Conjunctions

DEFINITION
Conjunctions are words used to link words, phrases or clauses. Some common conjunctions
are and, but and or. Make a link between/among words or groups of words to other parts of
the sentence and show a relationship between/among them.
Example:
We buy fruits and vegetables at the grocery store.

TYPES OF CONJUNCTIONS
 1. Coordinating Conjunctions
They can join two verbs, two nouns, two adjectives, two phrases, or two independent clauses.
Joins two words, phrases, or independent clauses, which are parallel in structure.
Most commonly used:  AND, BUT, FOR, NOR, OR, SO, YET.
Examples:

 We went to the movie theatre and enjoyed the movie.

 Do you want rice or roti?
 Go away and never come back.

There are seven main coordinating conjunctions in English, which form the acronym
“FANBOYS”:
F – FOR
A – AND
N – NOR
B – BUT
O – OR
Y – YET
S – SO

2. Correlative Conjunctions

Uses a set of words in a parallel sentence structure to show a contrast or to compare the equal
parts of a sentence.
Most commonly used: NOT ONLY – BUT ALSO, EITHER- OR, NEITHER – NOR, BOTH
– AND, NOT – BUT, WHETHER – OR.
Examples:
Neither Seema nor Suyash can play football.
She ate not only the ice cream but also the chocolate.

 Both/and

Explains- She won the medals from both single and group races.

 Either/or

I am fine with either Monday or Wednesday.

 Neither/nor

Neither you nor T will get of early today.

 Not only/ but also

Not only green but also black looks good on you.

 

3. Subordinating Conjunctions

Joins elements of unparallel sentence structure.

These elements are usually a dependent clause and as independent clause.
Most commonly used: AFTER, HOW, THAN, WHEN, ALTHOUGH, IF, THAT, WHERE,
AS, IN ORDER THAT, THOUGH, WHICH, AS MUCH AS, INASMUCH AS, UNLESS,
WHILE, BECAUSE, PROVIDED, UNTIL, WHO/WHOM, BEFORE, SINCE, WHAT,
WHOEVER/WHOMEVER.
Examples:
Even though the weather was horrible, they still went outside.
Words you may confuse:
Quite/ Quiet
The book is quite good.
My grandma home is very quiet. = no noise/silence