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Conjunctions

English Conjunctions

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Michelle Chavez-Aguilar
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9 views

Conjunctions

English Conjunctions

Uploaded by

Michelle Chavez-Aguilar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Conjunctions

Dependent and Independent Clauses

■ Independent clause: can stand alone as a sentence. It


conveys a complete idea and does not need additional
information to make sense.
– “I went to bed.”
■ Dependent clause: does not convey a complete idea and
needs more information to stand as a sentence. Dependent
clauses are not sentences, they are fragments!
– “because I was tired.”
Dependent and Independent Clauses
■ We can turn a dependent clause into a sentence by adding an
independent clause to it:
– I went to bed because I was tired.

■ A sentence can have more than one clause. We can use conjunctions to
connect clauses in a sentence. Every sentence must contain at least one
an independent clause.
– I went to bed because I was tired.
– The weather is bad, so we will stay home.
– Lara is nice, but her voice is annoying.
– They miss her, even though she moved just across the street.
Coordinating Conjunctions

■ Coordinating conjunctions join together independent clauses.


– I like cake, and Emma likes pie.
– I am going to the store, for I have run out of milk.

■ There are seven coordinating conjunctions. Use the acronym


FANBOYS to remember them!
Coordinating Conjunctions
■ FOR – reason or purpose (like because, but more formal. Usually used in formal
writing)
– I usually take Ecovia to work, for it is the fastest and cheapest way to get there.

■ AND – addition, time sequence and result


– John studies law, and Peter studies medicine. (addition)
– Mary came, and Ben left. (time sequence)
– I went to the store, and I bought a pack of crackers. (result)

– Anna likes Batman, and she likes Superman


– Anna likes Batman and Superman.
Coordinating Conjunctions
■ NOR – joins two negative ideas; is negative form of “and”. The
first clause is always negative with declarative form and the
second clause is always affirmative with question form. We use
the same verb in both clauses.
– He does not like to dance, nor does he like to run.

■ BUT – contrast or concession


– I wanted to go with you, but my dog got sick.
– My friends went to the party, but I decided to stay.
Coordinating Conjunctions
■ OR – presents an alternative between two possibilities
– Don’t eat so much, or you will get sick.

■ YET – contrast (same as “but”, but more formal)


– Susan is young, yet she has problems with her memory.

■ SO – effect/consequence/result
– Paul is sick, so I will have to finish his report today.
Coordinating Conjunctions
■ The coordinating conjunction “so” is different from the
subordinating conjunction “so that”. “So” is strictly cause and
effect, while “so that” means that the first action was done
deliberately with the purpose of obtaining a specific result. In
addition, the “so that” clause contains a modal verb.
– She saved money, so she can take a vacation. (cause and
effect)
– She saved money, so that she can take a vacation.
(intention)
Coordinating Conjunctions
■ Coordinating conjunctions need a comma to connect
two independent clauses.
– She was promoted, yet she doesn’t seem happy.

■ It is possible to start sentences with coordinating


conjunctions.
– I don’t like Ann. Nor do I like her brother.
Subordinating conjunctions
■ A subordinating conjunction joins an independent clause
(main clause) and a dependent clause (subordinate clause).

■ Some of the most common subordinating conjunctions are:


– After: You will miss me after I’m gone.
– Although: Although she loves him, she doesn’t want to get
married.
– As soon as: His mother will ground him as soon as she
sees him.
Subordinating Conjunctions

– Because: I studied International Relations because I


liked political geography.
– Before: Ask you father before you borrow the car.
– Even though: He crashed his car even though he was
driving slowly.
– How: That is just how things work.
– If: If you cheat, you will be punished.
– Once: Once you get the delivery, take it to my office .
Subordinating Conjunctions

– Since: I think I should have my money back since I did


not receive what I was promised.
– So that: He hid his chocolate under his bed so that his
brother wouldn’t find it.
– Than: This game was better than the one I watched last
week.
– Though: Though I try very hard, I cannot understand
Sophie.
– Until: I will wait until you finish your test.
Subordinating Conjunctions
– Unless: I will fail my math course unless I hand in some
extra credit work.
– Whereas: You ate a whole rack of ribs, whereas I ate just
a salad.
– Wherever: The dog follows him wherever he goes.
– When: I was walking when I fell down.
– Whether: It doesn’t matter whether he is right or wrong.
– While: The phone was ringing while she was taking a
shower
Subordinating Conjunctions

■ We only use commas when the subordinate clause comes


before the main clause.
– While I was at work, my dog ripped the curtains.
– My dog ripped the curtains while I was at work.
Subordinating Conjunctions vs Relative
Pronouns
■ Besides subordinating conjunctions, relative pronouns
(that, which, who, whose, whom) can also introduce
dependent clauses. The difference between relative
pronouns and subordinating conjunctions is that relative
pronouns act as the subject of a dependent clause while
subordinating conjunctions are followed by the subject of
the dependent clause.
– John is the guy who came over for dinner last week.
– We talked about music and movies while we ate.
Practice: identify dependent and
independent clauses
■ before he left for his friend's house
■ as long as Hannah continues to see progress
■ they weren't feeling well
■ if they could just understand each other
■ she is bringing my homework along
■ he seems like a pretty nice guy
■ in order to be respectful to the other presenters
■ it´s fun

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