easy to learn conjunctions list, separated by type below.

For additional help, there are even usage examples of the different types of joining words in the English language. We’ve also included descriptions of each type of conjunction list, just in case there are any word groups you’re not familiar with. So, are you ready to expand your vocabulary? Let’s begin with a coordinating conjunction list!

What is a Coordinating Conjunctions List (and Why Care?)

Learning the words on a coordinating conjunction list isn’t difficult and it’s incredibly fun, believe it or not! That’s because there are only seven words in this category, which create the useful acronym FANBOYS. Wondering what FANBOYS stands for? Well, the acronym FANBOYS stands for the words for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. Easy enough, right? Write down this first conjunction words list, along with the acronym FANBOYS and it should stick in your mind easily enough.

Already know about FANBOYS and can create a coordinating conjunction list? Check out this helpful resource on MLA format and more citation styles of formatting your citations.

Why are these words so important to remember? You’ll find that speakers and writers use these words frequently. Each one is less than four letters long and they are some of the most common words in the English language. The role they play is not a small one, as they’re able to connect two independent clauses and combine them into one sentence. Here’s the coordinating conjunction list:

• F – for
• A – and
• N – nor
• B – but
• O – or
• Y – yet
• S – so

Are you curious how to use words from the coordinating conjunction list? Look at this explanative link, or check out the examples of how to use words from this group in a sentence below:

For – This word has a similar meaning to “because” in a sentence.

• She was tired when she arrived in class, for she had studied all night.

But – This one connects opposing ideas.

• I tried out for the basketball team, but I didn’t make it.

Yet – This word is like the word “but.” However, it emphasizes the contrast even more.

• It’s snowing outside, yet it’s the middle of summer!

Nor – This word joins two nouns that the subject of the sentence does NOT have or obtain.

• Monica does not know about Michael and Bobby, nor about Jessica and Susan

So/Yet – These words suggest time and continuation depending on the context.

• So far, he hasn’t told her the truth.
• They love football, yet they gave up their tickets to someone less fortunate.

Make sure to commit FANBOYS to memory and you’re one step closer to knowing your main conjunctions list.

Now that you’ve covered a coordinating conjunctions list, it’s time to move into a subordinate conjunctions list. Think you can guess the difference between the two? Though they sound similar these conjunctions have two very different functions.

A Look at Subordinate Words: A List of Subordinating Conjunctions

Since you have FANBOYS down, let’s move on to a subordinating conjunctions list. These words are slightly more difficult to learn, because many of them are also prepositions. Plus, both connect clauses in a sentence. With that in mind, you should understand that words on the list of subordinating conjunctions have a different purpose. Instead of joining two independent clauses of equal importance, words from a subordinating conjunctions list make one clause less important than another. You’ll see how that works in the upcoming examples. For now, here is a subordinating conjunctions list:

After	As	As long as	As soon as
As though	Before	Even if	If
If when	Inasmuch	Just as	Now
Now that	Once	Provided that	Since
Supposing	That	Though	Until
Whenever	Whereas	Wherever	Which
Who

As you can tell, there are many more subordinates than there are coordinates. In fact, this isn’t even half of the words in a subordinate conjunctions list you can use to show importance between two clauses. Either way, let’s look at a few examples of sentences using words on a subordinating conjunctions list:

• Jason went to get a drink of water before his exam started.
• She’s usually a happy toddler, provided that she’s fed regularly.
• I always visit Disneyland whenever I visit my grandparents in California.
• Tyler can enjoy painting now that he has his own studio.

Since you can use many of the words from a subordinate conjunctions list as another part of speech, it’s good to understand how each one works as a joining word. In a sentence, words on a list of subordinating conjunctions begin a dependent clause which cannot stand alone.

For instance, ”If I go to the store” doesn’t form a complete idea. Connect it with an independent clause like in the sentence, “I’ll get a new toy if I got to the store,” and you have a complete thought.

You can often tell joining words from the rest by determining whether it constructs part of a sentence that holds a complete idea. Words with multiple uses will often form a complete thought when not used as a joining word.

