Conjunctions
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GRAMMAR TIPS
Without conjunctions, you’d be forced to express every complex idea in a
series of short, simplistic sentences: I like cooking. I like eating. I don’t like
washing dishes afterward.
What Are Conjunctions?
Conjunctions are words that link other words, phrases, or clauses together.
I like cooking and eating, but I don’t like washing dishes afterward. Sophie is clearly
exhausted, yet she insists on dancing till dawn.
Conjunctions allow you to form complex, elegant sentences and avoid the
choppiness of multiple short sentences. Make sure that the phrases joined by
conjunctions are parallel (share the same structure).
I work quickly and careful.
I work quickly and carefully.
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Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions allow you to join words, phrases, and clauses of
equal grammatical rank in a sentence. The most common coordinating
conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so; you can remember them
by using the mnemonic device FANBOYS.
I’d like pizza or a salad for lunch. We needed a place to concentrate, so we packed up
our things and went to the library. Jesse didn’t have much money, but she got by.
Notice the use of the comma when a coordinating conjunction is joining two
independent clauses.
Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that work together. Some
examples are either/or, neither/nor, and not only/but also.
Not only am I finished studying for English, but I’m also finished writing my history
essay. I am finished with both my English essay and my history essay.
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions join independent and dependent clauses. A
subordinating conjunction can signal a cause-and-effect relationship, a
contrast, or some other kind of relationship between the clauses. Common
subordinating conjunctions are because, since, as, although, though,
while, and whereas. Sometimes an adverb, such as until, after, or before can
function as a conjunction.
I can stay out until the clock strikes twelve.
Here, the adverb until functions as a coordinating conjunction to connect two
ideas: I can stay out (the independent clause) and the clock strikes twelve (the
dependent clause). The independent clause could stand alone as a sentence; the
dependent clause depends on the independent clause to make sense.
The subordinating conjunction doesn’t need to go in the middle of the
sentence. It has to be part of the dependent clause, but the dependent clause can
come before the independent clause.
Before he leaves, make sure his room is clean.
If the dependent clause comes first, use a comma before the independent
clause.
I drank a glass of water because I was thirsty. Because I was thirsty, I drank a glass of
water.
Starting a Sentence with a Conjunction
Many of us were taught in school that it is an error to begin a sentence with a
conjunction, but that rule is a myth. As mentioned above, a subordinating
conjunction can begin a sentence if the dependent clause comes before the
independent clause. It’s also correct to begin a sentence with a coordinating
conjunction. Often, it’s a good way to add emphasis. Beginning too many
sentences with conjunctions will cause the device to lose its force, however, so
use this technique sparingly.
Have a safe trip. And don’t forget to call when you get home. Gertie flung open the door.
But there was no one on the other side.
List of Conjunctions
Coordinating Conjunctions
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Correlative Conjunctions
both/and, either/or, neither/nor, not only/but, whether/or
Some Subordinating Conjunctions
after, although, as, as if, as long as, as much as, as soon as, as though, because,
before, by the time, even if, even though, if, in order that, in case, in the event
that, lest , now that, once, only, only if, provided that, since, so, supposing,
that, than, though, till, unless, until, when, whenever, where, whereas,
wherever, whether or not, while
