Conjunctions
What is a conjunction?
A conjunction is a
part of speech that connects. It can connect sentences, clauses, groups of words,
or two individual words.
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Sometimes a
conjunction is a single word: because, and, so, but, etc.
§
Other conjunctions
consist of two or more words: neither . . . nor, either . . . or, so that, etc.
We divide conjunctions
into three types: coordinating, subordinating and correlative.
Coordinating conjunctions
The seven coordinating conjunctions are so, and, but, or, yet, for, nor.
A coordinating conjunction joins words, groups of words, or
clauses, and gives them equal importance:
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I like summer, but I don’t like winter.
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Do you prefer summer or winter?
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He’s been working all day, so he’s very tired.
See more examples and a full explanation: Coordinating
conjunctions: but, so, or, . . .
Subordinating conjunctions
A subordinating
conjunction connects a main (independent) and subordinate (dependent) clause.
The clause beginning with a subordinating conjunction is always the subordinate
clause, which depends on the main clause and cannot exist without it.
Common subordinating
conjunctions include:
because, so
that, as, since
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to express cause or reason
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before, after, until, when, as
soon as, whenever, while
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to express time
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unless, if, even
if, in case, providing
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to express condition
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although, even though, whereas
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to express contrast or concession
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See more examples: Subordinating
conjunctions: if, before, until, although, .
. .
Correlative conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions
are pairs. They connect balanced clauses,
phrases or words. The elements which they connect are usually similar in
structure or length.
either . . . or
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We can go to either Greece or Spain
for our holiday.
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both . . . and
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Both rugby and football
are popular in France.
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not only . . . but also
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Not only is he a professional
footballer, but he’s also a successful
businessman.
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neither . . . nor
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Neither Norway nor Switzerland
is in the EU.
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not . . . but
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There are not two but three
Baltic states: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
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