Ho w Clauses Are Con join ed

Now that we have dea lt with all the different type

s of clauses in detail, let us now move on to
consider how the clauses are con nec ted to each
other. A clause is fastened to ano ther clause
using mostly conjunctions, but relative pron oun
s and interrogative and relative adverbs too
are used sometimes to con nec t cert ain types of clau
ses.
A conjunction is defined as a wor d or word class
that connects words or constructions. It
is not the conjunctions alone that con nec t words
and clauses. As we have already seen, rela-
tive clauses, relative/interrogative adverbs and even
prepositions also serve to connect clauses.
While they conjoin clauses, relative pron oun s
and relative adverbs perf orm an additional
function, too. The following examples will make
that clear: ·
The train was delayed and I was obliged to wait for two
hours.
People who grew impatient could be heard arguing.
In the first sentence 'and' has no function other
than conjoin the two clauses. But in the
second sentence, the relative pro nou n 'who' perf
orms two functions. First, it connects the
clauses and secondly, it refers to its antecedent, in
this case 'people'.
There are two kind s of con junc tion s-co -ord inat
ors and the subordinators. The co-ordi-
nating conjunctions join words and sentences of
the same rank.
George came here but did not stay for lunch.
The commonly used co-o rdin atin g conjunctions
are and, but, for, only, either. .. or, neither
... nor, and or. The com mon subordinating conjunc
tions are after, befo re, when, where, why,
how, till, until, unless, although, if, that, because, since,
as and than.
There are four kind s of co-ordinatihg conjunctions
. Conjunctions like and, also, both ...
and, not only but also, etc., merely add or connect a state
ment to ano ther and are called cum u-
lative conjunctions. For example, John as well as
his brother is absent today.
Either. .. or, neither. .. nor, otherwise, or, else etc. expr
ess a choice and they are called alter-
native conjunctions. For exa ~ple , You can either
accept the job or look for another one.
Conjunctions that express a contrast between two
statements- still, yet, however, whereas,
but, nevertheless etc.,- are called adversative conjunc
tions.
 20 Fine-tune Yo11r English

Democra cy has many flaws nevertheless it is preferable to all otherpolitical systerns.

Conjunc tions by which a fact or statemen t is .inferred from another- there,£o :J' re, so th
.
etc. - are illative conjunct ions. ' en
Subordi nating conjunct ions may show time (when, as, as soon as, since, before etc)
pose (in order that, so that), conditio n (if, in case, unless, etc.), result (so . .. that) ' companson
'~ur-
(than, no less than, as ... as), manner (so far. as, accordin g as,. ~as if), reason (because, sm· ce, as,
.
etc.) or concessi on (though, although, even 1f, not withstan ding, etc.)
Now let us come back to the main questio n-how are two clauses connected to ea~h
other? The joining is done by conjunct ions in most cases but as we have already seen, relative
pronoun s and adverbs too connect certain types of clauses. First we will examine noun clauses.

Noun Clauses
Certain types of noun clauses are joined to the main clause using the conjunction 'that'. King
Lear tells his daughter s that "nothing comes from nothing: ' .f\.s we will see, 'that' is not always
a conjunct ion. In relative clauses it functions as a connecti ng pronoun .
An interrogative adverb is used to connect certain types of noun clauses to the main clause
or to another clause. "Where he has been all these years nobody knows''. 'Where' in this sen-
tence is an interrogative adverb. However, in the sentence "This is the house where Jack was
born" 'where' is a relative adverb.
. Noun clauses can be connecte d with an interrogative pronoun / a relative pronoun some- . /.
times.
We do not know who instigated this behaviour. (interrogative pronoun .)
What affects the body affects the mind also.

Adjective (Relative) Clauses

Conjunc tions cannot be used to connect adjective clauses to other clauses. A relative pronoun
or a relative adverb is the only kind of connective by which an adjective clause can be attached
to another clause.
This is the house that Jack built. (relative pronoun )
This is the place where everything goes wrong. (relative adv.)

Adverbial Clauses
All adverbial clauses are introduc ed using conjunctions. Adverbial clauses of time use such
conjunctions like since, as, when, so long as, as soon as, before, after, till, until, etc. For example,
When everybody else was playing, Bob sat in his room reading a book.
Adverbial clauses of place usually start with conjunct ions like where, wherever, whence,
whither, etc. For example, Where there is hate, destruction is certain. .
Adverbial clauses of purpose are connected with conjunct ions like so that, in order that, tn
case. For example, He resigned his job so that he could devote more time to his son's education.
Adverbial clauses of reason begin with the conjunct ions because, since, as, that, etc. As he
was dishonest, I sacked him.
 How Clauses Are Conjoined 21

Adverbial clauses of result are connected with the conjunction so ...that.

Adverbial clauses of comparison begin with than, as, as if, etc.
No other mountain peak is as tall as Mt Everest.
Adverbial clauses of concession are introduced with although, though, even if, etc. Though
he was ill, he attended the meeting.

E.XERCISE 1
Analyse the following.
a. When they received the information that the police were on their way to catch them,
they fled to the forest where they intended to hide till the danger was over.
b. Though he said that he was in a hurry, he stayed on because of the rain and left only after
the rain had stopped.
c. When the police arrived, it was discovered that the call which they had received was a
false one.
d. He creates problems wherever he goes although he is a simple man.
e. Though I did not believe the story he told me, I gave him some money so that he could
buy medicine which he badly needed.

EXERCISE 2
Examine how the clauses are conjoined in the above sentences and say what part of speech
(conjunction, relative pronoun etc.) they are.