What Are Conjunction
Conjunction are words that link other words, phrases, or clauses together. Conjunction assist to form complex, elegant sentences and avoid the breakdown of an idea into short multiple sentences.
Examples:
- I like book reading. I like watching movies. I do not like listening music. (Without conjunction)
- I like book reading and I like watching movies but I do not like listening music. (With conjunctions)
While joining phrases with conjunctions, make sure they are parallel, (share the same structure).
Examples:
- I walk slowly and lazy. (Not parallel: slowly is adverb and lazy is adjective)
- I walk slowly and lazily. (Parallel: Slowly and lazily, both are adverbs)
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions join the words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence.
Examples:
- I like reading or sleeping in my free time.
- She picked her brother and dropped her sister on her way back to home.
He tried his best but all in vain.
- I went to the park, and my sister slept.
Note: comma is used when coordinating conjunction is joining two independent clauses.
Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that work together. Some examples are either/or, neither/nor and not only/but also.
Examples:
- Not only is he doing job but also completing his degree. He is doing both job and studies at the same time.
- Either they should follow the code of conduct or they should leave the job.
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions join independent and dependent clauses. A subordinating conjunction shows some kind of relationship such as a cause-and-effect relationship, a contrast, or any other type of relationship between the clauses. Common subordinating conjunctions are because , since , as , although , though , while and whereas .
Sometimes an adverb, such as until , after or before can function as a conjunction.
Examples:
- I can work until my friend picks me up.
Here, the adverb until functions as a coordinating conjunction to connect two ideas: I can work (the independent clause) and until my friend picks me up. (the dependent clause).
The independent clause could stand alone as a sentence; the dependent clause depends on the independent clause to make sense.
The subordinating conjunction does not always come in the middle of the sentence. It has to be part of the dependent clause. Moreover, the dependent clause can come before the independent clause.
Examples:
- Before she leaves, make sure her work is completed.
If the dependent clause comes first, use a comma before the independent clause.
Make sure her work is completed before she leaves. (Comma is not required when dependant clause comes later)
List of Conjunctions
1. Coordinating Conjunctions
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
2. Correlative Conjunctions
Both/and, either/or, neither/nor, not only/but, not only/but also, whether/or, rather/than, no sooner/then, just as/so
3. Some Subordinating Conjunctions
after, although, as, as if, as long as, as much as, as soon as, as though, because, before, by the time, even if, even though, if, in order that, in case, in the event that, lest, now that, once, only, only if, provided that, since, so, supposing, that, than, though, till, unless, until, when, whenever, where, whereas, wherever, whether or not, while