TOPIC 8:

CONJUNCTIONS
 WHAT IS CONJUNCTIONS?

Conjunctions are words that connect two or more

words, phrases, or clauses.

EXAMPLE:
 I like cooking and eating, but I don’t like
washing dishes afterward.
Sophie is clearly exhausted, yet she insists on
dancing till dawn.
Conjunctions help to join different parts of a sentence, making it easier to
convey more detailed and complex ideas. Make sure that the phrases joined
by conjunctions are parallel (share the same structure).

EXAMPLE:
Incorrect: I work quickly and careful.
Correct : I work quickly and carefully.

There are three different kinds of conjunctions; coordinating, subordinating,

and correlative. Each conjunction serves its own, distinct purpose, but all
working to bring words together.
COORDINATING
CONJUNCTIONS
 F For
A And
There are seven N Nor
coordinating B But
conjunctions in the O Or
English language. Y Yet
S So

Coordinating conjunctions are important when

creating compound sentences or when contrasting
different ideas. Here are some examples of each
coordinating conjunction in action.
For: Explains a Reason

It explains a reason or purpose typically with two independent clauses.

For example:
I go to the park every
Sunday, for I long to see his
face.
Juanita eats healthy, for she
wants to stay in shape. “For” can be confusing because it
My husband sent me
flowers, for he loves me. can also be a preposition (such as in
Let’s not fight about the “I bought this gift for you”). But
past, for today is a new day. when it’s used to explain why
something is happening, it’s a
coordinating conjunction
And: Joins Two Ideas/ Adds one thing to another

It can be used to join two nouns, two verbs, two adjectives, two
phrases, or two independent clauses.

For examples:
I like to read, and I write in my “And” is one of the most common
journal every night.
You should invite coordinating conjunctions in English.
Mario and Estefan to the party. Notice how it connects two of the same
Melody looks beautiful and grown-
parts of speech or two clauses with
up in her prom dress.
The puppies run and jump when equal importance.
their owner comes home.
Nor: Presents a Second Negative Idea

It’s used to present a second negative idea to join a negative idea in the first
clause.

Nor" is commonly used with "neither" as

For examples:
My sister doesn’t like to part of a correlative conjunction pair,
study, nor does she take notes
in class. which helps connect related ideas in a
Our family hasn’t been to New sentence
York, nor have we been to
Florida.
Braxton didn’t do his
Examples:
chores, nor did he finish his
homework. Neither the book nor the movie was
fascinating.
I neither speak Spanish nor
understand it.
But/ although/ in spite of: Introduces an Opposing Idea/ Shows
contrast

It shows the contrast

For examples: between two words, phrases, or ideas of equal
importance
I wanted to go hiking, but it started raining heavily.
She studied hard for the test, but she still didn’t pass.
Although it was raining, we decided to go for a walk.
She completed the marathon in spite of her injury.
 Or : Presents an alternative or a choice

It presents an alternative or a choice. Like “and,” it can be used

between two of the same part of speech as well as two phrases
or clauses
For examples: You can use “or” as a correlative conjunction. It joins
Would you rather read a
book or watch a good TV show? with “either” as a conjunction pair to connect
I can’t decide if I should study opposing ideas. Unlike “neither/nor,” “either/or”
economics or political science. connects positive ideas.
We could have dinner before the We can use either...or to emphasize a choice.
movie, or we could grab a bite Either…or is used to refer to two things or people.
afterward. Examples:
Do you prefer to go to bed Either you get in the car now or we’ll be late
You can either stay here or come with us.
early or to stay up late? It was either John or Peter who received your
message
Yet: Introduces a contrasting idea that follows the preceding idea
logically

At this time or up to now: often appears in

questions and negative statements to refer to
something that hasn’t happened so far but might
happen in the future.
Example:
Have you finished the report yet? (Asking if
the report is completed up to this moment.)
I haven't seen that movie yet. (This indicates
that the movie hasn’t been seen yet.)
Yet: Introduces a contrasting idea that follows the preceding idea
logically

At a future time: used to suggest that

something is expected to happen in the
future.
Example:
The best is yet to come. (something
better will happen in the future.
She has not reached her full potential
yet. (Implying that her full potential will
be realized at some future time.)
So: Indicates effect, result or consequence

I want to get some pizza, so I go to Domino’s Pizza.

Ali wants to get a good result in the final examination,
so he studies hard.
She really wants that dress, so she starts to save
money.
SUBORDINATING
CONJUNCTIONS
A subordinating conjunction is a word that
connects an independent clause to a dependent
clause.
 INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

A complete sentence has a subject and a predicate, expresses

a full idea, and can stand alone. It can also be combined with
other clauses to create more complex sentences.

The subject is what (or whom) the sentence is about.

The predicate tells something about the subject. The predicate of the
sentence contains the verb.
 INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

EXAMPLES:
I enjoy sitting by the fireplace and reading.
She wants to travel the world and see wonderful
sights.
Our planets revolve around the sun.

