A conjunction connects words or groups of words
| Individual Words | Columbus' three ships were the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. [The conjunction and connects the three words, Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. |
| Groups of Words | The Nina survived a hurricane, but the ship needed extensive repairs. [The conjunction but connects the two groups of words The Nina survived a hurricane and the ship needed extensive repairs. |
There are three kinds of conjunctions: coordinating, correlative, and subordinating
A coordinating conjunction is a conjuunction that connect individual words or groups of words that perform the same function in a sentnce. The coordinating conjunctions are in the following list:
and |
but |
for |
nor |
or |
yet |
A coordinating conjunction can connect individual nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, or prepositions.
The sandpiper landed and waded across the tidal pool. [verb to verb]
It will be unfortunat for you and me if pollution dirves away the birds. [pronoun to pronoun]
John did not vot for or against the new beach regulations. [preposition to preposition]
A coordinating conjunction can also connect phrases or clauses.
The regulations forbid driving along the shore or into the dunes.
I would have told you about the regulations, I did not have time.
A correlative conjunction is a conjunction that consists of two or more words that function together. Like coordingatin conjunctions, correlative conjunctions connect words that perform equal functions in a sentence. Here is a list of correlative conjunctions:
either...or neither...nor both...and whether...or not only... but (also) if...then Both Louise and Tom love scrimshaw.
Scrimshaw is intricate carving either on whale ivory or on bone.
Scrimshaw articles are not only beautiful, but also useful.
Subordinating Conjunctions introduce subordinat clauses, which are clauses that cannot stand by themselves as complet sentences. A subordinating conjunction connects a subordinate clause to an independent clause, which can stand by itself.
We will go on the whalel watch if we have time. [The subordinating conjunction if connects the subordinate clause to the independent clause.]
Subordinating conjunctions usually express relationships of time, manner, cause, condition, comparison, or purpose:
Time |
|
Manner |
as, as if, as though |
Cause |
because |
Condition |
although, as long as, even if, even though, if, provided that, though, unless, while |
Comparison |
as, than |
Purpose |
in order that, so that, that |
We will know a great deal about the building of the Panama Canal when we finish that unit. [When expresses a time relationship.]
A conjunctive adverb is an adverb that functions somewhat like a coordinating conjunction. conjunctive adverbs usually connect independent clauses. A semicolon precedes the conjunctive adverb, and a comma usually follows it.
| Conjunctive adverb | I have to clean that fish right now; therefore, I can't go with you. |
| Coordinating Conjunction | I can't go with you right now, for I have to clean that fish |
A chart of frequently used conjunctive adverbs:
| accordingly | finally | instead | otherwise |
| also | furthermore | later | still |
| besides | however | moreover | therefore |
| consequently | indeed | nevertheless | thus |