Conjunctions

What Are Conjunctions?

Conjunctions are words that link words, phrases, or clauses together. In short, they are connectors. "And," "but," and "or" are three common conjunctions, but there are many others, which we will cover in this lesson. Here are some examples of conjunctions joining words, phrases, and clauses.

Simple Examples of Conjunctions

Dogs and cats are common pets.

You can clean the car, or you can paint the fence.

"And," "but," and "or" belong to the category "coordinating conjunctions."

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions are words that join elements of equal grammatical rank. This means they always join like with like (e.g., two nouns, two verbs, two adjectives, or even two independent clauses). In English, there are seven coordinating conjunctions, which you can remember using the acronym FANBOYS:

For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

Coordinating conjunctions do more than just join. They also tell us the relationship between the joined elements. For example, "and" shows connection, "but" shows contrast, and "or" shows choice.

Example Sentences with Coordinating Conjunctions

For. "For" is not a common conjunction. It is used like "because."
- He was late, for he had missed the bus.
- I bought the cake, for it was your birthday.
- She took the umbrella, for it looked like it would rain.
And. "And" is the most common conjunction. It shows addition and connection.
- I enjoy reading novels and listening to music.
- He wants to travel to Paris and Rome next summer.
- She studied all night and passed the exam.
Nor. "Nor" is not a common conjunction. It is used to introduce a further negative statement. The word "nor" is most commonly seen in the pairing "neither/nor," which is different type of conjunction called a correlative conjunction (see below).
- I don't like broccoli, nor do I like spinach.
- He didn't called, nor did he send a message.
- She doesn't want tea, nor does she want coffee.
But. "But" is the second most common conjunction. It is used for contrast.
- I wanted to stay outside, but it was too cold.
- He is wealthy but not happy.
- She tried to finish her assignment but ran out of time.
Or. "Or" is the third most common conjunction. It is used for choice.
- Would you prefer tea or coffee?
- I can't decide whether to go to the beach or the mountains.
- Join the gym now, or regret it later.
Yet. "Yet" is not a common conjunction. It is similar to "but." It translates as "but at the same time" or "but nevertheless."
- The task is simple, yet I find it hard.
- It's a cheap restaurant, yet the food is delicious.
- She's very young yet incredibly wise.
So. "So" is a fairly common conjunction. It means "therefore." (When "so" means "in order to," it is a different type of conjunction called a subordinating conjunction. See below.)
- He was tired, so he went to bed early.
- The book was boring, so I stopped reading it.
- She practised daily, so she became an expert pianist.

Notice that coordinating conjunctions join like with like. For example:

The owl and the pussycat went to sea.
It was a small but comfortable apartment.
Shut up or leave!

Other Types of Conjunction

When most people think about conjunctions, "and," "but," and "or" come to mind quickly. These are the main three coordinating conjunctions. There are two other types of conjunction: subordinate conjunctions and correlative conjunctions. Both are common in English.

Subordinate Conjunctions

A subordinate conjunction joins a main clause to a subordinate clause. For example:

The game is cancelled because it is snowing.

Subordinate conjunctions (also known as subordinating conjunctions) act as bridges between the two clauses and tell us the relationship between them. In English, there are lots of subordinate conjunctions. The most common ones are "because," "if," "until," and "when.". Here are some other common ones:

because, if, until, when, although, since, before, unless, while, after, as, though, once, whereas, wherever, even if, provided (that), as long as, in case

Example Sentences with Subordinate Conjunctions

Subordinate conjunctions have important functions in sentences because they tell us the relationships between the two clauses. Expressing Cause and Effect: Subordinate conjunctions like "because" and "since" introduce clauses that provide the reason or cause behind the action in the independent clause. For example:

Jill won the tournament because she trained the most.
She couldn't attend the meeting since she was sick.

Contrasting Ideas: Conjunctions such as "though," "although," "even though," and "while" set up clauses that present contrasting or opposing information. For example:

Although it's hot outside, I'll go for a run.
The picnic was still enjoyable even though it rained.

Conditional Statements: Subordinate conjunctions like "if," "unless," and "provided (that)" introduce clauses that express conditions. For example:

If you finish your homework, you can go out to play."
I will do well in my exams provide that there is no algebra.

Time Relationships: Subordinate conjunctions such as "when," "after," "before," and "while" indicate the timing of events in relation to the independent clause. For example:

Sprint around the court when I blow the whistle.
She went to bed after she finished her book.

Location and Comparison: Words like "where" and "wherever" help specify locations. For example:

Jack searched for his keys where he last saw them.

The main clause of any sentence is an independent clause. An independent clause is one that expresses a complete thought and could stand alone as a sentence by itself. Also, a subordinate clause is a type of dependent clause, which is one that could not stand alone as a sentence. A sentence that has one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause if called a complex sentence.

Remember that these conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses, providing context and establishing the relationship with the main clause of the sentence.

Correlative Conjunctions

Unlike other conjunctions, correlative conjunctions are used in pairs. For example:

You can have either carrot soup or vegetable samosas.

Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to join equal sentence elements. Here are some common correlative conjunctions:

either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also, both/and

Example Sentences with Correlative Conjunctions

Either/Or. "Either/or" presents two alternatives.
- You can either join us for the movie or stay at home.
- Either the manager or the assistant will assist you.
- We should either go to the beach or the museum today.
Neither/Nor. "Neither/nor" shows that neither of the two options is true or valid
- Neither the red shirt nor the blue one fits him.
- She is interested neither in music nor in sports.
- Neither the rain nor the wind could deter them from completing the marathon.
Not only/But also. "Not only/but also" emphasizes an additional or surprising element.
- He is not only talented but also hardworking.
- She not only visits local attractions but also explores hidden gems when she travels.
- The dish is not only tasty but also nutritious.
Both/And. "Both/and" shows inclusivity.
- The movie is both entertaining and educational.
- He both writes and directs his films.
- She both sings and dances in the performance.

Notice that correlative conjunctions join like with like. For example:

She not only visits local attractions but also explores hidden gems when she travels.
She visits not only local attractions but also explores hidden gems when she travels.

When you use a correlative conjunction, order your words so both parts sit before equal sentence elements.

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