Connectors are words or phrases that join sentences, clauses, or phrases. There are three main types of connectors: coordinating, subordinating, and correlative. Coordinating connectors join elements of equal importance, while subordinating connectors join a main clause with a subordinate clause. Correlative connectors are used in pairs to connect elements of equal importance. Transition words also help connect sentences and paragraphs.

1. CONNECTORS
-- B.Kedhar Guhan --
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2. • Connectors are the words or phrases that join
other words, other phrases, clauses or
sentences. These words or phrases act as bridges
between two sentences.
• Also called Conjunctions.
• For example:
I like the gadgets. I can not afford them.
this can be written as:
I like the gadgets but I can’t afford them.
• Connectors can be broadly classified
as coordinating, subordinating and correlative.

3. COORDINATING
CONNECTORS
 These Connectors join words, phrases or sentences of equal importance.
 Example : Joseph reached the station on time, but the train was late.
 Here, ‘but’ is the coordinating conjunction connecting ‘Joseph reached the station on time’
with ‘the train was late’. The sentence can be broken up into two separate sentences as follows:
 Hence, we can say that a coordinating conjunction is used in a sentence when the
grammatical units (i.e., words, phrases, sentences) which are joined by the conjunction are
given the same importance or emphasis in the sentence.
 Fanboys : There are SEVEN basic coordinating connectors —
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

4. SUBORDINATING
CONNECTORS
 These Connectors join a subordinate clause with a main clause. Simply speaking, a
subordinate or dependent clause is one that cannot stand as a separate sentence, while a main or
an independent clause is one that can stand as a separate sentence.
 Example: Gagan decided that he would walk to office if it did not rain that morning.
 In this case, the main and the subordinate clauses are as follows:
• Gagan decided that he would walk to office. (Main Clause)
• If it did not rain that morning (Subordinate Clause)

5. E XA M P L E S O F S U B O R D I NA TI N G
C O N N E C TO R S
 Subordinating Connectors of time :
The crowd went mad after the fall of Sachin’s wicket.
Main Clause: The crowd went mad.
Subordinate Clause: After the fall of Sachin’s wicket.
 Subordinating Connectors of Place:
You can go wherever you wish to go.
Main Clause: You can go.
Subordinate Clause: Wherever you wish to go.

6.  Subordinating Connectors of Reason or Cause:
Jagjit did not laugh at the joke because he failed to understand it.
Main Clause: Jagjit did not laugh at the joke.
Subordinate Clause: Because he failed to understand it
 Subordinating Conjunction of Result:
We laughed so hard that our eyes and nose started leaking.
Main Clause: We laughed so hard.
Subordinate Clause: That our eyes and nose started leaking.
 Subordinating Connectors of Condition:
The match will end in a draw only if it rains.
Main Clause: The match will end in a draw.
Subordinate Clause: Only if it rains

7.  Subordinating Connectors of Comparison:
John is taller than Dino.
Main Clause: John is taller.
Subordinate Clause: Than Dino (is)
 Subordinating Connectors of Contrast:
You should focus on the real issue rather than beat around the bush.
Main Clause: You should focus on the real issue.
Subordinate Clause: Rather than beat around the bush
 Subordinating Connectors of Uncertainty or Doubt
I cannot say if it has stopped raining.
Main Clause: I cannot say.
Subordinate Clause: If it has stopped raining.

8. CORRELATIVE CONNECTORS
 These Connectors are used in pairs. They are used for
connecting two grammatical units of equal importance. Hence, they
perform the same role as that performed by coordinating
Connectors.
 For example: ‘Either you eat the cake or let me have it.’
 In this case, ‘you eat the cake’ and ‘let me have it’ have the same
importance.

9. Some other common Correlative Connectors are:
• Either—or
• Neither—nor
• Both—and
• As many—as
• As—as
• Not only—but also
• Whether—or
• Hardly—when
• If—then

10. TRANSITION
WORDS/PHRASES
 There are some words and phrases that perform a similar role to that
performed by Connectors. The term used for these words or phrases is ‘transition
words or phrases’ or ‘conjunctive adverbs’. Transition words or phrases improve
the connections, relations, transitions or shifts between sentences and paragraphs.
 Examples of some Phrases: Similarly, Moreover, in
particular, However, On the other hand, As a
result, Therefore, Consequently, First, Second, Third, Finally, In
conclusion, Meanwhile, in other words, in fact, etc..

11. THANK YOU
-- B.Kedhar Guhan--
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