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What Are Conjunctions

- A conjunction is a word that links words, phrases, or clauses. There are three main types: coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions. - Coordinating conjunctions join similar sentence elements like subjects or verbs. Correlative conjunctions always come in pairs and join similar elements. Subordinating conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses and indicate time, cause/effect, opposition, or condition. - Examples of each conjunction type are provided along with sample sentences to demonstrate their use. A quiz with multiple choice questions about conjunctions is included at the end.

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161 views

What Are Conjunctions

- A conjunction is a word that links words, phrases, or clauses. There are three main types: coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions. - Coordinating conjunctions join similar sentence elements like subjects or verbs. Correlative conjunctions always come in pairs and join similar elements. Subordinating conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses and indicate time, cause/effect, opposition, or condition. - Examples of each conjunction type are provided along with sample sentences to demonstrate their use. A quiz with multiple choice questions about conjunctions is included at the end.

Uploaded by

AnishAlfredVaz M
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What are Conjunctions?

— A conjunction is a word that links words, phrases, or clauses.


— There are three types of conjunctions:
o coordinating conjunctions
o correlative conjunctions

o subordinating conjunctions.
— Coordinating conjunctions may join single words, or they may
join groups of words, but they must always join similar
elements: e.g. subject+subject, verb phrase+verb phrase,
sentence+sentence.
o When a coordinating conjunction is used to join elements,
the element becomes a compound element.
— Correlative conjunctions also connect sentence elements of the
same kind: however, unlike coordinating conjunctions,
correlative conjunctions are always used in pairs.

— Subordinating conjunctions, the largest class of conjunctions,


connect subordinate clauses to a main clause. These
conjunctions are adverbs used as conjunctions.
 The following tables show examples of the various types of
conjunctions and some sample sentences using the conjunctions.

 Since coordinating conjunctions and correlative conjunctions


are closed sets of words, all are included in the list.

 Subordinating conjunctions are a larger class of words; therefore,


only a few of the more common ones are included in this list.
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

F A N B OY S
for and nor but or yet so
 An easy way to remember these six conjunctions is to think of the
word FANBOYS.
 Each of the letters in this somewhat unlikely word is the first letter
of one of the coordinating conjunctions.
 Remember, when using a conjunction to join two sentences, use a
comma before the conjunction.

EXAMPLES AND SENTENCES


COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
CONJUNCTION WHAT IS SAMPLE SENTENCES
LINKED
and noun phrase+noun We have tickets for the
phrase symphony and the opera.
but sentence+sentence The orchestra rehearses on
Tuesday, but the chorus
rehearses on Wednesday.
or verb+verb Have you seen or heard the
opera by Scott Joplin?
so sentence+sentence I wanted to sit in the front of the
balcony, so I ordered my tickets
early.
CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

both...and not only...but also either...or neither...nor whether...or

Remember, correlative conjunctions are always used in pairs. They join similar elements. When
joining singular and plural subjects, the subject closest to the verb determines whether the verb is
singular or plural.

EXAMPLES AND SENTENCES


CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

CONJUNCTIONS WHAT IS LINKED SAMPLE SENTENCE


both...and subject+subject Both my sister and my brother play the piano.
either...or noun+noun Tonight's program is either Mozart or Beethoven.
neither...nor subject+subject Neither the orchestra nor the chorus was able to
overcome the terrible acoustics in the church
not only...but also sentence+sentence Not only does Sue raise money for the symphony, but
she also ushers at all of their concerts.

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

TIME CAUSE + EFFECT OPPOSITION CONDITION


after because although if
before since though unless
when now that even though only if
while as whereas whether or not
since in order that while even if
until so in case (that)

Subordinating conjunctions, (subordinators) are most important in creating subordinating


clauses. These adverbs that act like conjunctions are placed at the front of the clause. The
adverbial clause can come either before or after the main clause. Subordinators are usually a
single word, but there are also a number of multi-word subordinators that function like a single
subordinating conjunction. They can be classified according to their use in regard to time, cause
and effect, opposition, or condition. Remember, put a comma at the end of the adverbial phrase
when it precedes the main clause.
EXAMPLES AND SENTENCES
SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

CONJUNCTION SAMPLE SENTENCE


after We are going out to eat after we finish taking the test.
since Since we have lived in Atlanta, we have gone to every exhibit at the High
Museum.
while While I was waiting in line for the Matisse Exhibit, I ate my lunch.
although Although the line was long and the wait over two hours, the exhibit was well
worth it
even if Even if you have already bought your ticket, you will still need to wait in line.
because I love Matisse's works because he uses color so brilliantly.

RESOURCES:

 Azar, B. S.(1993). Understanding and Using English Grammar. Englewood Hills, NJ:
Prentice Hall Regents.
 Byrd, P. and Benson, B. (1992). Applied English Grammar. Boston: Heinle & Heinle.
 Greenbaum, S. and Quirk, R. (1990). A Student's Grammar of the English Language.
Essex, England: Longman.
 Hodges, J. and Whitten, M. (1984). Harbrace College Handbook. Atlanta: Harcourt
Brace Jovanovich Publisher.

Adapted from http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/bryson.htm#CORRELATIVE

Quiz on back page


Quiz – Conjunctions

Choose the correct answer below for each problem:


a) so that b) as long as c) while d) until e) as if

1. You can come to the meeting ______ you don't say anything.
2. I'm not leaving ______ I get an apology from you.
3. I came here ______ you could give me an explanation.
4. Bob is very tall ______ Bill is very short.
5. You look ______ you've seen a ghost.
6. I refuse to pay anything ______ you do the work properly.
7. I'm going shopping for food this evening ______ I don't have to go at the weekend.
8. You look ______ you haven't eaten for a week.
9. I came early ______ I could talk to you privately.
10. ______ I don't think she's perfect for the job, she's certainly better qualified than
Steve.
11. I don't mind if you go out for lunch ______ you're back for the meeting at two
12. Are you OK? You look ______ you have a problem.
13. ______ the job is very interesting, it's also very badly paid.
14. We'll go to the mountains on Saturday ______ it doesn't rain.
15. The winters here are very cold ______ the summers are very hot.
16. You can write the report when you want ______ it's ready by the end of the month.
17. It looks ______ the government has got a lot of problems.
18. I want Mary to be in charge ______ I get back from holiday.
19. ______ I don't approve of what you did, I'm not going to punish you for it.
20. I'm learning English ______ I can get a better job.
Adapted from http://www.better-english.com/grammar/conjunctions.htm

Answers: 1.b; 2. d; 3. a; 4. c; 5. e; 6. d; 7. a; 8. e; 9. a; 10. c; 11. b; 12. e; 13. c; 14. b; 15. c; 16. b; 17. e; 18. d; 19. c; 20. a

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