Conjunctions in English




 Lesson 7 

Definition of Conjunction with Examples

A conjunction is a word that joins two or more words, phrases, clauses or sentences. (Know more about sentence )

In the following examples, ‘and’, ‘or’ and ‘so’ are conjunctions because they are doing the task of connecting two words, phrases and clauses respectively. 

Examples:

(a) Ram and Sham are good friends. 

(b) Something big can be achieved either by luck or by hard work. 

(c) He saw a lion so he ran away. 


Types of Conjunctions Based on Their Uses

(1) Co-ordinating Conjunctions 

(2) Sub-ordinating Conjunctions 

(3) Co-relative Conjunctions 


1. Co-ordinating conjunctions connect two same kinds of parts of speech or sentences. 

In the given below examples, ‘and’ and ‘or’ are co-ordinating conjunctions. 

Examples:

(a) Ram and Sham are good friends. 

(b) You should study hard or you'll fail. 


Note:- FANBOYS, where ‘F’ stands for ‘For’, ‘A’ stands for ‘And’, ‘N’ for ‘Nor’, ‘B’ for ‘But’, ‘O’ for ‘Or’, ‘Y’ for ‘Yet’ and ‘S’ for ‘So’, are seven co-ordinating conjunctions. 


2. Sub-ordinating conjunctions connect two different kinds of parts of speech or sentences or join one or more dependent clauses to an independent clause. 

In the examples, given below, ‘that’ and ‘because’ are sub-ordinating conjunctions. 

Examples:

(a) Sheela said that she would not go to the market.

(b) You will not get good marks because you're not studying hard.  


3. Co-relative conjunctions are the conjunctions used in pair to connect two same kinds of parts of speech. 

In the following examples, ‘neither....nor’ and ‘not only......but also’ are co-relative conjunctions. 

‘Neither...nor’ joins two verbs in the first example, and ‘not only....but also’ connects two nouns (Know more about noun ) together. 

Examples:

(a) He can neither read nor write. 

(b) A man is not only a father but also a son.


Common Types of Sub-ordinating Conjunctions Based on Their Functions

(1) Conjunctions of Time 

(2) Conjunctions of Cause 

(3) Conjunctions of Purpose

(4) Conjunctions of Comparison 

(5) Conjunctions of Condition


1. Conjunctions of time show time. 

In the following examples, ‘when’, ‘while’ and ‘as soon as’ are Sub-ordinating conjunctions of time. 

Examples:

(a) You can call me when you're free. 

(b)  She came while I was working in the kitchen. 

(c) Call me as soon as you reach home. 


2. Conjunctions of cause show reason or cause. 

In the given below examples, ‘because’, ‘as’ and ‘since’ are conjunctions of cause or reason. 

Examples:

(a) I can't tell you because he didn't allow me. 

(b) As we are done with the parts of speech, we can start another topic. 

(c) Since he was ill, he couldn't attend the meeting.  


3. Conjunctions of purpose show the purpose of doing something.

In the following examples, ‘that’, ‘so that’ and ‘in order that’ are conjunctions of purpose. 

Examples:

(a) We eat that we may live. 

(b) Study hard so that you can clear the test.

(c) I strategise my preparation in order that I can clear the entrance test. 


4. Conjunctions of Comparison show comparison or contest.

In the given below examples, ‘but’, ‘whereas’ and ‘although’ are conjunctions of comparison. 

Examples:

(a) She is gorgeous, but her behaviour is not that good. 

(b) You're tall, whereas your brother is short. 

(c) Although I can do it, yet I don't want to do. 


5. Conjunctions of condition show condition.

In the following examples, ‘unless’, ‘as long as’ and ‘on condition that’ are conditional (Know more about conditional ) or conjunctions of condition. 

Examples:- 

(a) You can't crack the test unless you work hard. 

(b) Don't worry as long as God is with you. 

(c) I can give you money on condition that you must return it.


Exercise 1 

Identify the types of the conjunctions in bold. 

(a) You and I will go. 

(b) Study hard or you'll fail. 

(c) He can't talk to you because he's working. 

(d) As it's known to all, there's no need to mention. 

(e) He can neither read nor write. 


Answer keys:- 

(a) Co-ordinating conjunction

(b) Co-ordinating conjunction 

(c) Sub-ordinating conjunction

(d) Sub-ordinating conjunction

(e) Co-relative conjunction


Exercise 2 

Specify the function of the conjunctions in bold. 

(a) I'll reach home before you reach there. 

(b) As you don't work hard, you will fail. 

(c) You can succeed on condition that you work hard. 


Answer keys:- 

(a) Conjunction of Time 

(b) Conjunction of Cause 

(c) Conjunction of Condition