Grammar Conjunction 20/03/2016

Lesson 7 - Conjunctions
Conjunctions join related words, phrases, or clauses. A conjunction can be a word (and, because, but, or,
etc) or a phrase (as though, as well as, in order that, so that). There are three groups of conjunction:

Coordinating conjunctions join words, phrases, and clauses.

Subordinating conjunctions join only clauses.
Correlative conjunctions are paired conjunctions.

 1. Coordinating Conjunctions
 2. Subordinating Conjunctions
 3. Correlative Conjunctions
 4. Connecting Conjunctions
 5. Conjunctions Function as Preposition, Adverb, or Adjective
 6. More on Conjunctions
 7. The conjunction 'that'

1. Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions join words, phrases, and clauses. Some examples of coordinating
conjunctions are and, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet.The most commonly used of these conjunctions
are and and but. And connects similar ideas while but connects two contrasting ones. The
conjunction or is used to show alternatives.

Avoiding repeating unnecessary words when using conjunctions

 You need to know what rights you have. You also need to know how to use them.
 You need to know what right you have and how to use them.

 This is an expensive machine. It is an immensely useful machine.

 This is an expensive but immensely useful machine.

 We didn’t believe a word he said. None of us believe his excuses as well.

 We didn’t believe a word he said, nor his excuses.

 You can choose the white one. You can also choose the black one.
 You can choose the white one or the black one.

Other coordinating conjunctions in use

 He finds it difficult to see clearly, for he is partially blind.

 The audience was not very impressed by their performance, nor their jokes.
 We can go now or when it stops raining.
 The rain got heavier, so the match had to be abandoned.
 He is only a little boy, yet he is able to carry such a heavy load.

(For meaning and use of coordinating conjunctions, see List Coordinating Conjunctions)

List 12 - Conjunctions

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Coordinating conjunctions
Coordinating
Meaning Use
conjunctions
to introduce something to another
and Also
thing that is already mentioned.

to introduce something contrasting

but However
with what has been mentioned
or Alternative to show choices
for because, since to show the reason for something
nor not either to show not one or the other
so Therefore to link possibilities
to add something that is contrasting
yet in spite of that
or unexpected

2. Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions join a subordinate clause (also called dependent clause) to an
independent /main clause. Subordinating conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses that are less
important than or less than equal to the main clause, although they do help in adding to the content of the
main clause.

Subordinating conjunctions in use:

 The whole ostrich-rearing business will fail unless we put in more money.
 It’s urgent that something be done before more villagers are trampled to death by the elephants.
 These girls are already drunk although they have drunk only a little.

The above subordinate clauses are bolded and as can be seen, are introduced by subordinating
conjunctions unless, before and although. They cannot stand independently as complete clauses. They
have to be joined to their respective main clauses to make complete sentences.

(For more examples of subordinating conjunctions, see List of Sub-ordinating Conjunctions

Different types of subordinating conjunctions

Time Place Reason Purpose Contrast Comparison
after where As so although as
as wherever Because though like
before For whereas than
ever since Since while though
since yet
immediately
once
since
till

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until
when
whenever
whereupon
while

as soon as in case in order that even though as if

now that as if in order to as though
so that

Different types of subordinating conjunctions

Condition Choice Exception Degree Preference consequence Indirect question

if except so whether
providing than but that if
unless whether

provided rather
as far as rather than so that
that than
sooner
seeing that such that
than

as long as in order that

so long as
even if

3. Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions as mentioned earlier are paired conjunctions, which means they do not come in
singles words. They come in the form of pairs of words: either … or; neither … nor; both … and; not
only … but also, and whether … or.

 You can have either this one or that one.

 They claimed what they saw were neither humans nor monkeys.
 Both he and his brother are joint leaders of the street gang.
 I like the rainbow not only it is colourful but also it curves.
 I could not decide whether to marry her or her sister.

Either … or / neither … nor

When using either … or or neither … nor, ensure that the verb agrees with the subject closer to it. This
means if the two subjects are singular the verb is singular, and the verb is plural if both subjects are plural.
But if one subject is singular and the other one is plural, the verb can be singular or plural depending on the
subject closer to it.

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 Either John or Johnny plays as goalkeeper in the match.

 Neither he nor his brother wants to be the goalkeeper.

 Either the boys or the girls have to perform first.

 Neither the children nor their parents were late for the performance.

 Either the manager or the players are blamed for the poor performance.
 Either the players or the manager is blamed for the poor performance.

 Neither the players nor the manager is criticized for the loss.
 Neither the manager nor the players are criticized for the loss.

(For meaning of correlative conjunctions, see List of Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions Meaning
One or more things that are available as another
either .. or
possibility
neither .. nor Putting two negative ideas together
both . . And Add something to another thing
not .. but Replacing something with something else
not only . . (but) also Adding something to another thing
If .. then Showing a result that is dependent on something else
Whether .. or Expressing a choice between alternatives

Other correlative conjunctions

as … so
as … as
the … the
although … yet
so … that

4. Connecting Conjunctions
Conjunctions connect same parts of speech

 I have a brother and a sister. (Noun linked to noun)

 We joked and laughed. (Verb to verb)
 She is tall and beautiful. (Adjective to adjective)
 He often eats quickly and noisily. (Adverb to adverb)

Conjunctions connect words

 We bathe our dog and cat in the same tub.

