The Conjunction in English Grammar
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The Conjunction
Conjunctions are the words we use to link or join two or
more sentences together or two words within the same
sentence.
Conjunctions are of three kinds:
Coordinating, Subordinating and Correlative.
Coordinating Conjunctions: Join two sentences that work at the same level of importance in our speech, both actions are equally important. Or Join two main clauses. They come between the clauses and are preceded by a comma.
These conjunctions are: and, but, still, so, only,
therefore, yet, nevertheless, for, however, either…or…,while, neither….Nor,
Coordinating Conjunctions: Join two sentences that work at the same level of importance in our speech,
both actions are equally important. Or Join two main clauses. They come between the clauses and are preceded by a comma.
Compound Sentence: are sentences that work at the same level of importance in our speech,
both actions are equally important.
Coordinating Clause: Are sentences that work at the same level of importance in our speech,
both actions are equally important.
Coordinating Conjunctions
- For: reason, means because
- And: connects 2 sentences with similar ideas (positive/ negative)
- Nor: connects 2 negative sentences with inverted word order
- But: connects 2 sentences with contrasting or opposite ideas
- Or: connects 2 sentences that express alternatives or choices
- Yet: surprise
- So: connects a reason and a result
The Conjunction in English Grammar
Example:
We had a salad and an ice cream.
(In this example we are using the coordinating conjunction
‘and’ to join two Objects within the same sentence.)
We went to the swimming pool and had lunch there.
(In this example we are using the coordinating conjunction
‘and’ to join two different Sentences, ‘we went to the
swimming pool’ with ‘(we) had lunch there’.)
Example:
Sudhir tried and succeeded.
Sapana is brilliant and Shashi has a pleasant personality.
We tried but did not succeed.
Did you go out or stay at home?
Coordinating Conjunctions
Addition: My father loves kitchen gadgets, and he buys a new one every week.
Contrast: A few of the gadgets are useful, but most of them just take up space.
Result: We ran out of space for them in the kitchen, so he started to store them in the living room.
Choice: My mother asked my father to please stop buying gadgets, or she would throw them out.
Surprise: Of course, Dad came home the next week with three new ones, yet Mom wasn’t upset.
Reason: Maybe she realized that buying little gadgets is harmless, for none of them cost a lot of money.
Addition: (negative): After all, he doesn’t buy sports cars, nor does he bring home a new yacht every week.
Content connected by coordinating conjunctions must be parallel.
They must belong to the same grammatical category. (e.g. Adjective, Adverb, Noun phrase, Verb phrase, Infinitive or Gerund phrase).
The Italian film Life Is Beautiful made me both laugh and cry.
It contained not only comic but also tragic scenes.
Either my father or my mother will meet me at the airport.
Neither my father nor my mother will meet me at the airport.
Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative Conjunctions: are used to join, or simply to
show any relation, between the idea or different ideas.
Notice the parallel structure in these clauses joined by
correlative conjunctions:
These conjunctions are: either…or, if…. then, neither….
nor, no sooner … than, both … and, scarcely… when, not
only … but also, rather … than whether … or
Examples:
He led the team not only in statistics but also by virtue of
his enthusiasm.
Whether she wins this race or loses, it doesn’t matter as
long as she does her best.
Congress has provided the means for both, regulating
pesticides and ordering their removal if dangerous.
Examples:
both … and He is both intelligent and good-natured.
hardly …when He had hardly begun to work, when he was called.
if …then If that is true, then what happened is not surprising.
no sooner …than No sooner had I reached the corner, than the bus came.
not only …but also She is not only clever, but also hard- working.
rather …than I would rather go swimming than go to the library.
scarcely …when Scarcely had we left home, when it started to rain.
whether …or Have you decided whether you will come or not?
Paired Coordinating Conjunctions:
Say something constructive.
Don’t say anything at all (either …or)
Indians pay income tax.
They are charged high sales taxes in some states. (not only…, but also)
He didn’t ask for permission.
He didn’t give me an explanation of his action. (neither…,nor)
The Conjunction in English Grammar
Using… Not either or Neither
Subject + modal + not + either
The teacher isn’t here, and the students aren’t either.
Neither + modal + subject
The teacher isn’t here, and neither are the students.
Using …Too or So
Subject + auxiliary + too
I can dance the Tango, and my husband can too
So + auxiliary + subject
I can dance the Tango, and so can my husband.
(not either) – I don’t have my book.
Claudia doesn’t have her book.
(too) – John has been to South America.
Karen has been to South America.
(so ) – My nephew lost his passport.
My sister lost her passport.
(Neither) – You haven’t done your homework.
I haven’t done my homework.
Subordinating Clause
The subordinate clause is called a dependent clause while the simple sentence is called the independent clause.
Subordinating Conjunctions:
They are: that, although, though, because of, while, since,
until, as, as if, as though, so that, when, lest, if, in order
that, unless, where, wherever and why and whether…..or.
However, a subordinate clause can sometimes come after
and sometimes before a main clause.
Examples:
The man, who stood on a hill, could be seen for miles.
Ram went swimming although it was raining.
Although it was raining, Ram went swimming.
Subordinating Conjunctions: Join two sentences or clauses of unequal rank. One is the main or Independent clause, the other is a dependent clause or limiting the main clause.
Complex Sentence: are sentences or clauses of unequal rank. One is the main or Independent clause, the other is a dependent clause or limiting the main clause.
Subordinating Clause: are sentences or clauses of unequal rank. One is the main or Independent clause, the other is a dependent clause or limiting the main clause.
Subordinating Conjunctions:
- Adjective clauses: who, whom, which, that, whose, when, where
- Adverb clauses:
Time: before, after, as soon as, since, until, while, whenever
Reason: as, because, since
Condition: as if, even if, if, unless
Contrast: although, even though, despite the fact that, whereas
Purpose: in order that, so that
Manner: as if, as though
Paired coordinating conjunctions
- Both … and – addition
- Not only… but (also) – addition
- Either … or – positive choices
- Neither … nor – negative choices
(not either) – I don’t have my book.
Claudia doesn’t have her book.
(too) – John has been to South America.
Karen has been to South America.
(so ) – My nephew lost his passport.
My sister lost her passport.
(Neither) – You haven’t done your homework.
I haven’t done my homework.
The Conjunction in English Grammar
Use Subordinating Conjunctions:
Rohit wanted to study at IIM Indore.
His parents preferred IIM Bangalore.
We ate a large lunch.
We had skipped breakfast.
Computers are an important part of many people’s lives.
Some people in the world have never seen one.
Use Appropriate Conjunctions:
The skier broke his leg.
He couldn’t compete in the Olympics.
Butter is very expensive.
Most people buy margarine.
Taking the bus is cheaper than driving.
It conserves energy.
Robert is a lazy student.
He misses a lot of classes.
I don’t like country western music, nor …
Interest rates continued to rise, yet…
The children were hungry, but…
We decided to go shopping, for…
The hurricane was approaching, so…
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