There is a commonly stated “rule” of grammar that beginning a sentence with and, or any other conjunction, is a mistake. But this is just not true. This supposed “rule” has no basis in actual writing, and even formal writing features plenty of sentences that start with and and other conjunctions. And we think that is really cool. So, are we going to debunk this pesky rule (that isn’t really a rule) stating that conjunctions can’t be sentence leaders? Yes, we are.
Can you start a sentence with and?
The word and is one of the most commonly used words in English, and it is one of the seven coordinating conjunctions used to form complex sentences like this one. Normally, we use a comma when we join independent clauses together with coordinating conjunctions. For example:
- I have a cat, and my sister has a dog.
Now, it is time to answer the million dollar question. Can you start a sentence with the word and? Despite what some supposed grammar gatekeepers might tell you, the answer is yes! In fact, most style guides encourage starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction if you are trying to make a point or using it for stylistic emphasis. For example, we can use and for dramatic effect like so:
- We used every trick, strategy, and gimmick we had at the competition. And we won!
There are a variety of reasons that we might start a sentence with and, such as for rhetorical effect, style, clarity, or flow. That being said, some people consider this to be improper, so don’t be surprised if you have a teacher or boss that takes you to task over this “mistake.” Still, you probably don’t want to overdo it and start all of your sentences with and.
➡️ One thing to keep in mind
There is one caveat to keep in mind, though, which doesn’t just apply to sentences starting with and. A complete sentence has a subject and a predicate. A collection of words that lacks one of these is not a sentence but a sentence fragment. While formal writing does allow for a very limited use of sentence fragments, these are often considered to be outright grammatical errors. So, unless you have a good reason, you should usually try to ensure your sentence that begins with and is, in fact, a sentence and not a sentence fragment. For example:
- Sentence: The woods were dark and spooky. And I think I saw a ghost!
- Sentence fragment: The circus has a dozen clowns. And a bear on a unicycle!
Examples
The following examples show the different ways we might use and to begin sentences.
- You may feel sad sometimes. And that’s okay.
- My neighbor is a nice guy who helps with yard work. And he gets me free coffee.
- The author announced another delay of her new book. And the reaction was just what you’d expect.
Can you start a sentence with but?
That takes care of and, but what about but? Like and, but is another of the seven coordinating conjunctions. All the points that we made about and apply to but as well. Typically, we use a comma when combining sentences with but. But we could use it to start a sentence instead! As with and, we might do this for many reasons. And it isn’t a mistake to do it!
Examples
Here are some examples of sentences that begin with but.
- I really need a new car. But I can’t afford one.
- It slices. It dices. It will file your taxes for you. But that’s not all!
- The comedian told all his best jokes. But nobody laughed.
You don’t always have to use but! Learn some alternatives for this common conjunction.
What about the other conjunctions?
As mentioned previously, and and but are two of the seven coordinating conjunctions. But what about the other five? Can we start sentences with them too? Yes, we can! While we typically use a comma to join sentences with coordinating conjunctions, we could also break those sentences apart.
Let’s look at examples of sentences that begin with each of the other five coordinating conjunctions.
- For: I didn’t tell my teacher I enjoyed her class. For that would be a lie.
- Nor: She didn’t hurt that poor kitty. Nor would she hurt any animal.
- Or: We could say we saw an alien. Or we could pretend none of this ever happened.
- Yet: Dash ran as hard and as fast as he could. Yet he still only finished third in the race.
- So: My daughter really doesn’t want to clean her room. So she has been hiding from me all day.
So far, we have only talked about coordinating conjunctions, but there are many more conjunctions out there. Can we start sentences with them, too? We sure can! For example:
- We will go to the store. After we eat breakfast, of course.
When we look beyond coordinating conjunctions, we see a new trend start to emerge. These other conjunctions are subordinating conjunctions, meaning they attach a subordinate clause to a main clause. Grammatically, it is considered perfectly acceptable to begin a sentence with a subordinate clause. In fact, you will see this extremely often in formal writing and even the strictest grammarian would not consider this to be against the rules. For example:
- Because I needed an A on the test, I studied harder than I ever had before.
