Conjunctions are words that connect words, phrases, clauses, and sentences. There are three main types of conjunctions: coordinating, subordinating, and correlative. Coordinating conjunctions connect elements of equal importance, while subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses. Correlative conjunctions come in pairs to join elements. Some common conjunctions include FANBOYS coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions like "because" and "although", and correlative pairs like "either/or". Conjunctions must follow specific rules regarding grammar, structure, and the elements they connect.

1. Conjunction

2. A conjunction is the glue that holds words,
phrases and clauses (both dependent and
independent) together.
There are three different kinds of conjunctions––
coordinating, subordinating, and correlative––each
serving its own, distinct purpose, but all working
to bring words together.

3. What Is a Coordinating Conjunction?
Coordinating conjunctions are what come to most
people’s minds when they hear the word
“conjunction.”
They can join together words, phrases and
independent clauses. There are seven of them, and
they’re easy to remember if you can just remember
FAN BOYS:

4. • For - Explains reason or purpose (just like “because”)
I go to the park every Sunday, for I love to watch the ducks
on the lake.
• And - Adds one thing to another. I go to the park
every Sunday to watch the ducks on the lake and the
shirtless men playing soccer.
•

5. • But - Shows contrast. The soccer in the park is
entertaining in the winter, but it’s better in the heat of summer.
• Or - Presents an alternative or a choice. The men play on
teams: shirts or skins.
•

6. Nor - Used to present an alternative negative idea to an already
stated negative idea. I don’t go for the fresh air nor really for the
ducks. Honestly, I just like the soccer

7. Yet - Introduces a contrasting idea that follows the preceding idea
logically (similar to “but”).
I always take a book to read, yet I never seem to turn a single page.
• So - Indicates effect, result or consequence.
I’ve started dating one of the soccer players, so now I have an
excuse to watch the game each week.

8. What Is a Subordinating Conjunction?
A subordinating conjunction always introduces a
dependent clause, tying it to an independent clause.
In contrast to coordinating conjunctions, a
subordinate conjunction can often come first in a
sentence. This is due simply to the nature of the
relationship between the dependent and the
independent clause.

9. In English, there are lots of subordinating
conjunctions, but the most common ones are "after,"
"although," "as," "because," "before," "how," "if,"
"once," "since," "than," "that," "though," "until,"
"when," "where," "whether," and "while." Here are a
few examples of how subordinating conjunctions are
used

10. • “Because of you, I never stray too far from the sidewalk”
(Kelly Clarkson).
• “If you leave me now, you’ll take away the biggest part of
me” (Peter Cetera/Chicago).
“I guess I’ll never be the same since I fell for you” (B.B.
King).
• “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take
a look at my life and realize there’s nothing left” (Coolio).

11. What Are Correlative Conjunctions?
Correlative conjunctions are sort of like tag-team
conjunctions. They come in pairs, and you have to
use both of them in different places in a sentence to
make them work.
They include pairs like “both/and,” “whether/or,”
“either/or,” “neither/nor,” “not/but” and “not
only/but also.”

12. • I either want the cheesecake or the frozen
hot chocolate.
• I’ll have both the cheesecake and the frozen
hot chocolate.
• I didn’t know whether you’d want the
cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate, so I got
you both.
•

13. Oh, you want neither the cheesecake nor the
frozen hot chocolate? No problem.
• I’ll eat them both - not only the
cheesecake but also the frozen hot chocolate.
• I see you’re in the mood not for dessert
but appetizers. I’ll help you with those too.

14. Conjunctions linking by subordination:
A Subordinating Conjunction (they are also
called a dependent word or subordinator) is a
conjunction that introduces a dependent clause
to a main independent clause.

15. Simon went cycling although it was raining very hard
Although it was raining heavily, John still went
swimming.
Because it looked like it was going to rain, we have an
umbrella.
I will come home straight away if it starts snowing

16. List of Subordinating Conjunction and what they can be
used for
place
where, wherever
time
when, whenever, while, after, before, since, till,
until, once, now, as soon as, as long as

17. reason
because, as, since, for, although, though, to, in
order to, so as to
similarity and contrast
as, than, whereas, while
condition
if, unless, provided

19. Correlative conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that enable
you, the writer, to combine sentence phrases into larger
sentence units.
The most common correlative conjunctions are:
both…and either…and
neither…nor not…but
not only…but also whether…or

20. Incorrect: Either you must accept the terms
or withdraw from the race.
Correct: You must either accept the terms
or withdraw from the race.
What is wrong with the first sentence?

21. Each term of a pair of correlative conjunctions
governs a specific verb. In the incorrect
sentence, ‘Either’ is too far from the verb it
governs, ‘accept’.
This has been rectified in the correct version,
so that it is clear that a choice is being offered
between accepting or withdrawing.

22. Rule of thumb: keep the correlative conjunction
term close to the verb it governs in the sentence.

23. A LIST OF CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS
Conjunctive Adverbs (these are only a few):
Accordingly Also Anyway Besides Consequently
Finally For Example For Instance Further
Furthermore Hence However Incidentally Indeed In
Fact Instead Likewise Meanwhile Moreover Namely
Now

24. Of Course On the
Contrary
On the Other
Hand
Otherwise
Nevertheless Next Nonetheless Similarly So Far
Until Now
Still Then Therefore Thus

25. Some adverbs are used as transitions between
sentences. These are called conjunctive
adverbs, but they are not conjunctions and
cannot be used to join two sentences. These
words and phrases are often useful to show the
logical transitions between paragraphs.

26. EXAMPLES:
You are a fool, moreover, you dress badly. (comma
splice)
You are a fool. Moreover, you dress badly. (corrected)
You are a fool; moreover, you dress badly. (corrected)
We ate our meal then, we had dessert. (run-on)
We ate our meal, and then we had dessert. (corrected)

27. We ate our meal; then we had dessert. (corrected)
We ate our meal. Then we had dessert. (corrected)
Bessie always sleeps on the subway, however, she has
never been robbed. (comma splice)
Bessie always sleeps on the subway. However, she has
never been robbed. (corrected)
Bessie always sleeps on the subway; however, she has
never been robbed. (corrected)

28. Notice that often conjunctive adverbs, unlike
conjunctions, often can move almost
anywhere in a sentence.
EXAMPLES:
I like frozen pizza pockets. Also, I like bouillabaisse.
I like frozen pizza pockets. I also like bouillabaisse.
I like frozen pizza pockets. I like bouillabaisse also.

29. CONJUNCTION RULES:

30. 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).

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

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. 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.

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. 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.

41. 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

42. 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.

43. 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.

44. 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.

45. 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.

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

47. Rule 2
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.

48. 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.

49. Rule 3
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.

50. Rule 4
Always use the correct pair
No sooner........than
Hardly.... when or before
Scarcely.... when or before
Barely.... when or before

51. 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.

52. 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.

53. Rule 5
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.

54. Rule 6
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.

55. Rule 7
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.

56. Rule 8
Always use the correct pair not only....but also.
E.g. He cheated not only his friends but also
his parents.

57. Rule 9
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.

58. Rule 10
Neither of means none of the two. when more than two
person or things are present none of is used.
Either of means one of the two. when more than two
person or things are present one of is used.
E.g. None of his friends helped him.
One of the students of your class is responsible for
this loss.

60. Rule 11
Do not use seldom or ever in place of seldom
or never.
E.g. The national network seldom or never
telecasts good programmers.

61. Rule 12
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.