What is an example of a conjunction word

A conjunction is a part of speech that is used to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences. Conjunctions are considered to be invariable grammar particle, and they may or may not stand between items they conjoin.

Types of Conjunctions

There are several different types of conjunctions that do various jobs within sentence structures. These include:

• Subordinating conjunctions –  Also known as subordinators, these conjunctions join dependent clauses to independent clauses.
• Coordinating conjunction – Also known as coordinators, these conjunctions coordinate or join two or more sentences, main clauses, words, or other parts of speech which are of the same syntactic importance.
• Correlative conjunction – These conjunctions correlate, working in pairs to join phrases or words that carry equal importance within a sentence.
• Conjunctive adverbs – While some instructors do not teach conjunctive adverbs alongside conjunctions, these important parts of speech are worth a mention here. These adverbs always connect one clause to another, and are used to show sequence, contrast, cause and effect, and other relationships.

When people first learn to write, they usually begin with short, basic sentences like these: “My name is Ted. I am a boy. I like dogs.” One of the most important jobs conjunctions do is to connect these short sentences so they sound more like this: “I am a boy named Ted, and I like dogs.”

Conjunction Rules

There are a few important rules for using conjunctions. Remember them and you will find that your writing flows better:

• Conjunctions are for connecting thoughts, actions, and ideas as well as nouns, clauses, and other parts of speech. For example: Mary went to the supermarket and bought oranges.
• Conjunctions are useful for making lists. For example: We made pancakes, eggs, and coffee for breakfast.
• When using conjunctions, make sure that all the parts of your sentences agree. For example: “I work busily yet am careful” does not agree. “I work busily yet carefully” shows agreement.

Conjunctions List

There are only a few common conjunctions, yet these words perform many functions: They present explanations, ideas, exceptions, consequences, and contrasts. Here is a list of conjunctions commonly used in American English:

• • And
  • As
  • Because
  • But
  • For
  • Just as
  • Or
  • Neither
  • Nor
  • Not only
  • So
  • Whether
  • Yet

Examples of Conjunctions

In the following examples, the conjunctions are in bold for easy recognition:

• • • I tried to hit the nail but hit my thumb instead.
    • I have two goldfish and a cat.
    • I bought a new bag for my upcoming trip.
    • You can have peach ice cream or a brownie sundae.
    • Neither the black dress nor the gray one looks right on me.
    • My dad always worked hard so we could afford the things we wanted.
    • I try very hard in school yet I am not receiving good grades.

Conjunction Exercises

The following exercises will help you gain greater understanding about how conjunctions work. Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.

• • 1. My brother loves animals. He just brought a puppy __________ a kitten home with him.
       1. But
       2. Or
       3. Yet
       4. And

Answer: 4. My brother loves animals. He just brought a puppy and a kitten home with him.

• • 1. Meera does not like to swim, ____  she does enjoy cycling.
       1. Or
       2. But
       3. And
       4. Yet

Answer: 2. Meera does not like to swim, but she does enjoy cycling.

• • 1. I want to go for a hike _____ I have to go to work today.
       1. But
       2. Yet
       3. Or
       4. For

Answer: 1. I want to go for a hike but I have to go to work today.

• • 1. They do not smoke, _____ do they play cards.
       1. And
       2. Or
       3. Nor
       4. Yet

Answer: 3. They do not smoke, nor do they play cards.

• • 1. I’m getting good grades _________ I study every day.
       1. Or
       2. Yet
       3. But
       4. Because

Answer: 4. I’m getting good grades because I study every day.

Here we have answers to all these questions!

Conjunctions, one of the English parts of speech, act as linkers to join different parts of a sentence. Without conjunctions, the expression of the complex ideas will seem odd as you will have to use short sentences that may irritate the readers.

Here is a precise definition of conjunction.

“Conjunctions are words that join or connect the words, phrases, or clauses together.“

What are the Most Frequently Used Conjunctions?

There is a long list of conjunctions, but these are the most frequently used.

• And
• Or
• But

And

Here are some uses of the conjunction and.

1- To predict that one action follows the other one in a particular chronological manner. For example:

• Smith wrote to Hardy and waited for his response.

2- To show that one idea results in the sequence of the second idea. For instance:

• We met rain on the way and had to stop there.

3- To comment on the idea described in the earlier section. For example:

• James had a severe accident on the highway – and I’m sad about him.

Or

The conjunction “Or” suggests that any one of the choices is acceptable. For instance:

• Would you like to have tea or coffee?
• They will go either to visit cold places or museums.

But

In most cases, the word “But” is used to:

1- Show a contrast of ideas like in the following sentences.

• James is weak but energetic.
• It was a hot day, but we enjoyed it.
• Austen is poor but truly honest.

2- Express the meaning of anything except for something or someone. For instance:

• Every person but Tess was present.
• Everybody but James enjoyed it.

Functions of Conjunctions

From the definition of conjunctions, their following functions are evident.

1- Join the Words Together

As mentioned above, the conjunctions join the words together.

