Conjunction Conjunction

FANBOYS FANBOYS

AND

NOR

YET

What is a Conjunction?What is a Conjunction?

Conjuctions are words that are used to join or Conjuctions are words that are used to join or link other words, phrases, or clauses.link other words, phrases, or clauses.

You can use a You can use a conjunctionconjunction to link to link wordswords, , phrasesphrases, and , and clausesclauses, as in the following , as in the following examples:examples: I ate the pizza I ate the pizza andand the pasta. the pasta. Call the movers Call the movers whenwhen you are ready. you are ready.

Types of ConjunctionsTypes of ConjunctionsThere are three kinds of conjunctions:There are three kinds of conjunctions:

Coordinating conjunctionsCoordinating conjunctions "and," "but," "or," "nor," "for," "so," or "yet") "and," "but," "or," "nor," "for," "so," or "yet")

Subordinating conjunctionsSubordinating conjunctions "after," "although," "as," "because," "before," "after," "although," "as," "because," "before,"

"how," "if," "once," "since," "than," "that," "though," "how," "if," "once," "since," "than," "that," "though," "till," "until," "when," "where," "whether," and "till," "until," "when," "where," "whether," and "while." "while."

Correlative conjunctionsCorrelative conjunctions "both...and," "either...or," "neither...nor,", "not "both...and," "either...or," "neither...nor,", "not

only...but also," "so...as," and "whether...or." only...but also," "so...as," and "whether...or."

Co-ordinating ConjunctionsCo-ordinating Conjunctions

You use a You use a co-ordinating conjunctionco-ordinating conjunction ("and," "but," "or," "nor," "for," "so," or ("and," "but," "or," "nor," "for," "so," or "yet")"yet") to join individual to join individual wordswords, , phrasesphrases, , and and independent clausesindependent clauses. Note that you . Note that you can also use the conjunctions "but" and can also use the conjunctions "but" and "for" as prepositions."for" as prepositions.

In the following sentences, each of the In the following sentences, each of the highlightedhighlighted words is a co-ordinating words is a co-ordinating

conjunction:conjunction:

LilacsLilacs andand violetsviolets are usually purple. are usually purple.

In this example, the co-ordinating conjunction In this example, the co-ordinating conjunction ""andand" links two " links two nounsnouns..

This movie is particularly interesting to feminist This movie is particularly interesting to feminist film theorists, film theorists, forfor the screenplay was written by the screenplay was written by Mae West. Mae West.

In this example, the co-ordinating conjunction In this example, the co-ordinating conjunction ""forfor" is used to link two " is used to link two independent clausesindependent clauses

Daniel's uncle claimed that he spent most of his youth Daniel's uncle claimed that he spent most of his youth dancing on rooftops dancing on rooftops andand swallowing goldfish. swallowing goldfish.

Here the co-ordinating conjunction "Here the co-ordinating conjunction "andand" links " links two two participle phrasesparticiple phrases ("dancing on rooftops" and ("dancing on rooftops" and "swallowing goldfish") which act as adverbs describing "swallowing goldfish") which act as adverbs describing the verb "spent."the verb "spent."

Subordinating ConjunctionsSubordinating Conjunctions

A A subordinating conjunctionsubordinating conjunction introduces introduces a a dependent clausedependent clause and indicates the and indicates the nature of the relationship among the nature of the relationship among the independent clause(s)independent clause(s) and the and the dependent dependent clause(s).clause(s).

The most common subordinating conjunctions are "after," "although," "as," "because," "before," "how," "if," "once," "since," "than," "that," "though," "till," "until," "when," "where," "whether," and "while."

AfterAfter she had learned to drive, Alice felt more she had learned to drive, Alice felt more independent. independent.

The subordinating conjunction "The subordinating conjunction "afterafter" introduces " introduces the the dependent clausedependent clause "After she had learned to "After she had learned to drive."drive."

IfIf the paperwork arrives on time, your cheque the paperwork arrives on time, your cheque will be mailed on Tuesday. will be mailed on Tuesday.

Similarly, the subordinating conjunction “Similarly, the subordinating conjunction “if if " " introduces the introduces the dependent clausedependent clause "If the "If the paperwork arrives on time."paperwork arrives on time."

Gerald had to begin his thesis over again Gerald had to begin his thesis over again whenwhen his computer crashed. his computer crashed.

The subordinating conjunction "The subordinating conjunction "whenwhen" introduces " introduces the the dependent clausedependent clause "when his computer "when his computer crashed."crashed."

Midwifery advocates argue that home births are Midwifery advocates argue that home births are safer safer becausebecause the mother and baby are the mother and baby are exposed to fewer people and fewer germs. exposed to fewer people and fewer germs.

In this sentence, the In this sentence, the dependent clausedependent clause "because "because the mother and baby are exposed to fewer the mother and baby are exposed to fewer people and fewer germs" is introduced by the people and fewer germs" is introduced by the subordinating conjunction "subordinating conjunction "becausebecause“.“.

Correlative ConjunctionsCorrelative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctionsCorrelative conjunctions always appear in pairs always appear in pairs -- you use them to link equivalent sentence -- you use them to link equivalent sentence elements. elements.

The most common correlative conjunctions are The most common correlative conjunctions are "both...and," "either...or," "neither...nor,", "not "both...and," "either...or," "neither...nor,", "not only...but also," "so...as," and "whether...or." only...but also," "so...as," and "whether...or."

(Technically correlative conjunctions consist (Technically correlative conjunctions consist simply of a co-ordinating conjunction linked to simply of a co-ordinating conjunction linked to an adjective or adverb.) an adjective or adverb.)

BothBoth my grandfather my grandfather andand my father worked in my father worked in the steel plant. the steel plant.

In this sentence, the correlative conjunction In this sentence, the correlative conjunction ""both...andboth...and" is used to link the two noun phrases " is used to link the two noun phrases that act as the that act as the compound subjectcompound subject of the of the sentence: "my grandfather" and "my father".sentence: "my grandfather" and "my father".

Bring Bring eithereither a jello salad a jello salad oror a potato scallop. a potato scallop.

Here the correlative conjunction "Here the correlative conjunction "either...oreither...or" links " links two two noun phrasesnoun phrases: "a Jello salad" and "a potato : "a Jello salad" and "a potato scallop."scallop."

Corinne is trying to decide Corinne is trying to decide whetherwhether to go to to go to medical school medical school oror to go to law school. to go to law school.

Similarly, the correlative conjunction "Similarly, the correlative conjunction "whether ... whether ... oror" links the two " links the two infinitive phrasesinfinitive phrases "to go to "to go to medical school" and "to go to law school."medical school" and "to go to law school."

The explosion destroyed The explosion destroyed not onlynot only the school the school but but alsoalso the neighbouring pub. the neighbouring pub.

In this example the correlative conjunction "In this example the correlative conjunction "not not only ... but alsoonly ... but also" links the two " links the two noun phrasesnoun phrases ("the ("the school" and "neighbouring pub") which act as school" and "neighbouring pub") which act as direct objects.direct objects.

Note: some words which appear as conjunctions can also appear as prepositions or as adverbs.