TOIEC Grammar - Conjunctions
TOIEC Grammar - Conjunctions
TOIEC Grammar - Conjunctions
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Conjunctions
1. Introduction
Conjunctions (liên từ) are words that join other words or clauses together.
Conjunctions not only join clauses together; they also show how the meanings of the two clauses are
related.
Note: Writers and speakers may also separate clauses for emphasis.
2. Form
Single Word
for example: and, but, because, although
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3. Classification
Coordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions
3.1.1. In troduction
A coordinating conjunction (liên từ kết hợp) joins parts of a sentence (for example words or independent
clauses) that are grammatically equal or similar. A coordinating conjunction shows that the elements it joins
are similar in importance and structure.
Words for repeated ideas can often be left out in the second of two coordinate clauses.
F A N B O Y S
Conjunctions which merely add one statement to another are called cumulative or copulative conjunctions.
Some conjunctions express opposition (sự đối lập) or contrast (sự tương phản) between two statements.
Conjunctions which express opposition or contrast between two statements are called adversative
conjunctions.
Some conjunctions present two alternatives sometimes indicating a choice between them.
Conjunctions which present two alternatives, sometimes indicating a choice between them, are called
disjunctive or alternative conjunctions.
Conjunctions which express an inference (suy ra, kết luận) are called illative conjunctions. 3
When a coordinating conjunction joins two words, phrases, or subordinate clauses, no comma should be
placed before the conjunction.
Examples:
A coordinating conjunction joining three or more words, phrases, or subordinate clauses creates a series and
requires commas between the elements.
Examples:
subordinate clauses: what you think, what you say and what you do.
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A coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses creates a compound sentence and requires a
comma before the coordinating conjunction
Examples:
I don’t care for the beach, but I enjoy a good vacation in the mountains.
3.2.1. Introduction
A subordinating conjunction (liên từ phụ thuộc) joins a subordinate clause (mệnh đề phụ) and a main
(principal) clause (mệnh đề chính). The subordinate clause can be a noun clause or an adverb clause. Note
that a subordinating conjunction is not used to connect an adjective clause to another clause.
Common subordinating conjunctions are: after, because, when, where, while, before, though, although, if,
that, till, until, unless, than, as, since, as if, so, so that etc.
A subordinating conjunction together with its following clause acts like a part of the other clause.
Example 1:
The clause when I arrive is similar to tomorrow – it acts like an adverb in the clause I will phone you...
Example 2:
He told me a story.
The clause that he loved me is similar to a story – it acts like the object in the clause He told me …
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3.2.2. Position of subordinate clauses
Adverbial subordinating conjunctions and their clauses can go either at the beginning or end of sentences
(depending on what is to be emphasized).
Note that when a subordinate clause begins a sentence it is more often separated by a comma.
Wait here till I come back. (Principal clause – Wait here, subordinate clause – till I come back.)
We left for our homes after the program had ended. (Principal clause – We left for our homes,
subordinate clause – after the program had ended)
I have not seen since he left this city. (Principal clause – I have not seen him, subordinate clause –
since he left this city)
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Subordinating conjunctions of reason
Since he was not there I left a message with his mother. (Principal clause – I left a message with his
mother, subordinate clause – since was not ready)
Words for repeated ideas cannot normally be left out in subordinating clauses. However, after if, when, while,
until, unless and although, a pronoun subject and the verb be can often be dropped.
Conjunctions which are always used in pairs are called correlative conjunctions. Note that most correlative
conjunctions are of the coordinating type.
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Examples are: either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also…, not…but, though…yet, both…and,
so…that etc.
Either you or he will have to go. (Hoặc bạn hoặc anh ấy sẽ phải đi)
Either you will leave this house or I will call the police. (Hoặc anh rời khỏi ngôi nhà này hoặc tôi sẽ gọi
cho cảnh sát)
We use either…or to talk about a choice between two possibilities (and sometimes more than two).
If you want ice-cream you can have either chocolate, vanilla or strawberry. (Nếu bạn muốn ăn kem, bạn
có thể chọn hoặc kem sô cô la, hoặc kem vani, hoặc kem dâu tây)
The film was neither boring nor exciting. (Bộ phim không chán mà cũng không hay)
You can have neither tea nor coffee. (Anh có thể uống không những ta)
I neither smoke nor drink. (Tôi không hút thuốc cũng không uống rượu)
Neither Ann nor Mary came. (Không Ann hay Mary đến cả)
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We use neither … nor to join two negative ideas. It is the opposite of both…and. Sometimes more than two
ideas are connected by neither…nor.
They not only looted the shop, but also set fire to it.
Not only John, but Peter also got a prize. (Không chỉ John mà cả Peter cũng nhận được phần thưởng)
He visited not only France but also Germany. (Anh ấy không những đến Pháp mà còn đến cả Đức.)
She not only plays the piano, but also the violin. (Cô ấy không những chơi đàn piano mà còn chơi
viôlông.)
He was not only brave but prudent. (Anh ấy không chỉ can đảm mà còn khôn khéo.)