Examples

Here are some examples of conjunctions where they are acting as linkers to join different words together.

• I always work quickly and honestly.
• Do you like sandwiches and eggs for breakfast?
• We’ll play hockey and football this evening.

In all the above sentences, conjunctions are connecting two words. So, these act as a linker between different words.

2- Join the Phrases Together

Another function of conjunctions is to join different phrases together.

Examples

Here are some examples of conjunctions functioning as a link between different phrases.

• Will you like to stay here or go back?
• Are they going on a trip or back to college?

You can observe that the word ‘or’ is connecting different phrases together.

3- Join the Parts of Sentences Together

According to the definition, the third function of conjunctions is to link different parts of the sentences.

Examples

In the following sentences, conjunctions are acting as linkers between different parts of the sentences.

• The rescue team arrived but couldn’t save the patient.
• He ran but missed the bus.

A connection between different parts of the sentences is evident here.

History and Origin

The word conjunction, derived from the French word Conjonction, is a biannual journal. We can trace the first use of conjunctions to the 14th century.  Bradford Morrow, the winner of the PEN/Nora Magid Award in collaboration with many other editors, edited this term in 1981 at Bard College. It was a collaborative edition, and all the writers and editors agree with his work.

Types of Conjunctions

There is a long list of conjunctions, and it is hard to learn them as a whole. We can divide conjunctions into three major types. Here is a detail of all these kinds.

1- Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunctions join two clauses or parts of speech that have equal grammatical value or syntactic importance. These kinds of conjunctions have multiple uses and are used to join words, clauses, or phrases.

List of Coordinating Conjunctions

Seven coordinating conjunctions serve various purposes. Here is the list of these conjunctions.

• For
• And
• Nor
• But
• Or
• Yet
• So

How to Remember Coordinating Conjunctions?

It is not tough to remember the coordinating conjunctions. An acronym used to memorize these conjunctions is FANBOYS. You can easily remember these conjunctions through this short form.

Types of Coordinating Conjunctions

Here are different subdivisions of coordinating conjunctions.

a) Cumulative Coordinating Conjunction

Cumulative conjunction interlinks two supportive objects or ideas. These also add one statement to another for the sake of extra information. “And” is cumulative coordinating conjunction.

Examples

Here are some uses of a cumulative coordinating conjunction.

• Hellen woke up and hurried to the office.
• Alice went shopping for households, and Peter cleaned the house.
• Antonia is very clever and sharp.

Other Cumulative Conjunctions

Some other cumulative conjunctions are:

• As well as
• Also
• Both
• Not only
• But also
• Well
• Now

b) Adversative Coordinating Conjunctions

As the name suggests, the adversative conjunctions join two opposite or contrastive parts of a sentence. Out of all coordinating conjunctions, ‘but’ and ‘yet’ are adversative conjunctions.

Examples

Here are some uses of adversative coordinating conjunctions.

• James is thin but strong.
• Henry is poor yet grateful.
• He is aggressive but still calm.

Other Adversative Conjunctions

Besides the above coordinating adversative conjunctions, here are some more.

• Still
• Whereas
• Nevertheless
• While

c) Alternative Coordinating Conjunctions

The Alternative Coordinating Conjunctions act as linkers to coin two contrasting situations. These coordinating conjunctions connect those situations where choice is possible. “Or” and “Nor” are alternative conjunctions.

Examples

• You can leave or stay.
• You can read either a novel or aplay.
• Neither can he afford a car nor a bike.

Other Alternative Conjunctions

Other alternative conjunctions are:

• Either
• Neither
• Else
• Otherwise

d) Illative Coordinating Conjunctions

Illative conjunctions show the influence, results, or inferences of one part of the sentence on the other. “For” and “So” fall under this category.

Examples

Here are some examples of the use of illative coordinating conjunctions.

• He left for a long ride.
• Jim works hard so that he can achieve his goals.
• Jerry is ill, so he can’t attend the class.

Other Illative Coordinating Conjunctions

Hence, because, etc. also fall under this category.

Rules for Using Coordinating Conjunctions

There are some rules and regulations for the proper use of coordinating conjunctions. You can’t use these conjunctions correctly if you don’t know how to use them. So, these rules are necessary to learn.

1- When you use coordinating conjunctions to connect the independent clauses, put a comma before them. For example:

• I’ve to leave for the USA, so I can’t stay here.

2- Never use a comma before the coordinating conjunction when it is connecting two items or words. For example:

• He read a novel and a short story.

3- It is optimal to use a comma before the coordinating conjunction when it acts as a linker to connect a list of items. For example:

• Catherine is cooking fried rice, potato fries, and corn. Or
• Catherine is cooking fried rice, potato fries, and corn.

It’s up to you whether you use a comma or not. Also, it depends upon the sense of the sentence.

2- Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating Conjunctions are the linkers that make a relation between an independent clause and a dependent clause. These linkers make cause-and-effect relationships in the sentences. You’ll notice such a relationship in the sentences with subordinating conjunctions.