Additionally, many of these conjunctions can also be used as adverbs and it is totally in line with grammatical rules to begin a sentence with an adverbial phrase:
- After all that running around, my dog took a long nap.
All of this means that not only can you start sentences with conjunctions, you might end up with a much clearer and interesting sentence if you do!
Examples
Let’s finish things up by looking at a whole bunch of great sentences that begin with conjunctions.
- My kids would never steal something. Because they know stealing is wrong.
- I didn’t call his bluff. Although I was really tempted to.
- This puzzle is really easy. Even a baby could solve it.
- We will catch Bigfoot. If we can ever find him.
- She said she was going to meet Bart in Springfield. Wherever that is.
- Nate can be the best player on the team. When he feels like it.
- This mystery is all but solved. Now that Sherlock Holmes is here.
- The two brothers need to work together. Before it is too late.
And there’s more—Grammar Coach™, that is!
Confused about conjunctions and their proper use? The Thesaurus.com Grammar Coach™ platform makes writing papers, essays, emails, and a whole lot more a whole lot easier. This writing tool uses machine-learning technology uniquely designed to catch grammar as well as spelling errors. Its Synonym Swap will find the best nouns, adjectives, and more to help say what you really mean, guiding you toward clearer, stronger, writing.
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#1
I see people give a picture in some web album the title which starts with «and» or «…and» (lowercase a). Do they assume people would know some story behind it that can be indicated in the picture? Or is there some meaning else?
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#2
Hi,
I would assume the web albums have a rather casual setting and that’s probably not a rule you should adopt for more formal writing. However, it might help if you could give us some examples of this usage of «and» you’re talking about.
Cheers!
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#3
Sometimes people (like me for example) use the titles to tell a story. So the title of photo #3 could be a continuation of the sentence that began with photo #1. I would normally use ellipses … to indicate that kind of continuation.
As a general guideline, students of English are advised not to start sentences with and, or even And. That helps to encourage good sentence structure. But you will find that experienced writers often begin sentences with conjunctions — it has always been so. For more, see these threads:
But at the start of sentence
«yet» at the beginning of a sentence
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#4
The Irish language often uses its ‘and’ at the start of a sentence. Some people with an Irish background can unconsciously use this formation when constructing a sentence in English — even though they might not know enough Irish to express the same thoughts in Irish .
A lot of the ungrammatical English spoken in Ireland can be traced to Irish language constructions.
Perhaps other languages have similar influences on how some people compose their English sentences.
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#5
Thank you, panjandrum.
Your comment is very educational to me.
I will remember «donate to you».And I now find my error. «in a certain circumstances» is worng.
«in certain circumstances» or «in a certain circumstance» should be right.
Hello teachers.
This is from another thread posted by myself.
If I remember correctly, my English teacher used to say that «And» at the top of a sentence is not good.
Is it right?
If so, what is better instead of «And»?
«By the way,» or «Well«?
I think I often write a sentence starting with «And».
And I think it seems childish because my 8 year old daughter often uses and-equivalent-Japanese-word at the begining of her Japanese sentences, which seems very childish to me. So I am correcting her now.
So am I.
And I wonder if there were more proper and lofty conjunctions.
Please help me.
Last edited: Dec 31, 2008
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#6
You remember correctly- it is not proper to begin sentences with the word «and» or «but». Omit the «and» from the front of the sentence altogether. Other conjunctions depend on the topic.. you could use «also» or «for instance» if appropriate. I hope this helps..
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#7
«And» is a joining word so its use at the beginning of a sentence is not correct because you’re not «joining» anything when you start a new sentence.
I cannot tell you what is «better». There are many, many ways to do this but I would not use «By the way» or «Well». I’ll use the sentences that you provided in your post:
«I think I often write a sentence starting with «And». I think it seems childish because my 8—year—old daughter often uses and-equivalent-Japanese-word at the begining of her Japanese sentences, which seems very childish to me. So and I am correcting her now.
I wonder if there were are more proper and lofty conjunctions.»