 It is a complete sentence
 DEPENDENT CLAUSE

A group of words with a subject and a verb that isn't a

complete thought and can't stand alone is called a
clause. This includes adverbs, adjectives, and noun
clauses.
 DEPENDENT CLAUSE

EXAMPLES:
When the president arrives, ________________________
Because I can't wait for the bus,
_______________________
As if he knew what was going to happen,
____________________
If you can work on Sunday, _____________________
SUBORDINATING
CONJUNCTIONS
LIST
After

During the period of time

Bath time ended in a flood after the taps were left running
following an event.
Although

In spite of the fact that; even Although the sun was shining (DC), it wasn't that warm (IDC)
though
He says he has the team shirt (IDC), although I've never
However; but. seen him wear it (DC)
As

Used to indicate that something

Frank watched him (IDC) as he ambled through the crowd
happens during the time when
(DC)
something else is taking place.
As long as

During the whole time They have been there as long as anyone can
that. remember

Provided that As long as you fed him, he would be cooperative

Because We did it because we felt it our duty

Due to The referee penalised him because he tripped the
player
For the reason The plant is not growing well due to the lack of
nutrients
Before
They lived rough for four days before they were
In advance of the time
arrested
when.
In preference to (doing a
They would die before they would cooperate with
particular thing).
each other

Even if

Despite the possibility that; Always try everything even if it turns out to be a dud
no matter whether

Despite the fact that. He's a good person, even if he has a troubled past
If
Unless
If you have a complaint, write to the director
Introducing a conditional If it takes me seven years, I shall do it
clause) on the condition or
supposition that; in the I will go swimming if it does not rain
event that. My mother won’t let me go out unless I finish my
Despite the possibility that;
homework
no matter whether.

Once
Once the grapes were pressed, the juice was put
As soon as; when.
into barrels
Since

From a time in the past

I've felt better since I've been here
until the time under
consideration, typically the
present.
Delegates were delighted, since better protection of
For the reason that;
rhino reserves will help protect other rare species
because.
Though

Though they were speaking in undertones, Percival

Despite the fact that;
could hear them
although
Unless

Except if (used to introduce

the case in which a Unless you have a photographic memory, repetition
statement being made is is vital
not true or valid).
Until

Up to the point in time or

You don't know what you can achieve until you try
the event mentioned.

When

At or during the time that. I loved maths when I was at school

After which; and just then
(implying suddenness). He had just drifted off to sleep when the phone rang
Where
Where you find a lot of water, you will also find these
beautiful insects
In the place that
In situations that
Where you have to pay a deposit, be sure to get a receipt.

While
Nothing much changed while he was away
During the time that; at the
same time as.
One person wants out, while the other wants the relationship
Whereas
to continue
(indicating a contrast).

So that
In order to I opened the windows so that the room is well ventilated

Used to state a purpose She put the meat in the refrigerator in order to keep it fresh
 CORRELATIVE
CONJUNCTIONS
Correlative conjunctions are word pairs that connect and
balance two equal parts of a sentence. They help link
similar or related ideas in a sentence.
The most common correlative are:
either…or
neither…nor
not only…but also
both…and
whether…or
Examples:

Either/Or
I will take either the train or the bus to get to the conference.

Neither/Nor
Neither the dogs nor the wild raccoons would eat the
stew he made.

Not only/But also

My new supervisor not only has exciting new ideas but
also strategic planning.
When working with correlative conjunctions, there are three
important rules to remember: ensure verb agreement,
pronoun agreement, and parallel structure.
i. Join two singular subjects with a singular verb.

Correct Verb Agreement:

Neither the boy nor his brother wants to do their chores.

Incorrect Verb Agreement:

Neither the boy nor his brother want to do their chores

In this example, both boy and brother are singular, so the singular
verb wants must be used
ii. Join two plural subjects with a plural verb.

Correct Verb Agreement:

Either the students or their parents were expected to pick up supplies for
the project

Incorrect Verb Agreement:

Either the students or their parents was expected to pick up supplies for the
project.

In this example, both students and parents are plural, so the plural verb were must
be used
iii. Join a singular subject and a plural subject with the verb form
used for the subject closest to the verb.

Correct Verb Agreement:

Both the captain and the soldiers run two miles every day.
Incorrect Verb Agreement:
Both the captain and the soldiers runs two miles every day.

In this example, the plural word soldiers is closest to the verb, so

the plural verb run must be used.
TRICKY RULE WHEN
USING CORRELATIVE
CONJUNCTIONS
 They connect two EQUAL grammatical items.
# 1 If an ARTICLE follows one conjunction, an ARTICLE must follow the
other; they must have similar patterns.
Examples:
Either the cat or the dog must go outside.

Either the cat or dog must go outside

 If a VERB follows one correlative conjunction, a VERB must follow the
# 2 other.
Examples:
You should either run or swim today

You should either run, or you should swim today.

# 3 When using correlative conjunctions to connect two subjects, the 2nd
subject must agree with the verb (except with both…and; those always
get a plural verb!).
Examples:
Every night either the dogs or the cat wakes me up
Every night either the dogs or the cat wake me up.

Today, neither my sister nor my brothers visit.

Today, neither my sister nor my brothers visits.