Functions of Subordinating Conjunctions

A dependent clause is incomplete. For a complete expression of meaning, a reliable connection of this clause is necessary with an independent clause. Some suitable words can establish such a relationship. You can interpret a clear meaning through these connected clauses.

List of Subordinating Conjunctions

There is a long list of subordinating conjunctions. The list of most frequently used subordinating conjunctions is in the following section.

• Whether
• Rather than
• As much as
• Than,
• Whereas
• Which,
• Whatever
• After
• As soon as
• Whichever
• As long as
• By the time
• Before
• Once
• Now that
• Till
• Until
• Since
• Whenever
• Though
• While
• As though
• Even though
• Although
• Whom
• Whomever
• Whoever
• Whose
• If
• As if
• Only if
• Where
• Wherever
• Assuming that
• Provided that
• Unless
• Even if
• How
• In case
• Since
• Because
• As
• That,
• In order

How to Memorize Subordinate Conjunctions

It is a tough job to memorize a long list of subordinating conjunctions. So, there should be a short form for these conjunctions. You can use the short form “ON A WHITE BUS” to remember these conjunctions. See the following list as it will assist you a lot.

O: Only if, Once

N: Now that

A: As, After, Although

W: Whenever, Whoever, Whose, Whomever, Whatever, Whoever, Whomever, Where, Wherever, When, While, Who, Whether

H: How

I: So that, If, In case of, In order

T: Though

E: Even if, Even though

B: Before, Because

U: Unless, Until

This list may be beneficial for many non-native speakers. It will help them to use the exact subordinate conjunctions.

Types of Subordinate Conjunctions

Subordinate conjunctions have a long list. It is hard to remember them. These conjunctions have sub-categories for easy use. The difference among all these kinds of subordinating conjunctions is their way of connecting different clauses. Here are the seven types of these linkers.

1. Comparison

This kind of subordinating conjunctions makes a relation between the independent clause and dependent clause by comparing them. Here is the list of these conjunctions.

• Rather than
• Whether
• As much as
• Than
• Whereas

Examples

• Jerry liked coffee, whereas Harry preferred tea.
• Someone has to represent the class tomorrow, whether it’s you or me.

• Concession

As the name suggests, concession subordinate conjunctions are the linkers that connect a dependent clause to an independent one by conceding any particular point between them. Here is a list of these conjunctions.

• Although
• Though
• Even though

Examples

• Although I’m ill, I’d go to work.
• We’ll have to attend the class, despite the bad weather.

• Condition

Such subordinating conjunctions connect a dependent clause and an independent clause based on some particular condition or information. Here is a list of these conjunctions.

• Only if
• If
• Unless
• Even if
• Lest
• Assuming that
• Provided that

Examples

• Unless I finish my work, I can’t go home.
• You’ll have to work extra hours, in case you miss the lectures.

d) Time

Such subordinate conjunctions connect the independent and dependent clauses based on any time relationship between them. Here is a list of these conjunctions.

• As soon as
• Before
• As long as
• After
• Once
• By the time
• Since
• Now that
• Until
• Till
• While
• Whenever
• When

Examples

• After the lecture is over, we’ll move to the canteen.
• I’ll have to finish the task before lunchtime.
• Once I visited Great Britain.

e) Place

These subordinating linkers connect a dependent and an independent clause via any place relationship. Here are frequently used conjunctions of this type.

• Wherever
• Where

Examples

• The thieves hid the money where no one could guess.
• Wherever possible, start a profitable business for a better future.

f) Manner

These kinds of subordinate conjunctions connect two clauses by showing the way of doing something. Here is a list of these conjunctions.

• As though
• How
• As if

Examples

• James started singing as if he was not a singer.
• Jim used to help the needy though he was poor himself.
• How was the trip?

g) Reason

These types of subordinate conjunctions act as linkers to connect two clauses based on any particular reason. Here is a list of these conjunctions.

• Since
• Because
• So that
• That
• In order
• As

Examples

• James has been reading in this college since 2016.
• We arrived earlier so that we could prepare for the presentation.

Rules and Regulations for Using Subordinating Conjunctions

Different subordinating conjunctions have different rules and regulations for proper use. It depends on the type of information contained in the sentence. Also, their use depends on the dependent and independent clauses. Keeping in mind all these facts and figures, you have to punctuate such sentences differently. Here are some points that will help you to place commas while using subordinating conjunctions.

1- It is not necessary that the dependent clause will come before the independent clause or vice versa. Both these cases are possible in different situations. So, the placentation of the comma depends on the placentation of these clauses. See the following example.

• We have to attend the class, despite the bad weather.

In this sentence, the subordinating clause came after the main clause. So, there is no need for a comma. Now see the similar sentence in another manner.

• Despite the bad weather, we have to attend the class.

In this sentence, the subordinating clause came before the main clause, and a comma is necessary after the dependent clause to make a clear sense.

3- Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are used in pairs to compare or contrast the equal parts of any sentence. They act to join the words or phrases with equal weight. You’ll always encounter them in pairs within a sentence.  You may say that these act as a team of conjunctions.

