Conjunction | English Grammar

CONJUNCTION

Conjunctions are used to join clauses, phrases, and words together for constructing sentences. Conjunctions make a link between/among words or groups of words to other parts of the sentence and show a relationship between/among them.

Example:

• Alex and Robin are playing together.
• Alex plays well, but Robin plays better than him.
• I play cricket, and Robin plays football.
• When he was sick, I went to see him.

 

Types of Conjunctions

• Coordinating Conjunctions
• Correlative Conjunctions
• Subordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunctions:

The job of a coordinating conjunction is to join two words, phrases, or independent clauses, which are parallel in structure. There are seven coordinating conjunctions which are by far the most common conjunctions:  and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet.

Example:

• We went to the stadium and enjoyed the cricket match.
• Do you want an ice cream or chocolate?
• Go away and never come back.

Correlative Conjunctions:

A correlative conjunction uses a set of words in a parallel sentence structure to show a contrast or to compare the equal parts of a sentence. The words of correlative conjunctions have a special connection between them.

The correlative conjunctions are not only - but also, either- or, neither - nor, both - and, not - but, whether - or.

Example:

• Neither Alex nor Robin can play baseball.
• I want both ice cream and
• He ate not only the ice cream but also the chocolate.

Subordinating Conjunctions:

A subordinating conjunction joins elements of an unparallel sentence structure. These elements are usually a dependent clause and an independent clause.

Most commonly used subordinating conjunctions are:

After, how, than, when, although, if, that, where, as, in order that, though, which, as much as, inasmuch as, unless, while, because, provided, until, who/whom, before, since, what, whoever/whomever.

Example:

• Before we left home, I had had my breakfast.
• Provided they come, we can start class Tuesday.
• When he was washing my car, I went to the store.
• Even though the weather was horrible, they still went outside.