CONJUNCTION

A.    Coordinating Conjunctions

The short, simple conjunctions are called "coordinating conjunctions":

• and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so

A coordinating conjunction joins parts of a sentence (for example words or independent clauses) that are grammatically equal or similar. A coordinating conjunction shows that the elements it joins are similar in importance and structure:

____________+___________

Look at these examples - the two elements that the coordinating conjunction joins are shown in square brackets [ ]:

• I like [tea] and [coffee].
• [Ram likes tea], but [Anthony likes coffee].

Coordinating conjunctions always come between the words or clauses that they join.
When a coordinating conjunction joins independent clauses, it is always correct to place a comma before the conjunction:

• I want to work as an interpreter in the future, so I am studying Russian at university.

However, if the independent clauses are short and well-balanced, a comma is not really essential:

• She is kind so she helps people.

When "and" is used with the last word of a list, a comma is optional:

• He drinks beer, whisky, wine, and rum.
• He drinks beer, whisky, wine and rum.

The 7 coordinating conjunctions are short, simple words. They have only two or three letters. There's an easy way to remember them - their initials spell:

F	A	N	B	O	Y	S
For	And	Nor	But	Or	Yet	So

.Conjunctions are words used to link words, phrases and clauses. They are necessary to create compound sentences, or to join multiple ideas together. In English, conjunctions are classified as either coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions or correlative conjunctions. Using the right conjunction is essential to making your meaning clear and to making yourself understood. AND, BUT and OR a.      Use AND to link words that are similar. Ø  We buy fruit and vegetables at the grocery store. Ø  The president visited towns and cities across the country. Ø  The house is warm and comfortable. Ø  The weather was cold and windy. Ø  There were several cars and trucks in the street. b.      Use BUT to link words that are different and do not normally go together. Ø  He works quickly but neatly. Ø  The teacher is firm but fair with the children. Ø  The musicians are young but very talented. Ø  The weather was sunny but cold. Ø  Karate is tiring but fun. Ø  We want a vacation that's interesting but relaxing. Ø  Some animals are big but gentle. c.       Use  OR  to talk about choices. Ø  You can have a soda or lemonade. Ø  Would you like pasta or rice? Ø  Who is cooking the dinner, Mom or Dad? Ø  Does the sauce taste sweet or sour? Ø  Do we turn right or left? Ø  Is your sister older or younger than you? Ø  Should the children bring bikes or skateboards? The word OR  is often used with NOT and other negative words. Ø  She does not like apple juice or orange juice. Ø  I didn’t see or hear anything strange. Ø  He can’t sing or dance. Ø  They’ve never been to Europe or Asia. d.     Conjunctions Linking Phrases Use the conjunctions AND, BUT and OR to link phrases. The phrases in these examples are printed in bold Ø  We like going shopping and visiting museums. Ø  I tell my parents and my best friend all my secrets. Ø  Some of my toys are dirty and a bit broken. Ø  The car is very old but still very reliable. Ø  The weather was very sunny but rather cold. Ø  I’m older than Anna but younger than Jack. Ø  Is it quicker to go by train or by car? Ø  You could call it a thin book or a thick magazine. Ø  She couldn’t decide whether to stay in bed or get up and take a shower. e.      Conjunctions with Lists Use the conjunctions AND and OR with lists of words. Remember to put a comma between the words. Then use AND or OR between the last two words. Ø  We bought milk, eggs, cheese and butter. Ø  My favorite teachers are Mr. Lee, Mrs. Carter and Mr. Park. Ø  In the morning I get up, take a shower, eat breakfast and brush my teeth. Ø  Kathleen didn’t have any paper, pens or pencils. Ø  People travel to work by car, bus or train. Ø  I haven’t eaten breakfast, lunch or dinner. f.       Conjunctions That Join Sentences Conjunctions are also used to join two sentences to make them one. Here are some examples with AND,  BUT  and OR.. Ø  Mom is working in the garden. Dad is busy in the kitchen. Mom is working in the garden and Dad is busy in the kitchen. Ø  Sam is playing football. Eric is reading a book. Sam is playing football and Eric is reading a book. Ø  I switched on the TV. There were no interesting programs on. I switched on the TV, but there were no interesting programs on. Ø  Meera phoned her friend Anna. She wasn’t at home. Meera phoned her friend Anna, but she wasn’t at home. Ø  Would you like to go to the movies? Shall we go for a burger? Would you like to go to the movies or shall we go for a burger? Ø  Hurry up! You’ll be late for school. Hurry up or you’ll be late for school! g.     Other Words for AND There are other words for and that also join two sentences. Ø  Dad washed the car. He polished it. Dad not only washed the car, but he also polished it. Ø  Sally baked the cake. She decorated it. Sally not only baked the cake, but she decorated it as well. Ø  John did his homework. He cleaned his room. John not only did his homework, but he cleaned his room, too. Ø  They visited Sydney. They also visited Hong Kong and Tokyo. They visited Sydney, as well as Hong Kong and Tokyo. Ø  Sam ran faster than Kim. He ran faster than David too. Sam ran faster than both Kim and David. N o t e s A long sentence with two parts that are linked by and, but or or is called A Compound Sentence h.     