The name of these linkers justifies their job. “Co” means to work in coordination, and ‘relative’ means to join different elements of the sentence together. You can guess their job by this definition.

List of Correlative Conjunctions

Here is the list of most frequently used correlative conjunctions.

• Either, or
• Neither, nor
• Both, and
• Whether, or
• Not only, but also
• As, as
• Not, but
• Such, that
• As many, as
• Scarcely, when
• Rather, than
• No sooner, than

Examples

• The child wants either a cheesecake or a chocolate cake.

• Neither we’ll visit the ocean nor the hills.

• We’ll visit both the ocean and the hills.

• Tell me whether you want to stay or leave?

• He’s not only intelligent but also clever.

• Scattering is not as fun as a child’s play.

• I can see you are not in the mood for the trip but rest.

• Such was their love that they couldn’t survive separately.

• There are as many people in the hall as can fit.

• Tim scarcely drove two kilometers when he met with an accident.

• I’d rather play basketball than hockey.

Rules for Using Correlative Conjunctions

Some rules and tips are necessary to learn for the appropriate use of correlative conjunctions. Here are some tips that will help you to use these conjunctions properly.

1- There is no need for a comma if there is a dependent clause in the second part of the sentence.  If you encounter an independent clause in the second part, use a comma. If you are going to connect two independent clauses via correlative conjunctions, use a comma. Read the following example.

• I not only like to drink coffee but also tea.

In this example, correlative conjunctions connect two phrases. So, there is no need for a comma. Now, let’s rearrange the sentence.

• I not only like to drink coffee, but I also like tea.

After rearranging the sentence, two independent clauses have emerged. In such a sentence, a comma is crucial.

2- When you use the pair neither/nor, don’t use a double negative. If you do so, it will be your mistake. Look at the following sentence.

• He didn’t like neither coffee nor tea. ( Incorrect use of correlative conjunctions )

You’ll have seen that in the above sentence, the use of double negative and correlative conjunctions neither/nor is not creating a proper sense. You’ll see a conflict when deciding the meaning of this sentence. In the correct form, this sentence would be as follows.

• He liked neither coffee nor tea.

This sentence is conveying a complete meaning, unlike the above one.

3- Try to fulfill the logic and proximity rules when using correlative conjunctions.

According to the proximity rule, use the verb form of the closest subject when you are connecting singular and plural subjects.

According to the logic rule, use the plural verb form if any of the subjects is plural. Try to fulfill these rules when using correlative conjunctions.

Conjunctive Adverbs

Conjunctive adverbs also act as linkers to connect one clause to another, but their method is different. As the name suggests, such linkers act as adverbs in the sentence. These change the sense of the clause they’re introducing by converting it into a modifier of the verb of the main clause. Conjunctive adverbs have many names like ‘adverbial conjunctions or subordinating adverbs, all suggesting that they act as modifiers of the verb.

List of Conjunctive Adverbs

Here is the list of most frequently used conjunctive adverbs.

• Hence
• Again
• Additionally
• As a result
• Almost
• Anyway
• In addition
• Conversely
• Consequently
• Eventually
• Elsewhere
• Equally
• Besides
• Finally
• Comparatively
• Certainly
• Contrarily
• Further
• Elsewhere
• However
• Henceforth
• Therefore
• On the other hand
• Nonetheless

Examples

• Jim was distracted on the road; therefore, he met with an accident.

• She has been ill for the last few days; however, she is going to work.

• I love mountains; in fact, keep them in our plan.

• Tim stood first in the class; in addition, he got a position on the board.

• I don’t know you; nonetheless, I’m standing with you.

• Harry is angry with me; on the other hand, he’s trying to approach me.

• Finally, we’ve reached our destination.

• In addition to the written assignment, we’ve to learn it by heart.

Rules for Using Conjunctive Adverbs

Keep in mind the following rules and regulations for the precise use of conjunctive adverbs.

• Always use a period or semicolon before and a comma after them when connecting two independent clauses with such linkers.
• If any other conjunction is accompanying, use a comma between the conjunctive adverb and the main clause.
• If these linkers appear in the middle, enclose them in the commas.

Final Thoughts

“Conjunctions” play a central role in the English language. Without using them, you’ll have to use short sentences that will seem very odd. Conjunctions join different parts of a sentence to make a clear sense. A dependent clause can deliver its meaning only in association with an independent clause. Linkers are the words that can make a link between dependent and independent clauses. All this is possible through conjunctions. Without a proper understanding of the conjunctions, you will fail to use them appropriately. So, go through the above discussion to make your speech and writings accurate.

The children were asleep. Their parents were asleep. Their dogs were asleep. These sentences work fine separately but seem a little repetitive, don’t you think? Instead, let’s use a conjunction to connect them together. The children, their parents, and their dogs were asleep. That looks a lot better, right? Conjunctions are very useful words that connect parts of speech together to form more complex sentences. Let’s learn more about these grammatical matchmakers and how we can use them to write better sentences we’ll love.