Want to know more joining words and a subordinate conjunctions list? Look at this informative reference or see this additional subordinating conjunctions list:

Although	As if	As much as	Because
Even	Even though	If only	If then
In order that	Lest	Now since	Now when
Provided	Rather than	So that

What’s a Correlative List of Conjunctions?

Words on a correlative conjunctions list work in pairs to join equal clauses together. They can show up in different parts of a sentence. Additionally, you will always find them working together with their counterpart. For instance, one pair from this list of conjunctions is either/or. It joins two positive clauses of equal importance to form a complete sentence. For example:

• Either you cook me dinner, or I leave.

Here are some additional sentences using words from a correlative conjunctions list:

Whether/Or – This pair functions like the word if by bringing up hypothetical situations and joins the two options.

• I’m wearing my new swimsuit whether I go to the beach or to the swimming pool.

As/As – You can compare two things together using these words from a conjunctions list.

• Her sneeze was as loud as a helicopter.

There are many other joining words that come in pairs. Here’s a correlative conjunction words list:

As / As	Both / and	Either / or
Hardly / when	Neither / nor	No sooner / than
Not only / but also	Whether / or

Need a quick break? Try out our paper checker, or our citation services for MLA and APA format! Next, a conjunctive adverbs list will be the icing on top when adding words to the main conjunctions list. 

What’s Special About the Conjunctive Adverbs List?

The final conjunctions list to memorize contains adverbs. These adverbs join words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence just like words on your standard list of conjunctions can. Here are some example sentences containing words from the conjunctive adverbs list:

• Ted was a great student, in addition he was a wonderful student body president.
• Fred never missed a day of school; as a result, he won a scholarship for perfect attendance.
• Even though Lisa is lactose intolerant, still she wanted an ice cream bar.

Finally, here’s a basic conjunctive adverbs list.

This adverbial conjunction list is by no means comprehensive, although it gives you a good foundation. Words on this list of conjunctions are also known as transition words. Try your best to memorize and don’t forget to use this as a guide when writing.

After all	As a result	Consequently	Finally
For example	Furthermore	Hence	However
In addition	In fact	Incidentally	Indeed
Instead	Likewise	Meanwhile

Now, you’re familiar with the different joining words. Are there any words that you don’t know the meaning of from the conjunctive adverb list? If so, look up how to use each word and create sentence examples. With enough practice, you’ll be able to use these words like a professional writer!

Try answering these practice questions to review what you learned above.

Conjunction List Review Questions

1. How many different categories are there in a conjunction list?
2. Create a sentence using a word from the list of subordinating conjunctions.
3. Create a sentence using a word from the coordinating conjunctions list.
4. Why is it handy to have a conjunction list when writing?

After you’ve finished, review your answers with a friend and see if you can test each other on words from a conjunction words list. 

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Published March 7, 2019. Updated May 22, 2020.

I’ve already introduced the three main kinds of word joining that English uses:
– Liaison
– Vowel Joining
– Assimilation

In this post, I want to present some short dialogues that demonstrate all three of these together, so that practice can be done with examples of speech which flow like ”real-life” conversation. I’ll also include some examples of Elision, where an individual sound may drop out of one or more words, to ease the process of joining.

I’ll dispense with a long introduction, the theory and explanations can be found on the posts linked to above. What I’ll do is present the dialogues in ”normal writing”, then re-write them phonologically for reference.

1. Two acquaintances meet at work
A: Good morning, how are you? Hope everything’s OK!
B: I’m alright, actually – but I think you mean Good Afternoon!
A: Oh excuse me, is it already gone midday?
B: Yes, it is! You’re obviously all over the place – sit and have a cup of tea!
A: I wish I could, only there isn’t enough time.
B: Where are you off to now? Somewhere important, I assume?
A: I’ve got an appointment at Oliver’s for a haircut, and then I’m attending a meeting at three. After that I’m off into town by six, for the rest of the evening.
B: Sounds as if a good catch-up is due for us! Later on we should meet up again and talk.
A: That would be nice. Let me know where you are at midnight.
B: Sounds like a great idea! We can see each other into the early hours!