I’ve simply deleted the «And»s.
I’ve also deleted the «So» at the beginning of your second-last sentence. Some would argue that it’s acceptable at the beginning of a sentence but I’m one of those who would not.
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#8
Using or not using and at the beginning of a sentence is a matter of style and not grammar. And, but, and numerous other conjunctions are perfectly normal and acceptable at the beginning of an English sentence as far as English grammar is concerned and are frequently found in corpora of natural English conversation.
In formal writing, though, you might opt for a more formal discourse marker, such as «moreover», «as well», «furthermore», «additionally» etc. In informal speech and writing, though, «And…» is just another perfectly ordinary discourse organizer.
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#9
Thank you, ValeLaPena, Dimcl and Transatlantic.
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#10
Using or not using and at the beginning of a sentence is a matter of style and not grammar. And, but, and numerous other conjunctions are perfectly normal and acceptable at the beginning of an English sentence as far as English grammar is concerned and are frequently found in corpora of natural English conversation.
In formal writing, though, you might opt for a more formal discourse marker, such as «moreover», «as well», «furthermore», «additionally» etc. In informal speech and writing, though, «And…» is just another perfectly ordinary discourse organizer.
Very well stated!
«And what of the things beneath its crust? And of the great spaces with no world
at all?» C.S. Lewis
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#11
You remember correctly- it is not proper to begin sentences with the word «and» or «but». Omit the «and» from the front of the sentence altogether. Other conjunctions depend on the topic.. you could use «also» or «for instance» if appropriate. I hope this helps..
Please remember to tell that ruffian W. Shakespeare.
As You Like It
:
Silvius. It is to be all made of faith and service; And so am I for Phebe.
Phebe. And I for Ganymede.
Orlando. And I for Rosalind.
Rosalind. And I for no woman.
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#12
I agree that «and» is often used at the start of sentences in literary contexts and in informal writing that is perhaps intended to reflect common speech patterns.
I do however think it is important (I almost started with «But» there) to confirm the general rule for the benefit of those learning English, which is that, as a matter of good style, they are best to avoid starting a sentence with «and» or «but» (or indeed «so»).
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#13
Please remember to tell that ruffian W. Shakespeare.
As You Like It
:
Silvius. It is to be all made of faith and service; And so am I for Phebe.
Phebe. And I for Ganymede.
Orlando. And I for Rosalind.
Rosalind. And I for no woman.
Oh- I only meant that my textbooks say one should avoid it in formal writings. They (usually) don’t put conditions on writing as an art form… thank you for the perspective!
I’m not incorrigible.
Last edited: Dec 31, 2008
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#14
In spoken English, I see no problem with beginning a sentence with «and», especially if you, or your daughter, or the Bard are adding to a previous thought.
In formal English it’s usually unnecessary.
If you insist, you could try:
I often think …
I also wonder …
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#15
Students of English should be aware that starting a sentence with a co-ordinating conjunction (such as and) is frowned upon by many people. Some of those people could be marking your English exams, so be careful.
The reason for their frowning is not that this is a grammatical error. To quote Fowler’s New Modern English Usage:
«There is a persistent belief that it is improper to begin a sentence with And, but this prohibition has been cheerfully ignored by standard authors from Anglo-Saxon times onwards. An initial And is a useful aid to writers as the narrative continues.»
It is frowned upon because it is a typical symptom of inadequate thought or a hacked-up run-on sentence.
«Do not start a sentence with a conjunction.» is a very useful guideline. Using a conjunction to start a sentence is generally a bad thing, but sometimes it is exactly right.
Hence this modified version of the «rule».
Do not start a sentence with a conjunction without being aware that you are doing it, and being confident that it is stylistically acceptable.
(There is an alternative version: Do not start a sentence with a conjunction until you have been writing English every day for at least 45 years )
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#16
I think that last rule is a bit harsh, Panj. but I take the point about learners not trying it in the first few years, and about people correcting English exams not always being broadminded about such things.