What is a conjunction?

A conjunction is a word or phrase that connects words, phrases, clauses, and sentences together. The word and is a commonly used example of a conjunction. Here are two examples of how we can use a conjunction like and in both a simple and complex way:

• The flower is yellow and white. (connects two adjectives)
• The flower is yellow, and it has a particular smell. (connects two sentences)

Conjunctions are useful in writing and speech to connect related ideas together, and they help us make our sentences shorter, less repetitive, or less confusing.

Conjunction examples

Some of the most commonly used words are conjunctions. Let’s take a look at some examples and how we would use them in sentences.

List of common conjunctions

The following list contains some of the most commonly used conjunctions:

• and
• but
• or
• so
• because
• however
• after
• since
• during
• than
• unless
• that
• while

Types of conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions

A coordinating conjunction is a conjunction that connects two or more equal grammatical elements. In practice, this usually means a coordinating conjunction will connect the same parts of speech, such as a verb to another verb. For example:

• Everyone sang and danced.

Importantly, coordinating conjunctions are the conjunctions used to connect independent clauses together. An independent clause is a phrase that can stand alone as a complete sentence. Take a look at the following two clauses:

• He might have gone to the park.
• He may have returned home.

These are both complete sentences. We can use a coordinating conjunction to join them into one sentence. If we do, the coordinating conjunction will follow a comma:

• He might have gone to the park, or he may have returned home. (Or connects two sentences.)

Subordinating conjunctions

A subordinating conjunction is used to connect a subordinate clause, also called a dependent clause, to an independent clause. Unlike an independent clause, a subordinate clause cannot stand by itself as a complete sentence. For example:

• where the buffalo roam (not a complete sentence)

However, we can use a subordinating conjunction to attach a subordinate clause to an independent clause. Subordinating conjunctions can either come at the beginning of a sentence or somewhere in the middle:

• Whenever it rains, we stay inside and watch movies.
• We stay inside and watch movies whenever it rains.

Correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that work together. Some examples of correlative conjunctions include both … and, either … or, neither … nor, and rather … than. Each pair of correlative conjunctions has a different function. Here are a few examples:

• I need flowers that are either red or pink. (lists two options)
• She would much rather play outside than sit in the house. (states a preferred choice)
• The dog was as big as a horse! (forms a simile)

How much do you know about prepositions? Learn about them here.

Conjunction rules

For the most part, conjunctions aren’t too tough to use correctly. However, there are some rules to keep in mind.

Where to place conjunctions

In general, conjunctions are frequently used between the things they connect. For example,

• I am hungry and tired.
• He tried to buy some food, but the store was closed.
• Cheetahs run faster than most other animals.

Two exceptions to this general rule are subordinating conjunctions, which can be used at the beginning of sentences, and the first of a pair of correlative conjunctions:

• Since we were kids, we have loved riding roller coasters.
• The soup has both carrots and onions.

It is often said that you can’t begin a sentence with coordinating conjunctions like and or but. However, this “rule” is often broken, and it is perfectly acceptable to begin a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. You just need to make sure your sentences are clear. For example:

• You might think we know everything there is to know about dinosaurs. But you’d be wrong.
• The Grinch never liked Christmas trees. Or anything else that had to do with Christmas.

Proper comma usage

The comma is oftentimes the punctuation mark that causes people the most problems. In general, these are the rules of using commas with conjunctions:

1. Coordinating conjunctions: Use a comma before the conjunction when connecting independent clauses together or when creating a list. Don’t use a comma if connecting things that aren’t independent clauses:

• Independent clause: I love my sister, and she loves me. (comma)
• List: I’ll eat vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry ice cream. (comma)
• Not an independent clause: This sweater is hot and itchy. (no comma)

2. Subordinating conjunctions: You don’t need a comma unless a subordinating clause is used at the beginning of a sentence. If it is, put a comma at the end of the entire subordinate clause:

• No comma: I passed the test easily because I studied really hard.
• Comma: Because I studied really hard, I passed the test easily.

3. Correlative conjunctions: Typically, correlative conjunctions don’t need a comma. It is possible that they may appear near a comma, though, if a comma is being used for another reason, such as separating out a modifier. For example,

• I spoke to both Abby, who didn’t know what happened, and Will, who did.

Using different types of conjunctions together

It is perfectly fine to use all of the different types of conjunctions together in the same sentence. Just remember that coordinating conjunctions are used to join independent clauses and subordinating conjunctions are used to join subordinate clauses to independent clauses. Sometimes, sentences can get very long and complicated, but you still need to remember when and where to use commas.

Here is an example of a complicated sentence that uses all three types of conjunctions. Take note that only the coordinating conjunction that connects two independent clauses uses a comma:

• I tried to convince my mom and dad I was innocent, but my plan failed because both my younger brother and my younger sister told them that I broke the window.

Quiz yourself on how well you know conjunctions now!