Other Words Used for BUT Ø  There are other words for but that also join sentences. Ø  Grandpa is old but very fit. Ø  Although Grandpa is old, he’s very fit. Ø  The weather was sunny but cold. Ø  Even though the weather was sunny, it was cold. Ø  The bus is slower than the train but it’s cheaper. Ø  While the bus is slower than the train, it’s cheaper. Ø  This computer is very old but reliable. Ø  Though this computer is very old, it is very reliable. i. Other Words for OR There are other words for or that name choices or join two sentences. Ø  The movie wasn’t funny. It wasn’t interesting. Ø  The movie was neither funny nor interesting. Ø  You can do your homework now. You can do your homework after dinner. Ø  You can do your homework either now or after dinner. Ø  We could walk. We could take a taxi. Ø  We could walk, or else take a taxi. B.     Correlative Conjunctions Correlative conjunctions link sentence elements that go together. They always come in pairs. For example, either and or; neither and nor; not only and but also; and whether and or are correlative conjunctions. Using correlative conjunctions, it would be possible to say I like not only chicken, but also fish. A paired conjunction (such as not only . . . but also) that links balanced words, phrases, and clauses. The elements connected by correlative conjunctions are usually parallel--that is, similar in length and grammatical form. These are the primary correlative conjunctions in English: both . . . and either . . . or neither . . . nor not . . . but not only . . . but also Other pairs that sometimes have a coordinating function include the following: as . . . as just as . . . so the more . . . the less the more . . . the more no sooner . . . than so . . . as whether . . . or C.   The Subordinate Conjunction Subordinating Conjunctions join an independent and a dependent clause. The subordinating conjunction indicates the relationship between the clauses, and usually introduces the dependent clause. Common subordinating conjunctions include since, because, thus, before, how, if, since, than, that, though, until, thus, whether, while and when and so. And and but can also act as subordinating conjunctions. A subordinating conjunction can make an otherwise independent clause into a dependent clause. For example, look at these two sentences: I like fish. I will eat some. These two sentences can be joined together with a subordinating conjunction: I like fish SO I will eat some Some sentences are complex. Such sentences have two clauses, one main [or independent] and one subordinate [or dependent]. These are the patterns for a complex sentence: main clause + Ø + subordinate clause. subordinate clause + , + main clause.  The essential ingredient in a complex sentence is the subordinate conjunction: after although as because before even if even though if in order that once provided that rather than since so that than that though unless until when whenever where whereas wherever whether while why The subordinate conjunction has two jobs. First, it provides a necessary transition between the two ideas in the sentence. This transition will indicate a time, place, or cause and effect relationship. Here are some examples: Ø  Louisa will wash the sink full of her dirty dishes once her roommate Shane cleans his stubble and globs of shaving cream from the bathroom sink. Ø  We looked on top of the refrigerator, where Jenny will often hide a bag of chocolate chip cookies. Ø  Because her teeth were chattering in fear, Lynda clenched her jaw muscle while waiting for her turn to audition. The second job of the subordinate conjunction is to reduce the importance of one clause so that a reader understands which of the two ideas is more important. The more important idea belongs in the main clause, the less important in the clause introduced by a subordinate conjunction. Read these examples: Ø  As Samson blew out the birthday candles atop the cake, he burned the tip of his nose on a stubborn flame. Ø  Burning his nose > blowing out candles. Ø  Ronnie begins to sneeze violently whenever he opens the door to greet a fresh spring day. Ø  Sneezing violently > opening the door. Ø  Even though Dana persevered at the calculus exam, she was only adding another F beside her name in Dr. Armour's grade book. a.      Conjunctions of Time The conjunctions before, after, since, until, when, while, as and as soon as are used to say when something happens. They are called conjunctions of time. Ø  Take the toy out of the box before you throw the box away. Ø  Before you leave the house, be sure that you’ve got your backpack. Ø  I usually do my homework after I have my dinner. Ø  After I went to bed, I heard a strange noise downstairs. Ø  We’ve moved to a new house since I last wrote to you. Ø  Since the new teacher arrived, we all enjoy our work more. Ø  You can’t watch TV until you’ve done your homework. Ø  Until the rice is cooked, we can’t eat dinner. Ø  I’ll call you when I get home. Ø  When the wind blows, the branches on the tree bend. Ø  Dad watches TV while he does his exercises. Ø  While we’re waiting for the bus, let’s play a game. Ø  People stand back as the train goes through the station. Ø  As the president’s car goes past, everybody waves. Ø  We went inside as soon as it started to rain. Ø  As soon as you’ve finished your homework, let me see it. b.      