 Gorillas and chimpanzees are primates.
 The giraffe was tall but skinny.

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 Gorillas and chimpanzees, but not monkeys, are primates.

Conjunctions connect phrases

 The fisherman is carrying a bucket full of fish and walking cheerfully along the beach.
 They were full of smile and happy together as they went up to receive the awards.
 I like watching TV and eating popcorn at the same time.
 He likes listening to ghost stories but not visiting haunted places.

Conjunctions connect clauses

In joining clauses we leave out some words:

 We went closer. We were able to see it better.

 We went closer and were able to see it better.

 The zoo has two hippos. It also has two giraffes.

 The zoo has two hippos and two giraffes.

 She is friendly. She is not very considerate.

 She is friendly but not very considerate.

 Will you have a coffee? Or will you have a tea?

 Will you have a coffee or tea?

5. Conjunctions Function as Preposition, Adverb, or

Adjective
A conjunction can be a preposition, an adverb, or an adjective. It depends on its use in a sentence. Care is
required to ensure its correct use when constructing a sentence.
Examples:

o He couldn’t even sign his cheque, for he was completely drunk. (Conjunction)
o His grandchildren booked a coffin for him when he fell into a coma. (Preposition)

o Her husband had an affair with a colleague so his wife did the same with her boss. (Conjunction)
o She hates her nosy neighbour and so does her husband. (Adverb)
o Their book is about aliens out to kidnap the President, but that was not so. (Adjective)

6. More on Conjunctions
Choosing the right conjunction is important to make the meaning clear.

 He is intelligent but hardworking.

 He is intelligent and hardworking.

(Since the conjunction and connect similar ideas, it should be used in the above sentence.)

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 I have always been weak in mathematics and I have never failed a test.
 I have always been weak in mathematics, but I have never failed a test.

(But is more appropriately used because the two sentences above have opposite ideas.)

When ‘and’ is used to connect two words or phrases in a sentence, no comma is used. Commas are
used when there are three or more items in a sentence.

 I had bacon and an egg.

 I had bacon, a toast, and an egg.

Some conjunctions with accompanying words can be at the beginning or the end of a sentence.

 I have a glass of milk before I go to bed.

 Before I go to bed, I have a glass of milk.

(A comma is used when a conjunction introducing a subordinate clause comes before the main clause.)

We can start a sentence with a conjunction, or place it in the middle of a sentence.

 If he is not here soon, we shall leave without him.

 We shall leave without him if he is not here soon.

 When you see him, please talk to him about it.

 Please talk to him about it when you see him

 Although she is my colleague, we hardly talk to each other.

 We hardly talk to each other although she is my colleague.

 Because the weather is bad, we decide not to go out.

 We decide not to go out because the weather is bad.

 Before she left, she cooked for them.

 She cooked for them before she left.

 After the accident, he decided to give up his job.

 He decided to give up his job after the accident.

(As can be seen from the above sentences, we insert a comma when we begin a sentence with a
conjunction.)

7. The conjunction 'that'

Some basic ideas of the conjunction 'that':

1. That as a conjunction is commonly used.

2. That introduces that-clauses.
3. That-clauses can be the subject or object of a sentence.
4. That can be left out but not if it begins a clause.

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The conjunction that introduces that-clauses which are subordinate clauses. A subordinate clause
cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence.

 It is quite likely that we will be late for the firework display.

The part of the above sentence in bold is a that-clause. We cannot use it as a sentence.

 Wrong: That we will be late for the firework display.

Wrong because it is a subordinate clause, also is called a dependent clause. It must be joined to a main
clause to make a complete sentence. The main clause in the above sentence is It is quite likely.

A that-clause can come at the beginning of a sentence as the subject or at the end of a sentence as the
object.

 That he got up late does not mean he doesn't have to go to school.

 He recalled that he had sent the letter sometime last week.

We can leave out that wherever it may appear in a sentence but not if it is at the beginning.

 He said that he would help me with my homework. / He said he would help me with my homework.
 It is true that her grandmother is one hundred years old. / It is true her grandmother is one hundred
years old.
 That he didn't know anything about it is no excuse. (Not: He didn't know anything about it is no
excuse.)

More conjunctions:
Each is a pair of words which together are used as a conjunction:

1. providing/provided that: on the condition that; if.

o We will be there early providing that we can catch the first train.
o We welcome her to come along provided that she can stay out late.

That in the above two sentences can be omitted.

2. Assuming that: accept as true without proof.

o I think she will marry the wealthy boss's son even assuming that she doesn't love him.

3. Seeing that: because; accepting the fact that.

o You may as well join them, seeing that they need another volunteer.