Conjunctions
A
conjunction is a word
that "joins". A conjunction joins two
parts of a
sentence.
Here are some example conjunctions:
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
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:
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 |
For | And | Nor | But | Or | Yet | So |
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 independent clause |
subordinate
or 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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