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IELTS > IELTS Grammar > Conjunction Words In English: Detailed Guide And Examples

Conjunction Words In English: Detailed Guide And Examples

Conjunction Words In English: Detailed Guide And Examples

Contrast words and subordinating conjunctions both work on linking parts of a sentence together. They are similar, yet so different. And that is exactly what will be discussed in this article.

In this article we will learn:

• The definition of conjunctions and why they are important;
• Detailed definitions of coordinating conjunctions;
• The definition of correlative conjunctions;
• In-depth guide of subordinating conjunctions;
• Tips and tricks for using different types of conjunction words.

Let’s begin.

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What Are Conjunctions in English and Why Are They Important?

Conjunction connects words or phrases, dependent clauses, and phrases together to give them a better meaning. Basically, conjunctions allow you to form complex sentences elegantly without the need to deal with multiple short simple sentences.

Without conjunctions, you will end up forming your idea in a forced, unflattering way. For instance, you would say ‘I love eating. I don’t like to cook.’

Thanks to conjunction words, you can easily transform that idea to ‘I love eating but I don’t like to cook’

See? One simple word made the sentence a lot more understandable and smooth.

Coordinating Conjunctions: Detailed Definition and Examples

The coordinating conjunctions join words, phrases and clauses. However, both parts to be linked need to make sense on their own. For instance:

I was very sick. I still went to school.

You can add the coordinating conjunction ‘but’ between both clauses to form the following sentence:

I was very sick but I still went to school.

The most common coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. If you are having trouble remembering them, you can use the mnemonic device FANBOYS.

Examples:

• My cat cleans herself all the time but hates to take baths.
• You can eat this meal using a spoon or fork.
• I was exhausted, yet I couldn’t sleep last night.
• I hate to waste gas, for it is insanely expensive this week.
• She ordered a pizza and a glass of wine.

Correlative Conjunctions: What Are They? Useful Examples

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunction words that work together to link clauses or words that have equal importance within a sentence, like not / but also. Basically, correlative conjunctions are coordinating conjunctions linked to an adverb or objective.

Here is a list of the most common Correlative Conjunctions:

• either…or
• not only…but (also)
• neither…nor
• both…and
• whether…or
• just as…so
• the…the
• as…as
• as much…as
• no sooner…than
• rather…than

Examples:

• Not only was I able to sleep all night, but I also had a great dream that woke me up in a wonderful mood.
• Marry will eat either vegetables or fruits for lunch.
• I like neither coffee nor milk.
• Do you care whether we go to the movies or the club for our date?
• He is both handsome and intelligent.

Subordinating Conjunctions: In-Depth Guide and Examples

Subordinating conjunctions are essential for complex sentences that include at least two clauses, with one of the clauses being main (independent) and the other being subordinate (dependent). Technically, the subordinating kind of conjunctions provide a link between two ideas in a sentence.

Moreover, subordinate conjunction join two roles within a sentence:

• First, it illustrates the importance of the independent clause. In these cases, the clause containing the subordinating conjunction is the less important clause.
• Second, it provides a transition between two ideas in the same sentence. The transition always indicates a place, time, or cause, effect relationship, and more.

Examples

• As I was walking to the library, I realized I had forgotten my library card. (forgetting my library card > walking to the library)
• She begins sneezing whenever there is pollen in the air. (sneezing > smelling pollen being in the air)
• Let me know if I can help you.

Other subordinating conjunctions include where, unless, although, when, while, before, after, until, and since.

Tips:

• Whenever a subordinate clause precedes the main clause, you punctuate it with a comma.
• When she arrived, she immediately took off her wet boots.
• Not sure if you have a subordinating conjunction? Try moving the sentence around and see if it still makes sense.
• He got into an accident after the driver cut him off.
• After the driver cut him off, he got into an accident.

Subordinate Conjunctions
Comparison	Time	Concession
Rather than Than Whether As much as whereas	After As soon as Until Whenever Now that	Although Though Even though
Examples
You have a better accent than my little brother’s accent. I will travel whether it rains or not. I love my pets as much as I love my kids.	I will pick you up after I finish my errands. Whenever I travel, I forget to take pictures. Now that you live here, we can meet every day.	Although the house is small, it is very beautiful. Though it was snowing, I had to come here. They still love each other, even though they are old.
Relative Pronouns	Reason	Condition
Who whoever Whom Whomever Whose	Because Since So that In order to As	If Only if Unless Provided that Assuming that
Examples
Whoever broke the vase, needs to replace it. The person who cares for animals must be protected at all costs. She is the girl whom I met in Germany.	I love to read novels because they broaden my imagination. Since I am not allowed to say anything, you will not make me say. You have to go to the gym in order to stay fit.	I will go to practice only if you go, too. Unless they called, I will not join their dinner party. Assuming that I graduated, what will you get me?
Place	Relative Adjectives	Manner
Wherever Where	That Whatever Which Whichever	How As though As if
Examples
Wherever my kids go, I will be there. I can’t remember where I hid my ring. You make great friends wherever you travel to.	I live in the house that my grandparents built. I will do whatever you want me to. She is wearing the outfit which she sewed herself.	Joe taught me how to play the guitar. As though we are not the same age, we get along perfectly. The painting looks as if it is real life.