I hate to see such blanket rules laid down for beginners when they aren’t a matter of grammar at all. I know that teachers sometimes lay down rules which aren’t sound in themselves but maybe will elicit the right response from the pupil: my grandmother’s Lancashire driving instructor, Mr Grimes, told her sagely: ‘When ye get ter cross-roawds, git over before trouble develops’.
Are we necessarily to assume that nothing has gone before? You take away a wonderful resource of the language by making such assumptions. Here’s a great Elizabethan poet, one of the most elaborate anti-heroes of English literature, making fun this time of his incompetence as a lover by use of the device.
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#17
I fully agree with the fine advice given by panj, el escoces, and Transatlantic. Learners, both native and non-native speakers of English, should use great care, or be prudent and avoid an initial ‘and’. I maintain my sense of mirth toward those who confuse such advice with a «rule».
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#18
I second Panj’s approach. It’s asking for chaos, in my view, to attempt to teach a language on the basis of what some writers successfully do. One needs to learn to walk first, so to speak. Anything more advanced can wait.
As a general guideline for beginners, I see no harm in a rule that indicates that sentences shouldn’t be started with «and» or «but».
EDIT: and by rule I don’t mean absolute rule, clearly, but generally applicable rule (capable of being broken, like all good rules)
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#19
Just to confuse students further, it is fine to write
«‘And’ and ‘but’ are two common conjunctions,» and
«But for my timely advice, he would be in prison now.»
Rover
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#21
I think while technically the rule is that you can’t use «And» at the beginning of the sentence, it’s not a very important rule, so lots of people ignore it. It’s quite common to see, and I wouldn’t think anything of it if I saw it.
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#22
Technically the «rule» is due to and being a co-ordinating conjunction; in other words, it co-ordinates what is said before it in a sentence with what is said after it. It follows from this that it should be in the middle of a sentence because if it is the first word in a sentence, there is nothing before it in that sentence. Yet skilful writers and journalists use and in initial position. In those cases, and co-ordinates what has been said in the previous sentence with what follows it:
He sat down on a bench. And he wasn’t even tired.
Technically, this is of course wrong but it is commonly used for emphasis or as a stylistic device. The same applies to other co-ordinating conjunctions like but, for example.
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#23
I often start sentences with And or But.
I like Grumpy Old Man’s comment:
it is commonly used for emphasis or as a stylistic device.
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#24
I was schooled to never start a sentence with «and», and for many years I hewed to that rule. More recently I’ve found that starting a sentence with «and» can be just fine. And that’s just the way it is.
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#25
I remember to read somewhere in this forum that we should not start a sentence with and. Here is one reference below.
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=64399 #4
The Wordreference contributor in #4 did not specify
— which grammarian he was citing, or
— why he thought that grammarian was authoritative, or
— what kind of English the «rules» were meant to apply to, or
— why the grammarian thought those were useful «rules».
In these circumstances, the «rules» must be taken with a big pinch of salt.
Last edited: May 12, 2009
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#26
Don’t start a sentence with «And».
That is a very useful rule/instruction/guideline for beginners in English. The thread that veracity linked in post #1 includes this incredibly wise statement:
panj said:
That «rule» is another of the «Guidelines for learners of English, native and non-native» that are very helpful, but should not be revered as solemn and binding commitments on everyone for ever.
See And at the head of a sentence.
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#27
I was taught (circa 1970) never to start a sentence with an and or a but.
I’ve always been pleased to ignore that particular meaningless rule.
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#28
Is it right to start a sentence with the word ‘AND’? I happened to see such usages many times in websites. But once my teacher said it is not a right usage. Actually I’m confused.
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#29
There are actually two types of usage that seem to get lumped together. There’s when a sentence starts with the word «and», and when a sentence fragment starts with «and». Examples:
We went to the store. And we bought some milk. And bread.
The first «and» starts off a sentence. The second «and» starts off a sentence fragment. I think that the prohibition against «and» originated in trying to discourage sentence fragments, but now many teachers simply state that sentences shouldn’t start with «and» even if it’s not a sentence fragment.