2. At a seminar
C: Hello everybody, let me welcome you all to the open day.
D: [Hand up] May I ask a question? It’s only a small enquiry.
C: Can’t it wait a minute? I’m in the middle of an introduction!
D: I apologise. Sorry I opened my mouth. Go on, please.
C: Thank you! As I was about to say, it’s a great pleasure to speak at a meeting of this kind. Days of preparation are about to pay off and I want a chance to thank everyone–
E: [Hand up] Pardon me, but am I allowed a quick interruption?
C: [Sighs] If I answer, will I be able to carry on again?
E: All I need to know is, where are the nearest toilets?
C: There’s a bathroom at the end of the passage outside.

3. In a shop
F: Is there anything in particular I can be of assistance with?
G: Yes, I’m looking for a book of poetry entitled, ”Beyond a Joke”. Would you know if it’s in stock at the moment?
F: Is it an anthology of poems? If it’s in print at all, there’s a good chance it’ll be on our shelves or in our archive down by the exit
G: It isn’t an anthology, but it might have been published by more than one publisher over the years. The edition I know isn’t common but can be found here and there.
F: [Checks] Yes, here it is – there are nine copies of it on my list of second-hand books.
G: I don’t care if it’s used, as long as it’s a good copy with a proper introduction.
F. Well, I can get an assistant to fetch a version of each and you can have a look.
G. Great, brilliant, please do!

I’ll now present all three dialogues written phonologically – that is, in phonetic script with words joined as they might be heard in actual speech. These may look confusing at first, as the joining means that several words may be lumped together into a ”single piece” of speech – but take some time toread them carefully, practice each ”piece” separately, and it will quickly become clear what’s happening in each.

It may help to copy out the phonetic transcription by hand – but please email me with any doubts or questions this raises…

1: Two acquaintances meet at work

A: gʊᵇ’mɔ:nɪŋ | ‘haʊʷəju: | ‘həʊpevɹiθɪŋzəʊ’keɪ |
B: aɪmɔ:ɫ’ɹaɪtæktʃəli | bətaɪθɪŋk jumi:ŋgʊdɑ:ftə’nu:n |
A: əʊʷɪk’skju:zmi (ʲ) ɪzɪtɔ:ɫ’ɹedi gɒᵐmɪd’deɪ |
B: jesɪt’ɪz | jɔ:ʳ‘ɒbvɪəsliʲɔ:l’əʊvəðəpleɪs | ‘sɪtən ‘hævə ‘kʌpəv ‘ti: |
A: aɪ ‘wɪʃaɪ ‘kʊdəʊnli ðeəʳ’ɪzəntɪnʌf ‘taɪm |
B: ,weəɹəjuʷ’ɒftu: naʊ | ,sʌmweəʳɪm’pɔ:təntaɪʲə,sju:m |
A: aɪv ,gɒtənə ‘pɔɪnʔməntət’ɒlɪvəz fəʳə ‘heəkʌtən ,ðenaɪmə’tendɪŋə ‘mi:tɪŋəʔθɹi: | ,ɑ:ftə ‘ðætaɪmɒfɪntə ,taʊᵐbaɪ ‘sɪks fəðə ,ɹestəv ðiʲ’i:vnɪŋ |
B: ,saʊndzəzɪfə gʊᵍ’kætʃʌpɪzdʒu: fəʳəs | ‘leɪtəʳ,ɒn wi ʃʊᵇmi:t’ʌpə,genən’tɔ:k |
A: ‘ðæʔwʊᵇbi’naɪs | ‘leᵖmi,nəʊweə juʷ,ɑ:ʳəᵖ’mɪdnaɪt |
B: ,saʊndzlaɪkə ‘gɹeɪtaɪdɪə | ,wi:kən ‘si:ʲitʃ’ʌðəʳ,ɪntə ðiʲ’ɜ:liʲaʊəz ||

