USES OF CONNECTORS

TEACHER: MIGUEL MARTÍNEZ SOSA

MEANING
 A conjunction may be used to indicate the relationship between the ideas
expressed in clause and the ideas expressed in the rest of a sentence.
 Examples:
 We could go to the library, or we could go to the park.
 He neither finished his homework nor studied for the test.
 I went out because the sun was shining.
COORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS

 Coordinate conjunctions are used to join two similar grammatical constructions for instance,
two
words, two phrases or two clauses.
 Examples
 My friend and I will attend the meeting.
 Austria is famous for the beauty of its landscape and the hospitality of its people.
 The sun rose and the birds began to sing.
 In these examples, the coordinate conjunction AND is used to join two words/two phrases/and
two clauses.
COORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS

 AND = IN ADDITION

EX. She tried and succeeded.

 BUT = HOWEVER
 They tried but did not succeed.
 OR = ALTERNATIVELY
 Did you go out or stay at home?
 NOR = AND NEITHER
 I did not see it, nor did they. (Note the use of inverted word order)
 YET = HOWEVER
 The sun is warm, yet the air is cool
 As illustrated, when a coordinate conjunction joins two verbs which have the same subject, the subject need not
be repeated.
 For instance, in the example she tried and succeeded, the pronoun she acts as the subject for both the verb tried
and the verb succeeded.
 It should also be noted that when a coordinate conjunction joins two verbs which do not have the same subject,
the two coordinate clauses may be separated by a comma or semicolon, in order to make the meaning clear.
CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

 Correlative conjunctions are used in pairs, in order to show the

relationship between the ideas expressed in different parts of a
sentence. For instance, in the following example, the expression either ...
or is used to indicate that the ideas expressed in the two clauses represent
two alternative choices of action.
 Example:
 Either you should study harder, or you should take a different course.
 BOTH ... AND
 He is both intelligent and good-natured.

 EITHER ... OR
 I will either go for a walk or read a book.
 NEITHER ... NOR
 He is neither rich nor famous.
 HARDLY ... WHEN
 He had hardly begun to work, when he was
interrupted.
 IF ... THEN
 If that is true, then what happened is not
surprising. (Note that in this construction the word then can
usually be omitted.)
 NO SOONER ... THAN
 No sooner had I reached the corner, than the bus
came.
 NOT ONLY ... BUT ALSO
 She is not only clever, but also hard-working.
 RATHER ... THAN
 I would rather go swimming than go to the
library.
 SCARCELY ... WHEN
 Scarcely had we left home, when it started to
rain.
 WHETHER ... OR
 Have you decided whether you will come or not?
SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS

 Subordinate clauses may begin with relative pronouns such as that, what, which, who
and whom, as well as with
words such as how, when, where, wherever and why.
 Examples
 The house, which stood on a hill, could be seen for miles.
 I wonder how he did that.
IN ADDITION, SUBORDINATE CLAUSES MAY ALSO BEGIN WITH WORDS WHICH ARE COMMONLY
REFERRED TO AS SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS

 AS
 1. because: As he is my friend, I will help him.
 2. when: We watched as the plane took off.
 AFTER
 1. later in time: After the train left, we went home.
 ALTHOUGH OR THOUGH
 1. in spite of the fact that: Although it was after midnight, we did not feel tired.
 BEFORE
 1. earlier than: I arrived before the stores were open.
 BECAUSE
 1. for the reason that: We had to wait, because we arrived early.

 FOR
 1. because: He is happy, for he enjoys his work.

 IF
 1. on condition that: If she is here, we willsee her.

 PROVIDING OR PROVIDED
 1. on condition that: All will be well, providing you are careful.
 SINCE
 1. from a past time: I have been here since the sun rose.
 2. as, because: Since you are here, you can help me.

 SO OR SO THAT
 1. consequently: It was raining, so we did not go out.
 2. in order that/purpose I am saving money so I can buy a bicycle.

 NOTE When used with the meaning in order that, so is usually followed by that in formal English.
 e.g. I am saving money so that I can buy a bicycle.
 Supposing
 1. if: Supposing that happens, what will you do?
 Than
 1. used in comparisons: He is taller than you are.
 Unless
 1. except when, if not: Unless he helps us, we cannot succeed.
 Until or till
 1. up to the time when!: I will wait until I hear from you.

