Conjunctions
Grammarly ·
Grammar Tips Grammar
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 am careful.
I work quickly and carefully.
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
