Conjunctions

What are conjunctions?

Words that join or connect two sentences, which would otherwise have to be written as
two separate sentences are called conjunctions.

Types of conjunctions

1) Co-ordinating conjunctions:
These are conjunctions joining two independent clauses of a sentence, having equal
importance.
There are only seven of them, and they can be remembered as ‘FANBOYS’, i.e., for,
and, nor, but, or, yet and so.

Examples:

Priya will go to the market. Anita will go to the market. (both)

Priya and Anita will go to the market.

Give me an orange. Give me an apple. (option)

Give me an orange or an apple.

He is taking a walk. He is feeling uneasy. (reason)

He is taking a walk, for he is feeling uneasy.

Disha will not visit the town. Sameer will not visit the town. (none of them)
Disha will not visit the town, nor will Sameer.

Anand is very busy. He is coming to my place. (condition)

Anand is very busy, yet he is coming to my place.

I was getting late. I left for the station. (reason)

I was getting late, so I left for the station.

She is intelligent. She is too aggressive. (condition)

She is intelligent, but she is too aggressive.
2) Subordinating conjunctions: words that connect a dependent clause to an
independent clause.

Examples:
Rakesh will be late to the concert. He is working overtime. (reason)
Rakesh will be late to the concert, because he is working overtime.
Because Rakesh is working overtime, he will be late to the concert.

I cannot attend your party. I am going to my native place. (reason)

I cannot attend your party, since I am going to my native place.
Since I have to visit my native place, I cannot attend your party.

Shreya is unwell. She is going to attend her classes. (condition)

Shreya is going to attend her classes, although she is unwell.
Although Shreya is unwell, she is going to attend her classes.

I have to reach the station in time. I will rush now. (reason)

I have to reach the station in time, therefore I will rush now.

Mary’s grandmother is ill. She has not come to the office. (reason)
Mary’s grandmother is ill, she has, hence, not come to the office.

You have to attend a family function. Apply for a half day. (condition)
Since you have to attend a family function, apply for a half day.

You cannot go home. You must finish your classwork first. (condition)
You cannot go home until you finish your classwork.

You need to inform in advance. You need a leave. (condition)

You need to inform in advance, if you need a leave.
If you need a leave, you need to inform in advance.

You are fine. You need to take rest. (condition)

Even though you are fine, you need to take rest.

3) Correlative conjunctions: conjunctions that serve the same purpose as co-

ordinating conjunctions do, but they are more than just one word, and have to be
used together in a sentence.
Examples:

She is intelligent. She is beautiful. (both the qualities)

She is not only intelligent, but also beautiful.

He is not intelligent. He is not smart. (none of them)

He is neither intelligent nor smart.

Priya will go to the school. Rakhi will go to the school. (condition)

Either Priya or Rakhi will go to the school.

Priya will go to the school. Rakhi will go to the school. (condition)

If not Priya, then Rakhi will go to the school.

Priya will go to the school. Rakhi will go to the school. (both of them)
Both, Priya and Rakhi will go to the school.

Would you go for shopping? Would you go on a picnic to countryside? (option)

Would you rather go for shopping or on a picnic to countryside?