Important Tips and Tricks for Using Conjunctions Words in English

Tip #1: Correlative Conjunctions

When conjunction words are used as correlatives, make sure that each correlated word is placed immediately before the words to be connected.

• He not only visited Italy but also Greece. >> Incorrect.
• He visited not only Italy but also Greece. >> Correct.

Tip #2: Preposition and Conjunction

It is important to remember that prepositions cannot be used to link two clauses because they should be followed by a noun or noun equivalent that acts as its object. Also, there are words that work both conjunctions and prepositions.

• The cat ran after the mouse. >> ‘after’ is a preposition here.
• Mary came after David had left. >> ‘after’ is a conjunction here.

Tip #3: Coordinating Conjunctions

Except for ‘or’ and ‘nor’, every coordinating conjunction can be forgotten and replaced by a comma, colon, or semicolon.

• He went to work but I stayed home. >> ‘But’ is the coordinating conjunction.
• He went to work; I stayed home. >> ‘but’ was replaced by ‘;’ mark.

Tip #4: Since

When the word ‘since’ means “from”, then should be followed by a verb in the simple past tense and preceded by a verb in the present perfect tense. All of this change when the word changes its meaning to ‘because’

• You have changed impressively since the last time I saw you. >> From.
• Since I don’t come here often, I want to take many pictures. >> Because.

Tip #5: Yet

We use ‘yet’ as a conjunction when we want to highlight the word and achieve a stronger effect.

I have been following a diet, yet I didn’t lose any weight.

We use ‘yet’ as an adverb to talk about questioning times with negative meanings, up till now, etc.

• Are the guests up yet?
• Don’t touch the walls, they are not dry yet.

Conjunctive Adverbs

A conjunctive adverb’s purpose is to connect two independent sentences or clauses. We know that adverbs describe other verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Conjunctive adverbs, however, describe two independent clauses and connect them together, and act more like coordinating conjunctions.

Here is a list of conjunctive adverbs:

• Accordingly
• Again
• All in all
• Anyway
• Indeed
• Besides
• Otherwise
• However

Examples:

• You must study for your exams, otherwise, you will not graduate.
• I will deep clean the house, next, I will take a long, warm shower to relax.
• We were supposed to sleep early tonight, however, we ended up going dancing.
• My daughter is in her ballet class, meanwhile, my son is playing football at his school.
• Indeed I will go to the concert, I have been waiting for the band to come here for so long.

Contrast Words

Some common contrast words in English include though, however, and but. These are words that show comparison or contrast of two ideas. They can also be used to emphasize positive or negative ideas.

Though and however can also be placed at the end of a sentence, but but cannot be. When either of these two words are placed at the end of a sentence, it makes the complete sentence seem more like an afterthought rather than a part of the original thought.

Examples

• I want to buy some candy, but my father does not want me to buy any.
• I want to buy some candy; however, my father does not want me to buy any.
• I want to buy some candy. My father does not want me to buy any, however.
• I want to buy some candy, though my father does not want me to buy any.
• I want to buy some candy. My father does not want me to buy any, though.
• Other contrast words include nonetheless, yet, otherwise, nevertheless, and notwithstanding.

Tip:

Some contrast words can be interchanged for one another with an extremely similar meaning.

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2021-10-20T12:24:53+02:0013/09/2021|

Published on
October 23, 2022
by

Amy Luo.

Revised on
March 8, 2023.

A conjunction is a word that is used to connect words, phrases, and clauses. There are many conjunctions in the English language, but some common ones include and, or, but, because, for, if, and when.

There are three basic types of conjunctions: coordinating, subordinating, and correlative.

Because the popstar caught a terrible cold, her upcoming performances in Boston and Chicago were indefinitely postponed. The tour organizers provided neither rescheduled dates nor refunds for the tickets, causing much discontent among the fans.

Coordinating conjunctions

This type of conjunction is used to connect items that are grammatically equal: two words, two phrases, or two independent clauses. There are seven coordinating conjunctions in English, and you can remember them using the mnemonic device FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

A conjunction of this type is placed between the items that it links together.

Words

Coordinating conjunctions can join two nouns, verbs, adjectives, or other types of word.

• The data was gathered through questionnaires and interviews.
• I don’t like to run or swim.
• He was clever but lazy.

Phrases

They can also join different types of phrases.

• The dog wagged his tail and panted excitedly.
• The results were undeniably intriguing yet ultimately inconclusive.
• She usually studies in the library or at a cafe.

Independent clauses

A clause is a group of words that contains at least a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand on its own as a full sentence, expressing a complete thought.

• Today Jane Austen is one of the most widely read English novelists, but she achieved little fame during her lifetime.

In the sentence above, the coordinating conjunction but creates a relationship between two independent clauses. Therefore, you place a comma before but. Notice that the two clauses also work as sentences on their own.

