Conjunctions

Dependent and Independent Clauses

■ Independent clause: can stand alone as a sentence.
It conveys a complete idea and does not need
additional information to make sense.
– “I went to bed.”
■ Dependent clause: does not convey a complete idea
and needs more information to stand as a sentence.
Dependent clauses are not sentences, they are
fragments!
– “because I was tired.”
 Dependent and Independent
Clauses
■ We can turn a dependent clause into a sentence by adding an
independent clause to it:
– I went to bed because I was tired.

■ A sentence can have more than one clause. We can use

conjunctions to connect clauses in a sentence. Every sentence
must contain at least one an independent clause.
– I went to bed because I was tired.
– The weather is bad, so we will stay home.
– Lara is nice, but her voice is annoying.
– They miss her even though she moved across the street.
 Coordinating Conjunctions

■ Coordinating conjunctions join together independent

clauses.
– I like cake, and Emma likes pie.
– I am going to the store, for I have run out of milk.

■ There are seven coordinating conjunctions. Use the

acronym FANBOYS to remember them!
 Coordinating Conjunctions
■ FOR – reason or purpose (like because, but more formal. Usually
used in formal writing)
– I usually take Ecovia to work, for it is the fastest and cheapest
way to get there.

■ AND – addition, time sequence and result

– John studies law, and Peter studies medicine. (addition)
– Mary came, and Ben left. (time sequence)
– I went to the store, and I bought a pack of crackers. (result)

– Anna likes Batman, and she likes Superman

– Anna likes Batman and Superman.
 Coordinating Conjunctions

■ NOR – joins two negative ideas; is negative form of

“and”. The first clause is always negative with
declarative form and the second clause is always
affirmative with question form. We use the same verb in
both clauses.
– He does not like to dance, nor does he like to run.

■ BUT – contrast or concession

– I wanted to go with you, but my dog got sick.
– My friends went to the party, but I decided to stay.
 Coordinating Conjunctions
■ OR – presents an alternative between two
possibilities
– Don’t eat so much, or you will get sick.

■ YET – contrast (same as “but”, but more formal)

– Susan is young, yet she has problems with her
memory.

■ SO – effect/consequence/result
– Paul is sick, so I will have to finish his report
today.
 Coordinating Conjunctions
■ The coordinating conjunction “so” is different
from the subordinating conjunction “so that”. “So”
is strictly cause and effect, while “so that” means
that the first action was done deliberately with the
purpose of obtaining a specific result. In addition,
the “so that” clause contains a modal verb.
– She saved money, so she can take a vacation.
(cause and effect)
– She saved money, so that she could take a
vacation. (intention)
 Coordinating Conjunctions
■ Coordinating conjunctions need a comma to
connect two independent clauses.
– She was promoted, yet she doesn’t seem
happy.

■ It is possible to start sentences with

coordinating conjunctions.
– I don’t like Ann. Nor do I like her brother.
 Subordinating conjunctions
■ A subordinating conjunction joins an independent
clause (main clause) and a dependent clause
(subordinate clause).

■ Some of the most common subordinating

conjunctions are:
– After: You will miss me after I’m gone.
– Although: Although she loves him, she doesn’t
want to get married.
– As soon as: His mother will ground him as soon
as she sees him.
 Subordinating Conjunctions
– Because: I studied International Relations
because I liked political geography.
– Before: Ask you father before you borrow the
car.
– Even though: He crashed his car even though he
was driving slowly.
– How: That is just how things work.
– If: If you cheat, you will be punished.
– Once: Once you get the delivery, take it to my
office.
 Subordinating Conjunctions

– Since: I think I should have my money back since

I did not receive what I was promised.
– So that: He hid his chocolate under his bed so
that his brother wouldn’t find it.
– Than: This game was better than the one I
watched last week.
– Though: Though I try very hard, I cannot
understand Sophie.
– Until: I will wait until you finish your test.
 Subordinating Conjunctions
– Unless: I will fail my math course unless I hand in
some extra credit work.
– Whereas: You ate a whole rack of ribs, whereas I
ate just a salad.
– Wherever: The dog follows him wherever he goes.
– When: I was walking when I fell down.
– Whether: It doesn’t matter whether he is right or
wrong.
– While: The phone was ringing while she was
taking a shower
 Subordinating Conjunctions

■ We only use commas when the subordinate clause

comes before the main clause.
– While I was at work, my dog ripped the curtains.
– My dog ripped the curtains while I was at work.
 Subordinating Conjunctions vs
Relative Pronouns
■ Besides subordinating conjunctions, relative pronouns (that,
which, who, whose, whom) can also introduce dependent
clauses. The difference between relative pronouns and
subordinating conjunctions is that relative pronouns act as the
subject of a dependent clause while subordinating
conjunctions are followed by the subject of the dependent
clause.
– John is the guy who came over for dinner last week.
– We talked about music and movies while we ate.
 Subordinate Clauses
■ There are three types of subordinate clauses:
– Adverb: helps to explain time, cause and effect,
conditions and contrast
■ We have been friends since we met.
■ She drove us crazy so we moved away.
■ If you had studied, you would have gotten a better
grade.
■ Though he is brilliant, he failed the test.
 Subordinate Clauses
– Adjective: acts as an adjective in a sentence
■ The city where I grew up is big.
■ The man who is standing in line is my father.

– Noun: acts as a noun in a sentence

■ I don’t know how to get to the bank.
■ Can you tell me when was your last appointment?
Practice: identify dependent and
independent clauses
■ before he left for his friend's house
■ as long as Hannah continues to see progress
■ they weren't feeling well
■ if they could just understand each other
■ she is bringing my homework along
■ Yet he seems like a pretty nice guy
■ in order to be respectful to the other presenters