What is Conjunctions?
- ̸ : jilo
- ۼ : 2011-03-23
- ȸ : 1467
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A conjunction is a joiner, a word that connects (conjoins) parts of a sentence.
***Coordinating Conjunctions***
The simple, little conjunctions are called coordinating conjunctions (you can click on the words to see specific descriptions of each one): .
Coordinating Conjunctions
and... but...or...yet...for...nor...so
(It may help you remember these conjunctions by recalling that they all have fewer than four letters. Also, remember the acronym FANBOYS: For-And-Nor-But-Or-Yet-So. Be careful of the words then and now; neither is a coordinating conjunction, so what we say about coordinating conjunctions' roles in a sentence and punctuation does not apply to those two words.)
***Subordinating Conjunctions***
A Subordinating Conjunction (sometimes called a dependent word or subordinator) comes at the beginning of a Subordinate (or Dependent) Clause and establishes the relationship between the dependent clause and the rest of the sentence. It also turns the clause into something that depends on the rest of the sentence for its meaning.
He took to the stage as though he had been preparing for this moment all his life.
Because he loved acting, he refused to give up his dream of being in the movies.
Unless we act now, all is lost.
***Common Subordinating Conjunctions
...after
...although
...as
...as if
...as long as
...as though
...because
...before
...even if
...even though
...if
...if only
...in order that
...now that
...once
...rather than
...since
...so that
...than
...that
...though
...till
...unless
...until
...when
...whenever
...where
...whereas
...wherever
...while
***Correlative Conjunctions***
Some conjunctions combine with other words to form what are called correlative conjunctions. They always travel in pairs, joining various sentence elements that should be treated as grammatically equal.
She led the team not only in statistics but also by virtue of her enthusiasm.
Polonius said, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be."
Whether you win this race or lose it doesn't matter as long as you do your best.
Correlative conjunctions sometimes create problems in parallel form. Click HERE for help with those problems. Here is a brief list of common correlative conjunctions.
both . . . and
not only . . . but also
not . . . but
either . . . or neither . . . nor
whether . . . or
as . . . as
Conjunctive Adverbs