Conjunctions of Place The conjunctions where and wherever are used to talk about places. They are called conjunctions of place. Ø  Does anybody know where Mr. Carter lives? Ø  Where the road is narrow, big trucks can’t get through. Ø  The dog follows Andrew wherever he goes. Ø  Wherever there are mountains, you will also find streams. c.      Conjunctions of Reason The conjunctions because, since, as and in case tell why someone does something. They are called  conjunctions of reason. Ø  I sat down because I was feeling tired. Ø  Because we arrived late, we missed the beginning of the play. Ø  I took an apple since it was the only fruit in the bowl. Ø  Since you have finished your homework, you can help me make dinner. Ø  Mom switched off the TV as it was past my bedtime. Ø  As you’re my best friend, I’ll lend you my new bike. Ø  Take an umbrella in case it rains. Ø  In case you forget the number, I’ve written it on this piece of paper. d.     Conjunctions of Purpose The conjunctions so, so that and in order to tell what the purpose of something is. They are called  conjunctions of purpose. Ø  The children are wearing hats so they won’t get sunburned. Ø  John finished his homework before dinner so he could watch his favorite TV program. Ø  Let’s write down the address so we don’t forget it. Ø  We left early so that we wouldn’t be late. Ø  John took a map so that he wouldn’t get lost. Ø  I hid the comics under the bed so that nobody could find them. Ø  She goes jogging every morning in order to keep fit. Ø  In order to get to sleep, he reads a really boring book at bedtime. Ø  Dad painted the walls white in order to make the room look brighter. D.   Conjunction Exercises Conjunction exercises can you help you to learn how conjunctions are used. Conjunction exercises can take several forms: they can test your ability to use conjunctions, or they can test your understanding of how correlative conjunctions work together. Exercise 1 Sample Conjunction Exercises The following seven questions are sample conjunction exercises. The answers are below:  1.I like chicken ____ not fish.  A. And B. Since C. But D. For E. Or 2. ____ it rains on Sunday, I will not be able to drive. A. And B. Where C. Either D. If E. How 3. I like both dogs ______ cats. A. Also B. But C. And D. If E. Until 4. The items are on sale in the local store _____ not online. A. But B. And C. Though D. Or E. Nor 5. Neither my mother _____ my father will be able to attend the party on Sunday. A. Or B. But not C.  And D. Nor E. But also 6. Carrie didn’t know whether her bike would be fixed _____ if she would have to walk. A. But B. And C. Nor D. Or E. Either (D) Carrie didn’t know whether her bike would be fixed or if she would have to walk. The situation described here is one in which one thing or the other will happen. The coordinating conjunction or must be used. 7. Luke was late to the party ______ his car broke down on the highway. A. If B. Because C. While D. Although E. Where Exercise 2 Choose the correct conjunction. I need to work hard _______ I can pass the exam. _________ he was the best qualified party candidate, he didn't win the elections. _______ you come back from your trip, we'll meet to discuss the problem. They said that the movie was fantastic, _____ I watched it. _______ he was very ill, he didn't take any medicine. I don't know _______ I can buy a pair of jeans. She went to the shops ____couldn't find anything she liked. Everybody likes him because he is nice _____ helpful. _____ he was angry with her, he didn't utter a word. Keep quiet _____ go out. The Answers I need to work hard so that I can pass the exam. Although he was the best qualified party candidate, he didn't win the elections. When you come back from your trip, we'll meet to discuss the problem. They said that the movie was fantastic, so I watched it. although he was very ill, he didn't take any medicine. I don't know where I can buy a pair of jeans. She went to the shops but couldn't find anything she liked. Everybody likes him because he is nice and helpful. Since he was angry with her, he didn't utter a word. Keep quiet or go out Exercise 3       Choose the appropriate answer of some choice ! 1. Receptionists must be able to relay information ______ pass messages accurately. (A) or (B) and (C) but (D) because 2. I did not go to the show ______ I had already seen it. (A) until (B) because (C) so (D) but 3. Mary is a member of the Historical Society ______ the Literary Society. (A) as (B) or (C) and (D) but 4. Read over your answers ______ correct all mistakes before you pass them up. (A) or (B) and (C) because (D) while 5. Keep the food covered ______ the flies will contaminate it. (A) or (B) and (C) until (D) though 6. ______ he is thin, he is strong. (A) But (B) As (C) Though (D) Because 7. Susie ______ phoned ______ wrote after she left home. (A) either,  or (B) neither,  nor (C) while,  and (D) though,  or 8. She had an unpleasant experience ______ she was in Thailand. (A) but (B) and (C) because (D) while 9. The committee rejected the proposal ______ they did not think it was practical. (A) or (B) but (C) though (D) because 10. John welcomed his guests ______ offered them drinks. (A) and (B) while (C) until (D) as

Exercise 4

Exercise 1Complete the following sentences by adding and, but or or.

1. Mrs. Taylor is tall __________slim.

2. Learning geography is hard __________interesting.

3. I don’t like football _______________soccer.

4. Do you pull the handle _________push it?

5. These tools are old __________still useful.

6. We visited lots of castles ___________palaces in England.

7. The classes are quite difficult __________I’m doing well.

8. I didn’t know whether to turn left__________ right