• Today Jane Austen is one of the most widely read English novelists. She achieved little fame during her lifetime.

 Punctuating coordinating conjunctions

When joining two words or phrases with a coordinating conjunction, do not use a comma.

Comma error	Correction
Data was gathered through questionnaires, and interviews.	Data was gathered through questionnaires and interviews.
She usually studies in the library, or at a cafe.	She usually studies in the library or at a cafe.

In these examples, the conjunction joins two words or phrases that are connected to a single verb (gathered and studies), so you shouldn’t place a comma before and.

When joining two independent clauses, however, use a comma before the conjunction.

Comma error	Correction
Data was gathered through questionnaires and selected respondents participated in interviews.	Data was gathered through questionnaires, and selected respondents participated in interviews.
She usually studies in the library but when it is too busy she goes to a cafe.	She usually studies in the library, but when it is too busy she goes to a cafe.

In these examples, the clauses before and after the conjunction could both stand as full sentences on their own, so a comma is required.

Subordinating conjunctions

This type of conjunction includes words like because, if, although, since, until, and while. A subordinating conjunction is used to introduce a dependent clause.

In contrast to an independent clause, a dependent clause (also known as a subordinate clause) is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand as a complete sentence on its own. A dependent clause does not express a complete idea, so it must always be attached to an independent clause.

• Because I woke up late this morning. I went to school without eating breakfast.
• Because I woke up late this morning, I went to school without eating breakfast.
• I went to school without eating breakfast because I woke up late this morning.

I woke up late this morning is an independent clause, but the subordinating conjunction because turns it into a dependent clause: Because I woke up late this morning does not finish a complete thought. It must be joined to an independent clause to form a grammatically correct sentence.

The subordinating conjunction defines the relationship between the clauses. The table below shows some common subordinating conjunctions and the relationships they express, but note that this is not a complete list.

Relationship	Common subordinating conjunctions
Cause and effect	because, since, as
Time	when, before, after, once, until, whenever, since, while
Place	where, wherever
Condition	if, unless, in case
Contrast	although, though, whereas

Punctuating subordinating conjunctions

When a subordinating conjunction follows an independent clause, a comma is often not necessary. In general, when the dependent clause contains essential information about the independent clause, don’t use a comma.

Comma error	Correction
She will receive a major bonus, if she succeeds in closing the corporate partnership deal.	She will receive a major bonus if she succeeds in closing the corporate partnership deal.
John’s friends snuck into his apartment to set up a surprise party, while he was at work.	John’s friends snuck into his apartment to set up a surprise party while he was at work.

However, when the subordinating conjunction comes at the beginning of the sentence, use a comma at the end of the dependent clause.

Comma error	Correction
If she succeeds in closing the corporate partnership deal she will receive a major bonus.	If she succeeds in closing the corporate partnership deal, she will receive a major bonus.
While John was at work his friends snuck into his apartment to set up a surprise party.	While John was at work, his friends snuck into his apartment to set up a surprise party.

Correlative conjunctions

This type of conjunction always comes in a pair and is used to join grammatically equal elements in a sentence. Common pairs include either … or, neither … nor, not only … but also, and both … and. In most cases, no comma should be used between the two elements.

• Her book on the Vietnam War drew not only from interviews with other survivors but also from her own experiences in the conflict.

Correlative conjunctions must use parallel structure, which means the two elements should take the same grammatical form.

• She planned to collect data by either using an online survey or phone interviews.
• She planned to collect data by either using an online survey or conducting phone interviews.

Starting a sentence with a conjunction

Beginner writers are often taught that sentences should not begin with a coordinating conjunction. However, it is not strictly incorrect to begin a sentence with a conjunction, and you may find it used effectively by skilled writers to create emphasis.

Governments often seek to gain favor from voters by prioritising economic development over environmental sustainability. But at what cost to the planet and future generations?

While such usage has become acceptable in popular and literary language, it is generally best avoided in academic writing where possible.

A subordinating conjunction can come at the start of a sentence, but only if the dependent clause is followed by an independent clause.

Until the company reaches a satisfactory agreement with the union, the workers will remain on strike.

A dependent clause on its own is known as a sentence fragment.

How long will the strike go on for? Until the company reaches a satisfactory agreement with the union.

Although fragments are often used in speech and informal writing, they should generally be avoided in academic writing.

Other interesting language articles

If you want to know more about nouns, pronouns, verbs, and other parts of speech, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations and examples.

Verbs

• Verb tenses
• Phrasal verbs
• Types of verbs
• Active vs passive voice
• Subject-verb agreement

Other 

• Articles
• Interjections
• Adjectives
• Determiners
• Prepositions

Sources in this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

This Scribbr article

Luo, A.
(2023, March 08). Using Conjunctions | Definition, Rules & Examples. Scribbr.
Retrieved April 13, 2023,
from https://www.scribbr.com/parts-of-speech/conjunctions/

Sources

Aarts, B. (2011). Oxford modern English grammar. Oxford University Press.

Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015). Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Show all sources (3)

Garner, B. A. (2016). Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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