<Reference sources: towson.edu; suite101.com; englishclub.com>
There are four kinds of conjunctions:
I/ Coordinating conjunctions
II/ Subordinating conjunctions
III/ Correlative conjunctions
IV/ Conjunctive adverbs
________
I/ Coordinating conjunctions:
1. The seven coordinating conjunctions are short, simple words. FANBOYS is a mnemonic which stands for these seven coordinating conjunctions' initials spell. They are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, & so.
2. Coordinating conjunctions just join equals to one another. In other words, they always join similar elements. For example:
- words to words: Most children like cookies and milk.
- phrases to phrases: The gold is hidden at the beach or by the lakeside.
- clauses to clauses: What u say and what u do are two different things.
3. Coordinating conjunctions usually form looser connections than other conjunctions do.
- Ann was late for work, and she received a cut in pay. (very loose)
- Ann was late for work, so she received a cut in pay. (loose)
- Because Ann was late for work, she received a cut in pay. (subordinating conjunction) (tighter)
4. Coordinating conjunctions go in between items joined, not at the beginning or end.
- I like coffee, but I don't like tea. (in between items joined)
5. Punctuation:
* A coordinating conjunction joining just two items doesn't need a comma before the conjunction.
- cookies and milk
* A coordinating conjunction joining three or more items creates a series and requires commas between the elements.
- peanuts, cookies, and milk
- in the mountains, at the beach, or by the lakeside
- what u think, what u say, and what u do
* A coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses creates a compound sentence and requires a comma before this coordinating conjunction.
- Ann ate all the peanuts, so Tom ate the cookies.
- I don't care for the beach, but I enjoy a good vacation in the mountains.
II/ Subordinating conjunctions:
* The majority of conjunctions are 'subordinating conjunctions'. These words are commonly used as subordinating conjunctions:
1. A subordinating conjunction joins a subordinate clause (dependent clause) to a main clause (independent clause).
- Because it's raining, we have an umbrella.
• Main clause: we have an umbrella
• Subordinate clause: because it's raining
2. A subordinating conjunction may appear at a sentence beginning or between two clauses in a sentence.
- Because it's raining, we have an umbrella.
- We have an umbrella because it's raining.
3. A subordinating conjunction usually provides a tighter connection between clauses than a coordinating conjunction does.
- It's raining, so we have an umbrella. (coordinating conjunction) (loose)
- Because it's raining, we have an umbrella. (tight)
4. Punctuation note:
* Subordinate clause + a comma + main clause.
- Because it's raining, we have an umbrella.
* Main clause + subordinate clause.
- We have an umbrella because it's raining.
III/ Correlative conjunctions:
1. Correlative conjunctions work together in pairs. They include: either...or; neither...nor; not only...but also; & both...and.
2. These pairs of conjunctions require equal (parallel) structures after each other.
- Ann wants not only money but also fame.
- Ann not only wants money but also wants fame.
IV/ Conjunctive adverbs:
* Although conjunctive adverbs can be used simply as adverbs, they can also be used as connectives to link two or more independent clauses and establish certain relationships between those clauses. The following are frequently used conjunctive adverbs.
* Punctuation note: Place a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb and a comma after this conjunctive adverb.
- The tire was flat; therefore, we called a service station.
- It was a hot day; nevertheless, the roofers worked on the project all day.
There are four kinds of conjunctions:
I/ Coordinating conjunctions
II/ Subordinating conjunctions
III/ Correlative conjunctions
IV/ Conjunctive adverbs
________
I/ Coordinating conjunctions:
1. The seven coordinating conjunctions are short, simple words. FANBOYS is a mnemonic which stands for these seven coordinating conjunctions' initials spell. They are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, & so.
2. Coordinating conjunctions just join equals to one another. In other words, they always join similar elements. For example:
- words to words: Most children like cookies and milk.
- phrases to phrases: The gold is hidden at the beach or by the lakeside.
- clauses to clauses: What u say and what u do are two different things.
3. Coordinating conjunctions usually form looser connections than other conjunctions do.
- Ann was late for work, and she received a cut in pay. (very loose)
- Ann was late for work, so she received a cut in pay. (loose)
- Because Ann was late for work, she received a cut in pay. (subordinating conjunction) (tighter)
4. Coordinating conjunctions go in between items joined, not at the beginning or end.
- I like coffee, but I don't like tea. (in between items joined)
5. Punctuation:
* A coordinating conjunction joining just two items doesn't need a comma before the conjunction.
- cookies and milk
* A coordinating conjunction joining three or more items creates a series and requires commas between the elements.
- peanuts, cookies, and milk
- in the mountains, at the beach, or by the lakeside
- what u think, what u say, and what u do
* A coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses creates a compound sentence and requires a comma before this coordinating conjunction.
- Ann ate all the peanuts, so Tom ate the cookies.
- I don't care for the beach, but I enjoy a good vacation in the mountains.
II/ Subordinating conjunctions:
* The majority of conjunctions are 'subordinating conjunctions'. These words are commonly used as subordinating conjunctions:
Subordinating conjunctions (for examples) | ||
1. after | 2. although | 3. as |
4. as far as | 5. as soon as | 6. as if |
7. as though | 8. because | 9. before |
10. even if | 11. even though | 12. how |
13. if | 14. inasmuch as | 15. in case (that) |
16. in order (that) | 17. insofar as | 18. in that |
19. lest | 20. no matter how | 21. now that |
22. once | 23. provided (that) | 24. since |
25. so that | 26. supposing (that) | 27. than |
28. that | 29. though | 30. till |
31. unless | 32. until | 33. when |
34. whenever | 35. where | 36. wherever |
37. whether | 38. while | 39. why |
- Because it's raining, we have an umbrella.
• Main clause: we have an umbrella
• Subordinate clause: because it's raining
2. A subordinating conjunction may appear at a sentence beginning or between two clauses in a sentence.
- Because it's raining, we have an umbrella.
- We have an umbrella because it's raining.
3. A subordinating conjunction usually provides a tighter connection between clauses than a coordinating conjunction does.
- It's raining, so we have an umbrella. (coordinating conjunction) (loose)
- Because it's raining, we have an umbrella. (tight)
4. Punctuation note:
* Subordinate clause + a comma + main clause.
- Because it's raining, we have an umbrella.
* Main clause + subordinate clause.
- We have an umbrella because it's raining.
III/ Correlative conjunctions:
1. Correlative conjunctions work together in pairs. They include: either...or; neither...nor; not only...but also; & both...and.
2. These pairs of conjunctions require equal (parallel) structures after each other.
- Ann wants not only money but also fame.
- Ann not only wants money but also wants fame.
IV/ Conjunctive adverbs:
* Although conjunctive adverbs can be used simply as adverbs, they can also be used as connectives to link two or more independent clauses and establish certain relationships between those clauses. The following are frequently used conjunctive adverbs.
29. thus | Conjunctive adverbs (for examples) | ||
1. after all | 2. also | 3. as a result | 4. besides |
5. consequently | 6. finally | 7. for example | 8. furthermore |
9. hence | 10. however | 11. in addition | 12. incidentally |
13. indeed | 14. in fact | 15. in other words | 16. instead |
17. likewise | 18. meanwhile | 19. moreover | 20. nevertheless |
21. next | 22. nonetheless | 23. on the contrary | 24. on the other hand |
25. otherwise | 26. still | 27. then | 28. therefore |
- The tire was flat; therefore, we called a service station.
- It was a hot day; nevertheless, the roofers worked on the project all day.
