Conjunctions - 1
There are three types of conjunctions:
- Coordinating conjunctions
- Correlative conjunctions
- Subordinating conjunctions
Coordinating Conjunctions
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and, but, or, nor
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Correlative Conjunctions
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either ...or, neither ...nor, not only ... but also,
both ...and, whether ...or
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Common Subordinating Conjunctions
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after, before, although, though, even though, as much as, as long as, as soon as, because, since, so that, in order that, so, if, lest, even if, that, unless, until, when, where, whether, while
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Coordinating conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions, also called coordinators, are conjunctions that connect two or more equal items.
Examples:
- He plays tennis and soccer
- He works quickly but accurately
- You'd better do your homework, or you'll get a terrible grade.
Correlative conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions are used in pairs. They work in pairs to coordinate two items.
Examples of correlative conjunctions include: both...and..., either...or, not only... but also...
Examples Correlative conjunctions:
- I didn't know that she can neither read nor write.
- You can either walk to school or take the bus.
- Both Sara and James are invited to the party.
- Whether you watch TV or do your homework is your decision.
- Not only are they noisy but they are also lazy.
Conjunctions - 2
Subordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions, also called subordinators, are conjunctions
that join a dependent (or subordinating) clause to an independent (or main) clause.
Examples:
- He reads the newspapers after he finishes work.
- Even if you get the best grade in the writing test, you'll need to pass an oral test.
- Although he is very old, he goes jogging every morning.
- She didn't go to school because she was ill.
- They went to bed since it was late.
- As soon as the teacher had arrived, they started work.
Extra examples of the usage of conjunctions:
Conjunction
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Example sentence
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as if
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Aunt Alexandra was sitting in a rocking-chair exactly as if she had sat there every day of her life.
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as long as
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I will take my chances as long as you love me.
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as soon as
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As soon as you stop wanting something you get it.
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though
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Though it is not an ox, it has horns;
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though it is not an ass, it has a pack-saddle;
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and wherever it goes it leaves silver behind. What is it?*
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till
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Just you wait, Henry Higgins, till you're sick.
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because
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She goes to the tennis club because she likes to play tennis.
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but
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He reads magazines but he doesn't like to read books.
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how
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Do you know how he's doing?
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* a snail
Conjunctions - 3
Conjunction
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Example sentence
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what
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Did he ever tell what programme he likes best?
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if
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If you were older, you could go to the party.
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I don't know if I really love her.
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whether
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We should find out whether the museum is open (or not).
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when
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When you are older, you can go to the party.
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while
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I stayed up while you were sleeping.
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or
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Shall I stay or shall I go?
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since
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Since he's lost his money, he couldn't go to the restaurant.
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so
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I didn't know just what to do, so I whispered: "I love you."
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so that
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She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward.
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unless
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Her baby cannot fall asleep unless she stays in the room.
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what
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I don't know what you mean.
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when
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When you're in London, write an e-mail to me.
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When you were in Birmingham, you never did.
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after
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He stopped being nice to her after she told him that she was married.
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before
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Before she told him about her marriage, he was very gallant.
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whether
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I'm going home whether you like it or not.
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until
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They can talk until hell freezes over.
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for
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She left work early, for she was feeling a bit under the weather.
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