A conjunction is a part of speech that acts as a connector between words, phrases, or clauses. Conjunctions create a better flow of thoughts or ideas within a sentence by making them simple and concise. Without conjunctions, it would be difficult to understand the relationship between sentences or even the general thought of an entire passage.
Let’s take this as an example:
Too many sentences like this can be similar to misplacing puzzle pieces altogether. No connection is established among the sentences. Instead, it is better to say:
How about that? That sure sounds better to the ears. Let us then learn more about conjunctions.
This type of conjunction is used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. Before heading on to more examples of coordinating conjunctions, let us briefly identify two types of clauses. An independent clause is a clause that can stand on its own. A dependent clause, on the other hand, needs an independent clause to complete the sentence. In the case of coordinating conjunctions, it is essential for connecting independent clauses.
There are seven coordinating conjunctions which are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. It is easier to recall them by using the abbreviation FANBOYS.
TIP: When connecting independent clauses using a coordinating conjunction, do not forget to place a comma before the conjunction.
Another type of conjunction is the subordinating conjunction. Conjunctions under this type connect a subordinate clause (also called a dependent clause) to an independent clause.
| Common Subordinating Conjunctions | |
| Time | after, as soon as, before, until, while |
| Concession / Comparison | although, even though, though, whereas |
| Cause | as, because, in order that, since, so |
| Condition | even if, if, provided that, unless |
TIP: A sentence beginning with a dependent clause usually needs a comma after it. If the sentence begins with an independent clause, a comma is not necessary. Look at the following sentences:
Notice the placement of the comma and the order of the clauses in the two sentences. The dependent clause “Because he studied hard” was followed by a comma in the second sentence. On the other hand, the independent clause “Drew got a high mark in the exam” does not need a comma after it, as shown in the first sentence.
As its name suggests, this type of conjunction correlates. In other words, it comes as a pair of conjunctions that join words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically parallel.
Correlative conjunctions include:
Look at these examples:
With the use of correlative conjunctions, the subject and the verb should agree. When there are two subjects connected by a pair of correlative conjunctions, the second subject should be in agreement with the verb.
When two antecedents (antecedents are nouns that can be replaced with pronouns) are connected by correlative conjunctions, the second antecedent should agree with the pronoun that comes after it. Plural antecedents are usually used as the second antecedent for reading ease. In the given sentence below, notice that the first antecedent “Serena” and the second antecedent “her friends” are connected by the correlative pair “neither…nor”. In the latter part of the sentence, we use “their” as the pronoun agreeing to the second antecedent which is also plural.
When using correlative conjunctions, parallel structures should also be observed.
The last type is the conjunctive adverb. Conjunctive adverbs are adverbs that function as conjunctions by joining two independent clauses together. They convey various meanings as shown in the list below.
| Common Conjunctive Adverbs | |
| Addition | additionally, besides, furthermore, moreover |
| Cause and effect | consequently, accordingly, therefore, thus |
| Comparison | alternatively, similarly, likewise |
| Contrast | however, nevertheless, otherwise, conversely |
| Illustration/Example | for example, for instance, namely |
| Summary | briefly, in conclusion, in summary |
| Time | meanwhile, lately, now |
When connecting two independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb, it is important to use either a semi-colon or a period just before the conjunctive adverb. A comma after a conjunctive adverb also separates it from the rest of the sentence. Examples are shown below.
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