English Conjuntions

1. Conjuntions

2. Conjunctions
A conjunction
is a word that
connects
Each conjunction defines a
specific relationship
between the parts it
connects.
phrases
words
clauses

3. A coordinating conjunction joins
sentence parts that have the same
grammatical form.
COORDINATING

4. a) And indicates similarity.
The skirt and blouse are
yellow.
Sally was singing and
dancing.
David worked slowly and
carefully.
The skirt is yellow.
The blouse is yellow,
Sally was singing.
Sally was dancing.
David worked slowly.
David worked carefully.

5. b) Or indicates a necessary choice
I want an apple or an orange.
She is from Chicago or New
York.
I want only one piece of fruit.
She is from one of these cities.

6. c) But indicates difference
Jane went to the movies, but
I didn’t (go).
I like oranges, but not
grapefruit.
I like oranges, but he likes
grapefruit.
David worked slowly, but not
carefully.
Jane went to the movies.
I didn't go to the movies.
I like oranges.
I don’t like grapefruit.
I like oranges.
He likes grapefruit.
David worked slowly.
David did not work carefully.
Note: Use a comma before but:

7. d) Yet indicates difference that is not
logical
Jane was tired, yet happy.
I dieted, yet lost no weight.
David worked hard, yet he
didn’t receive payment.
Jane was tired.
Jane was happy.
I dieted.
I didn’t lose weight.
David worked hard.
David did not receive payment.
Note: Use a comma before yet:

8. e) For connects a fact with its cause
Mary went home, for she
was sick.
I am sure Bob was there, for I
saw him.
They are late, for they got
lost.
Mary went home, (fact)
Mary was sick, (reason)
I am sure Bob was there, (fact)
I saw him. (reason)
They are late, (fact)
They got lost, (reason)
Note: Use a comma before for:

9. f) So indicates a result
Mary was sick, so she went
home.
They got lost, so they were
late.
Mary was sick, (fact)
Mary went home, (result)
They got lost, (fact)
They were late, (result)
Note: Use a comma before so:

10. Conjuntions
JOINING INDEPENDENT CLAUSES

11. a) A coordinating conjunction can join
two independent clauses to make one
sentence
EXAMPLES
John is my brother, and Mary is my sister.
I sold my house yesterday, but I didn’t sell my car.

12. b) Use too, so, either, and neither
with coordinating conjunctions for
emphasis
1) To join two affirmative clauses, use:
and + subject + verb + too or and so + verb + subject.
John is tall. Bob is tall.
John is tall, and Bob is too.
Mary is singing. Carol is singing.
Mary is singing, and Carol is too.
Ted drives to work. Joe drives to
work.
Ted drives to work, and Joe does too.
or
John is tall, and so is Bob.
Mary is singing, and so is
Carol.
Ted drives to work, and so
does Joe.

13. b) Use too, so, either, and neither
with coordinating conjunctions for
emphasis
2) To join two negative clauses, use:
and + subject + verb or and neither + verb + subject
+ not either + subject
John isn’t tall. I am not tall.
John isn’t tall, and I’m not either.
Mary isn’t singing. Carol isn’t singing.
Mary isn’t singing, and Carol isn’t
either.
Ted didn’t drive to work. Joe didn’t
drive to work.
Ted didn’t drive to work, and Joe
didn’t either.
or
John isn’t tall, and neither am
I.
Mary isn’t singing, and
neither is Carol.
Ted didn’t drive to won and
neither did Joe.

14. b) Use too, so, either, and neither
with coordinating conjunctions for
emphasis
3)To join one affirmative clause and one negative clause, use:
but + subject + be or auxiliary very + not
Mary is short. Donna isn’t short.
Mary is short, but Donna isn’t.
He lives here. I don’t live here.
He lives here, but I don’t.
Carol was singing. Joe wasn’t singing.
Carol was singing, but Joe wasn’t.
Joe drove to work. Ted didn’t drive to work.
Joe drove to work, but Ted didn’t.

15. b) Use too, so, either, and neither
with coordinating conjunctions for
emphasis
4) To join one negative clause and one affirmative clause, use:
but + subject + be or auxiliary verb
Donna isn’t short. Mary is short.
Donna isn’t short, but Mary is.
I don’t live here. He lives here.
I don’t live here, but he does.
Joe wasn’t singing. Carol was singing.
Joe wasn’t singing, but Carol was.
Ted didn’t drive to work. Joe drove to work.
Ted didn’t drive to work, but Joe did.

16. Are pairs of conjuntions. The firts conjuntions emphasizes the meaning of
the second.
CORRELATIVE CONJUNTIONS

17. a) Both … and emphasizes the equality
of two items:
EXAMPLES
She wants both ice cream and cake.

18. b) not only...but also emphasizes the
equal importance of the second item:
EXAMPLES
She wants not only ice cream, but also cake.

19. c) either.. or emphasizes the need to
choose only one item:
EXAMPLES
She wants either ice cream or cake.

20. d) Neither...nor emphasizes that both
items are negative:
EXAMPLES
She wants neither ice cream nor cake.

21. e) Whether...or not emphasizes that
the first item is more important than
the second:
EXAMPLES
She will eat ice cream whether or not she eats cake,
or
She will eat ice cream whether she eats cake or not.

22. Begins a subordinate clause and shows its relationship with the main
clause..
SUBORDINATING CONJUNTIONS

23. a) Time relationships
before earlier action
after later action
until a limited time of action
when a specific time of action
while action at the same time

24. a) Time relationships
The subordinate clause can come first, followed by a comma:
Before we went home, we washed the dishes.
After I went to bed, I fell asleep.
Until he gets here, I am going to stay.
When he gets here, I am going to leave.
While she sleeps, he watches the baby.
The main clause can come first, and there is no comma:
We washed the dishes before we went home.
I fell asleep after I went to bed.
I am going to stay until he gets here.
I am going to leave when he gets here.
He watches the baby while she sleeps.