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#31
If you start a sentence with and, you suggest that something has gone before. Clearly the writer may have been unspecific about what the something may be. This is a device commonly used by writers to intrigue their readers and to raise questions in their minds.
It’s not something I’d recommend to learners in the language, but the suggestion that it should be solemnified into a rule of some kind is absurd.
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#32
Perhaps the commonest use of And starting a sentence is where the theme, rather than the preceding subject, is continued:
Newscaster: “Today, the president opened the new science block at the university.” [There is a videoed report, at the end of which…] “And, in other news, a bear was stuck up a tree in Washington.” [Another video is shown.]
The theme of “news” was continued, but the subject was changed.
Also
“So this concludes my lecture on the life of the squirrel.
And on another matter, I see that we have Professor Black in the audience, who has studied fruit trees for 20 years.”
The theme of a talk from someone continues, but his topic has changed.
This PowerPoint is a great way to help children learn how to join sentences using ‘and’. It includes important steps to success that will help children remember key points and has multiple examples and challenges throughout.
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Certain grammatical situations require the use of a comma beforeand. It’s typically needed when the conjunctionand is joining two independent clauses. Or if you’re using it in lists that require an Oxford comma.
This brief guide will shed light on the age-old question of whether to use a comma before the word and.
Main Comma Before And Takeaways:
- A comma is a form of punctuation that indicates a pause in a sentence and separates items in a list.
- Commas should be used before and when joining two independent clauses or when compiling a list.
- Commas can separate adjectives, offset nonessential phrases, and introduce direct quotations.
- Oxford commas are also known as serial or Harvard commas.
- Serial commas are used after the next-to-last item in a list and before the and.
- The AP Stylebook doesn’t advocate the use of the Oxford comma.
Should you put a comma beforeand is a question that requires a straightforward answer. Either you do, or you don’t, right?
Is There a Comma Before the Word and?
Unfortunately, the answer isn’t entirely so black and white. When to use a comma beforeand in a sentence depends on several factors:
- Whether the and is linking two independent clauses
- If the and is separating items in a list or series
- Whether you’re using an Oxford (or serial) comma
- If a pause is necessary
- What style guide you’re following
What is the Comma Before And Called?
The answer to that depends on how you’re using the word and. In general terms, a comma falls under the category of a punctuation mark. It’s often used to indicate a pause in a sentence or to separate items in a list. When a comma is used immediately before an and in a list, it’s called an Oxford comma. Others may refer to the comma before and as a serial or Harvard comma.
What are the 8 Commas Rules?
Whether it comes before and or elsewhere in a sentence, following basic comma rules can make using this misunderstood punctuation mark a breeze. In a nutshell, we use commas to:
- list items,
- separate adjectives,
- join independent clauses,
- offset introductory and nonessential phrases,
- introduce quotations, and
- maintain flow.
Whew! Take a breath. Let’s take a closer look at each of these rules.
Rule 1: Use a Comma in a Series or List
When creating a list of three or more simple words, items, or concepts, use a comma to separate each word or word group.
Note: Using a comma after the next-to-last item in a list is a stylistic choice and may depend on the style guide you’re following.
Rule 2: Separate Adjectives With a Comma
When you use more than one adjective to modify a noun or pronoun, use commas to separate them. This is only true if the adjectives’ order is interchangeable.
Note: This could easily read: She had a healthy, happy baby.
Rule 3: Use a Comma When Joining Two Independent Clauses
When a conjunction (for example: and, or, and but) links two independent clauses, you need to put a comma before the conjunction.
Note: An independent clause must have a subject and verb. It should express a complete thought.
Rule 4: If a Sentence Begins With a Dependent Clause, Use a Comma After It
If a sentence begins with an introductory phrase or dependent clause, it should have a comma immediately after it.
Rule 5: Offset Nonessential Words, Phrases, or Clauses With Commas
If a sentence contains nonessential words, phrases, or clauses, use commas to set them apart. These nonessential sections often begin with words such as who or which. They may be removed from a sentence without altering its meaning.
Rule 6: Commas Introduce Direct Quotations
Direct quotations, such as dialogue, should be preceded by commas.
