What Is A Conjunction

What Is a Conjunction?
A conjunction is the glue that holds words, phrases and clauses (both dependent and
independent) together. There are three different kinds of conjunctionscoordinating,
subordinating, and correlativeeach serving its own, distinct purpose, but all working to
bring words together.
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions are what come to most peoples minds when they hear the word
conjunction, and they do exactly what their name implies they make things go together.
They can join together words, phrases and independent clauses. If youve ever heard the
classic Schoolhouse Rock song, Conjunction Junction, then you are already somewhat
familiar with coordinating conjunctions.
The Coordinating Conjunctions

The English language has seven coordinating conjunctions, and theyre easy to remember if
you can just remember FANBOYS:
For - Explains reason or purpose (just like because)

I go to the park every Sunday, for I love to watch the ducks on the lake.
And - Adds one thing to another
I go to the park every Sunday to watch the ducks on the lake and the shirtless men
playing soccer.
Nor - Used to present an alternative negative idea to an already stated negative idea
I dont go for the fresh air nor really for the ducks. Honestly, I just like the soccer.
But - Shows contrast
The soccer in the park is entertaining in the winter, but its better in the heat of
summer.
Or - Presents an alternative or a choice
The men play on teams: shirts or skins.
Yet - Introduces a contrasting idea that follows the preceding idea logically (similar to
but)
I always take a book to read, yet I never seem to turn a single page.
So - Indicates effect, result or consequence
Ive started dating one of the soccer players, so now I have an excuse to watch the
game each week.
Using Commas With Coordinating Conjunctions

Youll notice that in the example sentences, some of the coordinating conjunctions are
preceded by a comma while others are not. There is a very simple reason for this. If a
coordinating conjunction is joining together two independent clauses (things that could
feasibly stand alone as complete sentences), it needs to have a comma with it. If the
conjunction is connecting two phrases (incomplete sentences) or words (as in a list), it does
not need a comma.
The soccer in the park is entertaining in the winter (independent clause) + its better in
the heat of summer (independent clause) Because these are two independent
clauses, they must be joined together by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
the ducks on the lake (phrase) + the shirtless men playing soccer (phrase) Because
these are not complete sentences (independent clauses), they can be connected with
only a conjunction. No comma is necessary.
Some people will tell you that in a list of three or more items or phrases, you need a comma
and a conjunction before the final item or phrase. The truth is, you dont have to use a comma
there, but you can if you want to, and if you think a comma will clear up any possible
confusion, go ahead and use it. Otherwise, its really not necessary (see this article for more
information on comma usage). The only coordinating conjunction that doesnt seem to be
able to connect sentence fragments (words and phrases) is for. When for comes between
words or short phrases, it is typically acting not as a coordinating conjunction, but as a
preposition.
Read more at http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/conjunctions/coordinating-

conjunctions.html#wkB7QszcahLSQx06.99
Correlative Conjunctions
You know what a conjunction is, youve mastered coordinating conjunctions, and youre
pretty sure you understand subordinating conjunctions; theres only one more hurdle now
between you and total conjunction domination: correlative conjunctions. Well fear not,
Grammar Conquistador. You are about to be victorious.
What Are Correlative Conjunctions?

Correlative conjunctions are sort of like tag-team conjunctions. They come in pairs, and you
have to use both of them in different places in a sentence to make them work. They get their
name from the fact that they work together (co-) and relate one sentence element to another.
Correlative conjunctions include pairs like both/and, whether/or, either/or,
neither/nor, not/but and not only/but also.
I want either the cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate.

Ill have both the cheesecake and the frozen hot chocolate.
I didnt know whether youd want the cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate, so I got
you both.
Oh, you want neither the cheesecake nor the frozen hot chocolate? No problem.
Ill eat them both - not only the cheesecake but also the frozen hot chocolate.
I see youre in the mood not for dessert but appetizers. Ill help you with those too.
Here are some more pairs of correlative conjunctions:
as/as - Bowling isnt as fun as skeet shooting.

such/that - Such was the nature of their relationship that they never would have made
it even if theyd wanted to.
scarcely/when - I had scarcely walked in the door when I got the call and had to run
right back out again.
as many/as - There are as many curtains as there are windows.
no sooner/than - Id no sooner lie to you than strangle a puppy.
rather/than - Shed rather play the drums than sing.
Subordinating Conjunctions
Out of the three different kinds of conjunctions (coordinating, correlative and subordinating),
subordinating conjunctions are the most difficult to recognize, but they are not that hard to
master. In fact, you probably use them all the time without even noticing, but lets take a
closer look at them to see whats going on.
A subordinating conjunction always introduces a dependent clause, tying it to an independent

clause. The clauses can go in any order; that is, the independent or the dependent clause can
come first in the sentence, but in either order, the first word of the dependent (or subordinate)
clause will be the subordinating conjunction.
Using Subordinating Conjunctions

In English, there are lots of subordinating conjunctions, but the most common ones, along
with a few examples of how subordinating conjunctions are used, are as follows:
after - Your heart will break like mine, and youll want only me after youve gone
(Ella Fitzgerald).
although - Although Ive been here before, hes just too hard to ignore (Amy
Winehouse).
as - As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life and
realize theres nothing left (Coolio).
as long as - I dont care who you are, where youre from or what you did as long as
you love me (Backstreet Boys).
because - Im everything I am because you loved me (Celine Dion).
before - Just call me angel of the morning, angel. Just touch my cheek before you
leave me, baby (Juice Newton).
even if - Even if the sky is falling down, youll be my only (Jay Sean).
if - If you leave me now, youll take away the biggest part of me (Peter
Cetera/Chicago).
once - Once you pop, you cant stop (Pringles commercials).
now that - Baby, now that Ive found you, I wont let you go (Tony Macaulay/John
MacLeod).
since - I guess Ill never be the same since I fell for you (B.B. King).
though - Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain though your dreams be
tossed and blown (Rodgers and Hammerstein).
unless - Were never going to survive unless we get a little crazy (Seal).
until - [You] dont know what youve got til its gone (Cinderella).
when - When I see you smile, I can face the world (Bad English).
where - Theres a light burning bright, showing me the way, but I know where Ive
been (Scott Wittman).
while - I look at the world, and I notice its turning while my guitar gently weeps
(The Beatles).
Read more at http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-

speech/conjunctions/subordinating-conjunctions.html#3sJEU7Y1tRglsKCq.99
Read more at http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/conjunctions/what-is-a-

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What Is a Conjunction?

The Coordinating Conjunctions

For - Explains reason or purpose (just like because)

Using Commas With Coordinating Conjunctions

Read more at http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/conjunctions/coordinating-

What Are Correlative Conjunctions?

I want either the cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate.

as/as - Bowling isnt as fun as skeet shooting.

A subordinating conjunction always introduces a dependent clause, tying it to an independent

Using Subordinating Conjunctions

Read more at http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-

Read more at http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/conjunctions/what-is-a-

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