Conjunctions

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 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

CONJUNCTIONS

Conjunctions are words used as joiners.

Different kinds of conjunctions join different kinds of grammatical structures.

The following are the kinds of conjunctions:

A. COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS (FANBOYS)

 for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Coordinating conjunctions join equals to one another:

words to words, phrases to phrases, clauses to clauses.

Coordinating conjunctions usually form looser connections than other conjunctions

do.

Coordinating conjunctions go in between items joined, not at the beginning or end.

Punctuation with coordinating conjunctions:

When a coordinating conjunction joins two words, phrases, or subordinate clauses,

no comma should be placed before the conjunction.
A coordinating conjunction joining three or more words, phrases, or subordinate
clauses creates a series and requires commas between the elements.

A coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses creates a compound

sentence and requires a comma before the coordinating conjunction

B. CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

either. . .or both. . . and

neither. . . nor not only. . . but also

These pairs of conjunctions require equal (parallel) structures after each one.
C. CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS

These conjunctions join independent clauses together.

The following are frequently used conjunctive adverbs:

after all in addition next

also incidentally nonetheless
as a result İndeed on the contrary
besides in fact on the other hand
consequently in other words otherwise
finally instead still
for example likewise then
furthermore meanwhile therefore
hence moreover thus
however nevertheless

Punctuation Place a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb and a comma after
: the conjunctive adverb.

D. SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

These words are commonly used as subordinating conjunctions

after in order (that) unless

although insofar as until
as in that when
 as far as Lest whenever
as soon as no matter how where
as if now that wherever
as though Once whether
because provided (that) while
before Since why
even if so that
even though supposing (that)
how Than
if That
inasmuch as Though
in case (that) Till

Subordinating conjunctions also join two clauses together, but in doing so, they make
one clause dependent (or "subordinate") upon the other.

A subordinating conjunction may appear at a sentence beginning or between two

clauses in a sentence.

A subordinate conjunction usually provides a tighter connection between clauses

than a coordinating conjunctions does.

Loose: It is raining, so we have an umbrella.

Tight: Because it is raining, we have an umbrella.
Punctuation Note:

When the dependent clause is placed first in a sentence, use a comma between the two
clauses. When the independent clause is placed first and the dependent clause second, do not
separate the two clauses with a comma.