Commas may also be used to express interruptions to direct quotations.
Rule 7: Commas Set Off Phrases That Interfere With Sentence Flow
Commas can be used to set apart phrases that interrupt the flow of a sentence. These may include expressions such as by the way, after all, and nevertheless.
Rule 8: Commas Set Off Names, Nicknames, and Titles
When directly addressing a person, use a comma to set off their name, nickname, title, or term of endearment.
Do You Use a Comma Before “And” When Joining Two Sentences?
Yes. When joining two independent clauses or sentences, “and” acts as a coordinating conjunction. The rule states that a comma must be used before a conjunction when it’s joining two independent clauses or sentences. This rule is applicable to other coordinating conjunctions like but, so, and or, to name a few.
Commas Before And: An Overview
Commas BeforeAnd are used primarily in two specific situations:
1. Joining Independent Clauses With a Conjunction
An independent clause is a phrase that expresses a complete thought. It must have both a subject and a verb. In other words, it can stand alone as a sentence.
A sentence can contain two independent clauses if they’re linked by a conjunction such as and, or, and but. (Without the conjunction, two independent clauses typically form a run-on sentence). A comma is required after the final word of the first clause, before and (or whatever conjunction you’re using).
Take these two independent clauses:
If you join them together with only a comma, they form a comma splice.
If you add an and after the comma, the sentence becomes grammatically correct.
Exceptions to the rule:
If the two independent clauses are short and have a strong connection, then the comma should be omitted. Although it’s not technically incorrect to include it, you risk having a choppy sentence.
2. Before the Next-To-Last Item in a List
Commas are almost always used to separate items in a list or series that contains three or more things. More specifically, some lists contain a comma that’s known as the Oxford comma. This punctuation sits immediately after the list’s next-to-last item, just before the and or the or.
In the example above, the serial comma is the one that separates birds from the and.
Exceptions to the Rule: In simple lists, a comma beforeand isn’t always necessary and doesn’t actually enhance a sentence. Sometimes, the omission of this serial comma is even advisable.
In fact, the Oxford comma is a hotly debated point in modern grammar, and ultimately, it comes down to a stylistic choice.
Certain style guides, such as the AP Stylebook, don’t advocate using this serial comma unless it’s absolutely necessary for preserving a sentence’s meaning.
Comma Confusion: Final Thoughts
Let’s face it. Commas can be confusing. They’re also important. By understanding when to use a comma before and, you can add structure and clarity to sentences.
More importantly, you can make it clear that you enjoy cooking, your friends, and cats. And that no, you don’t enjoy cooking your friends and cats.
Quick Comma Before and Quiz
Comma Before And Question #1
A. When joining two independent clauses
B. In a series or list
C. To introduce direct quotations
D. All of the above
Correct!
Wrong!
The answer is D. Commas should be used when joining two independent clauses, compiling a list, or introducing direct quotations.
Comma Before And Question #2
A. Oxford comma
B. Serial comma
C. Cambridge comma
D. Harvard Comma
Correct!
Wrong!
The answer is C. The Oxford comma comes immediately before an «and» in a list. Others refer to it as a serial comma or Harvard comma.
Comma Before And Question #3
A. AP stylebook
B. The MLA handbook
C. The Chicago Manual of Style
D. The Elements of Style
Correct!
Wrong!
The answer is A. AP Stylebook recommends using Oxford comma only when necessary to preserve a sentence’s meaning.
Comma Before And Question #4
A. His bright, yellow coat was stolen.
B. His bright yellow coat was stolen.
Correct!
Wrong!
The answer is B. You can separate adjectives with a comma only when the adjectives’ order is interchangeable.
Comma Before And Question #5
Correct!
Wrong!
The answer is TRUE. An independent clause can stand alone.
Comma Before And Question #6
A. Jack loves video games and he enjoys playing board games.
B. Jack loves video games, and he enjoys playing board games.
Correct!
Wrong!
The answer is B. Use a comma after the final word of the first clause, before “and.”
Read More: When To Use Comma Before Such As: The Definitive Guide
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.
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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.