25. b) Causal relationships
.
as a reason for action
because a reason for action
since a reason for action
As you are here, we can start the party.
Since you are here, we can start the party.
Because you are here, we can start the party.
We can start the party as you are here, (awkward
We can start the party since you are here.
We can start the party because you are here.

26. c) Resulting relationships:
.
so that to make action possible
So that she can read, she wears glasses.
She wears glasses so that she can read.

27. d) Conditional relationships:
.
if action dependent on other action
unless required action to avoid negative action
whether (or not) action on any condition
If you come early, I will dance with you.
Unless you come early, I won’t dance with you.
Whether you come early or not, I won’t dance with you.
I will dance with you if you come early.
I won’t dance with you unless you come early.
I won’t dance with you whether or not you come early.

28. e) Unexpected relationships:
.
though an illogical fact
although an illogical fact
even though an illogical fact
Though he was afraid, he didn’t cry.
Although he was afraid, he didn’t cry.
Even though he was afraid, he didn’t cry.
He didn’t cry though he was afraid.
He didn’t cry although he was afraid.
He didn’t cry even though he was afraid.

29. e) Other relationships:
where a specific place
as if in an untrue manner
rather than preferable action
that a fact
whether unknown information
W. here you live, there is a lot of traffic.
As if they weren’t scared, they got on the plane.
Rather than upset her mother, she stayed home.
That she is a genius is certain.
Whether he went to work I don’t know, (awkward)
There is a lot of traffic where you live.
They got on the plane as if they weren’t scared.
She stayed home rather than upset her mother.
It is certain that she is a genius.
I don’t know whether he went to work.

30. Are transition words that define the relationship between independent
clauses.
CONJUNTIVE ADVERBS

31. Conjuntive adverbs
They may begin a new sentence, and are
followed by a comma.
They may follow a semicolon, and are
followed by a comma

32. Time relationships
A conjunctive adverb can indicate a time relationship:
meanwhile at the same time
then after that
next after that
subsequently after that
finally last in order

33. Time relationships
He fell asleep on the couch. Meanwhile, she continued to read.
He fell asleep on the couch; meanwhile, she continued to read.
She finished her magazine. Then she went into the kitchen.
She finished her magazine; then she went into the kitchen.
She finished her magazine. Next, she went into the kitchen.
She finished her magazine; next, she went into the kitchen.
She finished her magazine. Subsequently, she went into the kitchen.
She finished her magazine; subsequently, she went r the kitchen.
She ate a sandwich. Finally, she went to bed.
She ate a sandwich; finally, she went to bed.

34. Emphasizing a Fact
A conjunctive adverb can emphasize a fact:
indeed emphasizes the truth of a statement
that is defines a statement in other words
likewise gives reinforcing information
similarly gives reinforcing information
accordingly gives reinforcing information
specifically introduces one or more examples
for example introduces one or more examples

35. Emphasizing a Fact
He even lets me use his car. Indeed, he is a wonderful brother.
He even lets me use his car; indeed, he is a wonderful brother.
Of course, I am willing to help him, too. That is, I am there when he needs me.
Of course, I am willing to help him, too; that is, I am there when he needs me.
He laughs when I laugh. Likewise, he cries when I cry.
He laughs when I laugh; likewise, he cries when I cry.
He laughs when I laugh. Similarly, he cries when I cry.
He laughs when I laugh; similarly, he cries when I cry.
He is there when I need him. Accordingly, he doesn’t complain when I borrow money.
He is there when I need him; accordingly, he doesn’t complain when I borrow money.
Sometimes I do nice things for him. Specifically, I wash his car on weekends, and I fill it up
with gas.
Sometimes I do nice things for him; specifically, I wash his car on weekends, and I fill it up
with gas.
Sometimes I do nice things for him. For example, I wash his car on weekends, and I fill it
up with gas.
Sometimes I do nice things for him; for example, I wash his car on weekends, and I fill it
up with gas.

36. Emphasizing a Fact
A conjunctive adverb can introduce additional positive information:
also additionally
besides similarly
furthermore plus

37. Emphasizing a Fact
He is my brother. Also, he is my best friend. He is my brother; also, he is my
best friend.
He is my brother. Besides, he is my best friend.
He is my brother; besides, he is my best friend.
He is my brother. Furthermore, he is my best friend. He is my brother;
furthermore, he is my best friend.

38. The
Consequence of a Statement
A conjunctive adverb can tell the consequence of a statement:
consequently indicates a result
therefore indicates a result
thus indicates a result

39. The
Consequence of a Statement
I wasn’t having fun. Consequently, I went home.
I wasn’t having fun; consequently, I went home.
She ate too many cookies. Therefore, she got a stom-achache.
She ate too many cookies; therefore, she got a stom-achache.
All his relatives moved to another place. Thus, he is alone here.
All his relatives moved to another place; thus, he is alone here.
Anyway indicates an illogical consequence. It is placed at the end of the
sentence:
She didn’t eat many cookies. She got a stomachache anyway.

40. Opposite Information
A conjunctive adverb can introduce opposite information:
however introduces contrasting information
conversely introduces contrasting information
Still indicates unexpected information
nevertheless indicates unexpected information
instead suggests alternative action
otherwise suggests alternative action

41. Opposite Information
He has little formal education; however, he is a wise man. He has little formal
education; conversely, he is an exper in his field.
He has little formal education; still, he is considered an intellectual.
He has little formal education; nevertheless, he is considered an intellectual.
He didn’t go to college; instead, he learned by reading.
He will be promoted this year; otherwise, he will move to another company.