WHEREAS
 1. because: Whereas this is a public building, it is open to everyone.
 2. on the other hand: He is short, whereas you are tall.
 WHETHER
 1. if: I do not know whether she was invited.
 WHILE
 1. at the time when: While it was snowing, we played cards.
 2. on the other hand: He is rich, while his friend is poor.
 3. although: While I am not an expert, I will do my best
 CONNECTING ADVERBS

 Connecting adverbs are often used to show the relationship between the ideas expressed in
a clause and the ideas expressed in a preceding clause, sentence or paragraph.
 Examples:
 I wanted to study however, I was too tired.
 We knew what to expect. Therefore, we were not surprised at what happened.
 In the first example, the connecting adverb however shows that there is a conflict between the
idea expressed in the clause I was too tired and the idea expressed in the preceding clause I
wanted to study. In the second example, the connecting adverb therefore shows that there is a
cause and effect relationship between the idea expressed in the sentence we knew what to
expect, and the clause we were not surprised at what happened.
 Connecting adverbs used to connect sentences.
 Unlike conjunctions, connecting adverbs may be used in formal English to show the relationship between ideas
expressed in separate sentences.
 For example:
 The wind was strong. Thus, I felt very cold.
 In this example, the connecting adverb thus shows that there is a cause and effect relationship between the ideas
expressed by the two sentences the wind was strong and I felt very cold.
 In informal English, coordinate conjunctions are sometimes used to show the relationship between the ideas
expressed in separate sentences.
 For example:
 The wind was strong. And I felt very cold.
 However, this use of coordinate conjunctions is considered to be grammatically incorrect in formal English.
 Position in a clause
 A subordinate conjunction must usually be placed at the beginning of a clause. However, a
connecting adverb may be placed at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a clause. This is
illustrated below.
 Examples:
 His visit was unexpected. Nevertheless, I was pleased to see him.
 His visit was unexpected. I was, nevertheless, pleased to see him.
 His visit was unexpected. I was pleased to see him, nevertheless.
 EXAMPLES OF CONNECTING ADVERBS
The following are examples of words which may be used as connecting adverbs. Each connecting adverb is followed by its
meaning and an example of its use.
 ACCORDINGLY SO
 He was very persuasive accordingly, I did what he asked.

 ALSO IN ADDITION
 She is my neighbor she is also my best friend.

 BESIDES IN ADDITION
 I like the job. Besides, I need the money.

 CONSEQUENTLY SO
 She had a fever consequently, she stayed at home.

 FURTHERMORE IN ADDITION
 You should stop smoking. Furthermore, you should do it at once!

 HENCE ! FOR THAT REASON!

 He is a good friend. Hence, I was not embarrassed to ask him for help.
 EXAMPLES OF CONNECTING ADVERBS
The following are examples of words which may be used as connecting adverbs. Each connecting adverb is followed by its meaning and an
example of its use.
 HOWEVER BUT
 We wanted to arrive on time however, we were delayed by traffic.
 LIKEWISE IN ADDITION
 The region is beautiful. Likewise, the climate is excellent.
 MOREOVER IN ADDITION
 She is very intelligent moreover, she is very ambitious.
 NEVERTHELESS BUT
 They are proud. Nevertheless, I like them.
 NONETHELESS BUT
 The ascent was dangerous. Nonetheless, he decided to attempt it.
 OTHERWISE IF NOT, OR ELSE
 We should consult them otherwise, they may be upset.
 The repetition of a particular grammatical construction is often referred to as parallel
construction.
 Examples
 I am neither angry nor excited.
 The resort contains tennis courts, swimming pools and a snack bar.
 In the first example, the two phrases neither angry and nor excited exhibit parallel
construction.
 In the second example, the three phrases tennis courts, swimming pools and a snack bar
exhibit parallel construction.
PARALLEL CONSTRUCTION

 The following example illustrates the use of parallel construction with the correlative conjunctions neither ... nor.
 e.g.
Incorrect She turned neither right nor to the left.
 Corrected She turned neither right nor left.
 Corrected She turned neither to the right nor to the left.
 The first sentence is incorrect, since neither is followed by a single word whereas nor is followed by a
prepositional phrase.
 The second sentence has been corrected by changing the phrase to the left to the word left. Alternatively, as shown
in the third sentence, two prepositional phrases can be used.
ADVERBS
ADVERBS
MAKE YOUR OWN EXAMPLES IN ORDER TO CHECK YOUR
KNOWLEDGE