Note that in informal English not only…but also is not very common; other structures are generally preferred.
She doesn’t only play the piano. She plays the violin too.
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Not…but: không phải … mà là ….
He did not stop the car but drove on. (Anh ấy không phải dừng xe lại mà tiếp tục lái.)
It is not the best but reasonably good. (Đó không phải là cái tốt nhất mà là cái khá được thôi.)
I don’t know whether I should stay or leave. (Tôi không biết nên ở lại hay ra đi nữa.)
Whether he comes or not makes no difference. (Anh ấy dù đến hay không cũng không khác biệt.)
The directors wanted both to win and to receive recognition for their work. (Nhà sản xuất muốn cả chiến
thắng và nhận được sự thừa nhận cho công việc của họ.)
Both John and Peter spoke at the meeting. (Cả John và Peter đều phát biểu tại buổi họp.)
He is not as/so bad as many think. (Anh ấy không xấu như mọi người nghĩ đâu)
She is not as/so successful as her sister. (Cô ấy không thành công như chị gái của cô ấy)
The officer was so inefficient that he had to be sacked. (Văn phòng làm việc không hiệu qủa đến nỗi phải
đóng cửa.)
I have such regard for him that I will do anything to please him. (Tôi quý anh ấy đến nỗi tôi sẽ làm bất cứ
điều gì để làm anh ấy vui.)
He bought such a lot of books that he didn't know where to put them. (Anh ấy mua quá nhiều sách đến
nỗi mà anh ẫy không biết để chúng ở đâu nữa.)
A conjunction is merely a connecting word. It has no other function in the sentence. In most languages of
European origin, clauses are joined together by conjunctions in similar ways. However, students who speak
non-European-type languages often experience some problems in using English conjunctions correctly.
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Although he is poor, he is honest.
I liked him so I tried to help him. (NOT Because I liked him, so I tried to help him.)
4.2.1. As
In informal English like is often used as a conjunction instead of as. This is very common in American English.
It is not generally considered correct in a formal style.
Though the elephant was strong, it could not face the swift leopard.
Strong as the elephant was, it could not face the swift leopard.
4.2.2. So as
We went early so as to get a good seat. (Chúng tôi đến sớm để mà có chỗ ngồi tốt.)
He climbed up a tree so as to get a good view of the procession. (Anh ấy đã trèo lên cây để mà có chỗ
quan sát tốt cuộc diễu hành.)
4.2.3. Such as
My doctor told me to avoid fatty foods such as bacon or hamburgers. (Bác sĩ khuyên tôi nên tránh đồ ăn
giàu chất béo như thịt lợn hun khói hay hamburger.)
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4.2.4. Unless
Unless means if not, so it will be superfluous to introduce another not into the following clause.
Unless you give the keys of the safe, you will be shot. (Nếu ông không đưa khóa két an toàn, ông sẽ bị
bắn.)
OR If you do not give the keys of the safe, you will be shot.
(NOT Unless you do not give the keys of the safe, you will be shot.)
4.2.5. Lest
Lest means that… not, and, therefore, it will be wrong to add another not in the following clause. Moreover, it
should be noted that the only auxiliary verb that can be used after lest is should.
Take care lest you fall. (NOT Take care lest you do not fall.) (Hãy cẩn thận để khỏi bị ngã.)
Book your tickets early lest you should miss this chance. (Hãy đặt vé sớm để không bị lỡ cơ hội.)
Than is used after comparative adjectives and adverbs. As and that are not used after comparatives.
She is taller than me. (NOT She is taller as me.) (NOT She is taller that me.)
4.2.7. As…as…
As is used in comparisons of equality’. Than and that are not used in this way.
5. Phrase conjunctions
Relative pronouns (who, which and that) join clauses like conjunctions.
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I saw a beggar who was deaf and dumb.
In the above sentence who stands for the beggar – hence it is a pronoun. It also connects the two sentences I
saw a beggar and He was deaf and dumb – hence it is a conjunction.
A relative pronoun is the subject or object of the verb that comes after it. So we do not need another subject or
object.
Trust no man who does not love his country. (NOT Trust no man who he does not …)
The snake which we could not kill crept into a hole. (NOT The snake which we could not kill it crept …)
Both conjunctions and relative pronouns can be used to join two clauses. There are, nevertheless, some
differences.
A relative pronoun is basically a pronoun. It is used instead of a noun. It also joins two clauses:
Example 1:
Here the relative pronoun that is used instead of the noun book. It also joins the two clauses into one. This
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will become clear when you split the sentence into two.
This is the book. She gave me the book. (= This is the book that she gave me.)
Example 2:
Here the relative pronoun who stands for the noun boy. It also joins the two clauses into one.
This is the boy. The boy got the first prize. (= This is the boy who got the first prize.)
A conjunction merely joins two clauses. It doesn’t qualify any other word in the sentence.
Man is known for his valor and woman is known for her vanity.
Here the conjunction and merely joins the two clauses into a large sentence.
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