conjunction: Its use

1. CONJUNCTION RULES

2. Rule 1
Correlative conjunctions—Inclusive
both…and
Remember that both…and are correlative
conjunctions. They are used together to include
two parallel structures (two nouns, adjectives,
verbs and adverbs).

3. Incorrect: She speaks both English as well as
Spanish at home.
Incorrect: She speaks both English and Spanish
at home.

4. Rule 2
Correlative conjunctions—Inclusive both…and…as
well as
These are correlative conjunctions. They must be used
in sequence to include two or three parallel structures
(two nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs).
e.g.
He is both intelligent and artistic as well as athletic.
He is both intelligent as well as athletic.

5. Rule 3
Correlative conjunctions—Exclusives not…but
These are used together to exclude the structure
that follows not (two nouns, adjectives, verbs
and adverbs) and include the structure that
follows but.
Avoid using only instead of but.

6. Incorrect: To judge your friends, you should
not listen to what they say only observe
what they do.
Correct: To judge your friends, you should
not listen to what they say but observe what
they do.

7. Rule 4
Affirmative Agreement –so and too
Remember that so, too, and also have the
same meaning, but so is used before
auxiliary verbs and too and also are used
after auxiliary verbs.
Avoid using also instated of so.

8. Incorrect: We are going to the concert, and so do they.
Correct: We are going to the concert, and so are they.
Or
Correct: We are going to the concert, and they are too.
Or
Correct: We are going to the concert, and they are also.

9. Rule 5
Negative Agreement—Neither and Either
Remember that neither and either have the
same meaning, but neither is used before
auxiliary verbs and either is used after auxiliary
verbs and not.

10. Incorrect: She hasn’t finished the assignment
yet, and neither I have.
Correct: She hasn’t finished the assignment
yet, and neither have I.
Or
Correct: She hasn’t finished the assignment
yet, and I haven’t either.

11. Incorrect: She is not in agreement, and
neither do I.
Correct: She is not in agreement, and neither
am I.
Or
Correct: She is not in agreement, and I’m not
either.

12. Rule 5
Planned Result—So that
Avoid suing so instead of so that as a purpose connector in
written English.
Note: In spoken English, so instead of so that is often used. In
written English, so that is preferred.
e.g.
Incorrect: He borrowed money so he could finish his education.
Correct: He borrowed money so that he could finish his
education.

13. Rule 6
Indirect Questions
Remember that question words can be used as
conjunctions. Question words introduce a clause of
indirect question.
Question words include the following:
Who why what how
What time how long when How many
where how much

14. Avoid using do, does or did after the question
word. Avoid using the verb before the subject
after the question word.
Incorrect: I didn’t understand what did he say.
Correct: I didn’t understand what he said.

15. Incorrect: Do you know how much do they
cost?
Correct: Do you know how much they cost?
Incorrect: I wonder when is her birthday.
Correct: I wonder when her birthday is.

16. Rule 7
Question Words with –ever
Remember that -ever means any. Whoever and
whomever means anyone
Whatever means anything
Wherever means anywhere
Whenever means anytime
However means anyway
The –ever words may be used as conjunctions to introduce
clauses.

17. Incorrect: We can leave ever when Ahmad is
ready.
Correct: We can leave whenever when Ahmad is
ready.
Incorrect: Order any what you like.
Correct: Order whatever you like.

18. Incorrect: The representative will vote for whom
the membership supports.
Correct: The representative will vote for
whomever the membership supports.

19. Rule 8
The conjunction so....as / as....as is used to
make comparison between two persons and
things.
so as is used in negative sentences.
E.g. He is not so good as you.

20. But as....as is used in both affirmative and
negative sentences
E.g. He is as good as you.
He is not as good as you.

21. Rule 9
Although/ Though is followed by yet or a comma(,)
E.g. Though he worked hard, he failed.
Although these books are costly yet the
students buy them because these are useful.

22. Rule 10
Always use the correct pair
No sooner........than
Hardly.... when or before
Scarcely.... when or before
Barely.... when or before

23. E.g. No sooner had he solved the riddle than he
was applauded.
Hardly had I come out of the room
before I saw him dying.
Scarcely had he asked the question
when Agnes slapped him.
Barely had he bought the car before it was
stolen.

24. Hardly, scarcely, and barely are negative
words.
Do not use not, no, never with the clause
containing these words.
If a sentences starts with a negative word,
use inversion form i.e. helping verb before
the subject.

25. Rule 11
Lest is followed by should or first from of verb. Lest
is a negative word. Do not use not, never, no with
lest.
E.g. Walk carefully lest he should fall.
Walk carefully lest he fall.

26. Rule 12
Until is time oriented and unless is action oriented.
Until and unless are negative words.
Do not use not, never , no, with the clause
containing these words.
E.g. Wait here until I return.
Unless you work hard, you will not pass.

27. Rule 13
In affirmative sentences doubt and doubtful are
followed by if/ whether.
In negative or interrogative sentences doubt and
doubtful are followed by that.
E.g. I doubt if he will come.
I do not doubt that he will come.

28. Rule 14
Always use the correct pair not only....but also.
E.g. He cheated not only his friends but also
his parents.

29. Rule 15
Between is followed by and
From is followed by to.
E.g. You will have to choose between good and
bad.
She keeps singing from morning to evening.

30. Rule 16
Do not use seldom or ever in place of seldom
or never.
E.g. The national network seldom or never
telecasts good programmers.

31. Rule 17
After rather /other, the subordinating conjunction
than should be used.
E.g. He has no other object than to get a handsome
job.
I would rather buy a scooter than a cycle.