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Conjunctions: Coordinating Conjunctions Subordinating Conjunctions

Conjunctions are words that join two parts of a sentence. There are two main types: coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions. Coordinating conjunctions join two equal grammatical parts of a sentence, while subordinating conjunctions join a dependent clause to an independent clause. Examples of coordinating conjunctions are and, but, or, while common subordinating conjunctions include although, because, since, until. Conjunctions can take the form of single words, compound words, or correlative words placed around other words.

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258 views

Conjunctions: Coordinating Conjunctions Subordinating Conjunctions

Conjunctions are words that join two parts of a sentence. There are two main types: coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions. Coordinating conjunctions join two equal grammatical parts of a sentence, while subordinating conjunctions join a dependent clause to an independent clause. Examples of coordinating conjunctions are and, but, or, while common subordinating conjunctions include although, because, since, until. Conjunctions can take the form of single words, compound words, or correlative words placed around other words.

Uploaded by

Rokiah Shuker
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Conjunctions

A conjunction is a word that "joins". A conjunction joins two parts of a sentence.

Here are some example conjunctions:

Coordinating Conjunctions Subordinating Conjunctions

and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so although, because, since, unless

We can consider conjunctions from three aspects.

Form

Conjunctions have three basic forms:

 Single Word
for example: and, but, because, although

 Compound (often ending with as or that)


for example: provided that, as long as, in order that

 Correlative (surrounding an adverb or adjective)


for example: so...that

Function

Conjunctions have two basic functions or "jobs":

 Coordinating conjunctions are used to join two parts of a sentence


that are grammatically equal. The two parts may be single words or
clauses, for example:
- Jack and Jill went up the hill.
- The water was warm, but I didn't go swimming.

 Subordinating conjunctions are used to join a subordinate dependent


clause to a main clause, for example:
- I went swimming although it was cold.

Position

 Coordinating conjunctions always come between the words or clauses


that they join.
 Subordinating conjunctions usually come at the beginning of the
subordinate clause.

In this lesson we will look in more detail at:

 Coordinating Conjunctions
 Subordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunctions
The short, simple conjunctions are called "coordinating conjunctions":

 and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so

A coordinating conjunction joins parts of a sentence (for example words or


independent clauses) that are grammatically equal or similar. A coordinating
conjunction shows that the elements it joins are similar in importance and
structure:

Look at these examples - the two elements that the coordinating conjunction
joins are shown in square brackets [ ]:

 I like [tea] and [coffee].
 [Ram likes tea], but [Anthony likes coffee].

Coordinating conjunctions always come between the words or clauses that


they join.

When a coordinating conjunction joins independent clauses, it is always correct


to place a comma before the conjunction:

 I want to work as an interpreter in the future, so I am studying Russian


at university.

However, if the independent clauses are short and well-balanced, a comma is


not really essential:

 She is kind so she helps people.

When "and" is used with the last word of a list, a comma is optional:

 He drinks beer, whisky, wine, and rum.


 He drinks beer, whisky, wine and rum.
The 7 coordinating conjunctions are
short, simple words. They have only
two or three letters. There's an easy
way to remember them - their initials
spell:
F A N B O Y S

Fo And Nor But Or Ye So


r t

Now look at Subordinating Conjunctions »

Subordinating Conjunctions
The majority of conjunctions are "subordinating conjunctions". Common
subordinating conjunctions are:

 after, although, as, because, before, how, if, once, since, than, that,
though, till, until, when, where, whether, while

A subordinating conjunction joins a subordinate (dependent) clause to a main


(independent) clause:

Look at this example:

main or subordinate or
independent clause dependent clause

Ram went swimming although it was raining.

subordinating  
conjunction
 

A subordinate or dependent clause


"depends" on a main or independent
clause. It cannot exist alone. Imagine
that somebody says to you: "Hello!
Although it was raining." What do you
understand? Nothing! But a main or
independent clause can exist alone.
You will understand very well if
somebody says to you: "Hello! Ram
went swimming."

A subordinating conjunction always comes at the beginning of a subordinate


clause. It "introduces" a subordinate clause. However, a subordinate clause can
sometimes come after and sometimes before a main clause. Thus, two
structures are possible:

Ram went swimming although it was raining.


 
+

Although it was raining, Ram went swimming.

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