2: At a seminar

C: he’ləʊʷevribɒdi | ‘leᵖmi ‘weɫkəmjuʷ,ɔ:ɫ tə ðiʲ’əʊpəndeɪ |
D: [Hand up] meɪʲaɪʲ,ɑ:skə ‘kwestʃən | its’əʊnliʲə’smɔlɪŋ,kwaɪəɹi |
C: kɑ:ntɪʔ ‘weɪtəmɪnɪt | aɪm,ɪnðə ‘mɪdələvənɪntɹə’dʌkʃən |
D: aɪʲə’pɒlədʒaɪz | ‘sɒriʲaɪʲ’əʊpəᵐmaɪ ‘maʊθ | gəʊʷ’ɒᵐpli:z |
C: ‘θæŋkju | ,æzɑɪwəzə’baʊʔtə’seɪʲɪtsə’greɪᵖ’pleʒə tə ‘spi:kətə ‘mi:tɪŋəv ðɪs kaɪnd | ‘deɪzəv prepə’ɹeɪʃənəɹə’baʊʔtəpeɪʲ’ɒfəndaɪ ‘wɒntə ,tʃɑ:nstə ‘θæŋkevriwʌn |
E: [Hand up] ‘pɑ:dəᵐ’mi bətæmaɪʲə’laʊdə ,kwɪkɪntə’rʌpʃən |
C: [Sighs] ɪfaɪʲ’ɑ:nsə wɪlaɪ biʲ’eɪbəɫtə ‘kæɹiʲ’ɒnəgen |
E: ‘ɔ:laɪ,ni:dtə ‘nəʊʷɪz | ‘weəʳə ðə ‘nɪəɹɪsʔ’tɔɪləts |
C: ðeəzə ‘bɑ:θɹʊməʔðiʲ’endəvðə ‘pæsɪdʒaʊt’saɪd |

3. In a shop

F: ɪz ðeəʳ,eniθɪŋɪᵐpə’tɪkjələʳaɪkəᵐ,biʲəvə’sɪstəns wɪð |
G: ‘jesaɪm’lʊkiŋ fəʳə ‘bʊkəv ‘pəʊətɹiʲɪn’taɪtəɫd bi’jɒndə ‘jəʊk | wʊdʒu ,nəʊʷɪfɪtsɪn ‘stɒkəʔðəməʊmənt |
F: ɪzɪtənæn’θɒlədʒiʲəv pəʊʷɪmz | ɪfɪtsɪm,pɹɪntət’ɔ:ɫ ðəzə ‘gʊdtʃɑnsɪtəɫbiʲ’ɒnɑ: ‘ʃeɫvzɔ:ʳɪnɑ:ʳ’ɑ:kaɪv ‘daʊmbaɪdiʲ’eksɪt |
G: ɪt,ɪzəntənæn’θɒlədʒi bətɪᵖ,maɪtəvbɪᵐ’pʌblɪʃᵖbaɪ ,mɔ: ðən wʌᵐ’pʌbliʃəɹəʊvə ðə jɪəz | ðiʲɪ,dɪʃən’aɪnəʊʷɪzeŋʔ’kɒməᵐbəʔkəᵐbi ‘faʊnd hɪeʳən’ðeə |
F: [Checks] jes ‘hɪəʳɪtɪz | ðəɹə ‘naɪŋ,kɒpi:zəvɪtɒᵐmaɪ’lɪstəv ‘sekənhæᵐ’bʊks |
G: aɪdəʊŋʔ’keəʳɪfɪtʃ’u:zdəz,lɒŋəzθsə ‘gʊᵍkɒpi wɪðə ‘pɹɒpəʳɪntɹə’dʌkʃən |
F. welaɪkəŋ,getənə’sɪstənʔ tə’fetʃə ,vɜ:ʒənəvi:tʃənᵈᶻu:kən ‘hævə’lʊk |
G. ‘gɹeɪᵖ’bɹɪljənᵖpli:z’du |

I’m sure these dialogues will give plenty of food for thought! We’ll return to the same three exchanges shortly to consider how the intonation in each can sound, too.

Also, when I have the resources to do so I’ll record and upload everything so that it can be heard. In the meantime, treat this as an opportunity to improve your understanding of IPA!