What are Conjunctions in English Grammar? Examples, Definition, Meaning & Types

Conjunction words are used to connect words, clauses, phrases or sentences. Conjunctions in English grammar are like glue that binds different parts of a sentence together. They are the parts of speech that establish relationships between different ideas or elements in a sentence, such as addition, contrast, cause and effect, or condition. Conjunctions are crucial for creating more complex and meaningful sentences.

In simple terms, a conjunction in English is a word that joins different parts of a sentence, whether it is words, phrases, or clauses. These small but powerful words allow us to communicate our complex thoughts and ideas more simply. Without conjunctions, our communication and writing would be choppy and disconnected, making it hard to convey clear messages. Commonly used conjunctions include:

and, but, or, because, if, when, while, although, yet, so, and for.

Example:

"I want to go for a walk, but it is raining."

Here, "but" connects two contrasting ideas: the desire to go for a walk and the weather condition (raining).

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According to collinsdictionary.com, “any word or group of words, other than a relative pronoun, that connects words, phrases, or clauses; for example and and while” are conjuctions.

According to Oxford dictionary the conjunctions definition is, “a word that joins words, phrases or sentences, for example ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘or’ or ‘because’.

Conjunction Pronunciation: kuhn·juhngk·shnz

Conjunctions create connections that identify the relationships between ideas or sentence elements. These logical relationships may be used to indicate an addition (as with and), establish cause and effect (because), create contrast (but, yet, although), or introduce a condition (unless), among other things.

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Conjunctions come in different forms, each serving a specific purpose in the construction of sentences. The three main types of conjunctions are:

1. Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance. They are used to join elements that are similar in structure or meaning. The most common coordinating conjunctions can be remembered using the acronym FANBOYS (FANBOY Conjunctions):

F - For

A - And

N - Nor

B - But

O - Or

Y - Yet

S - So

Conjunction Examples:

For: He stayed inside, for it was raining heavily.

And: He likes reading, and he enjoys writing.

Nor: She's not the best student in her class, nor is she the worst.

But: I want to go to the school, but it is too cold outside.

Or: Would you like pasta or pizza?

Yet: The weather was beautiful, yet the picnic was a disaster.

So: I was feeling tired, so I decided to take a nap.

2. Subordinating Conjunctions 

Subordinating conjunctions connect a subordinate or dependent clause to a main or independent clause. They help to indicate the relationship between the two clauses, such as cause and effect, time, condition or contrast.

Some of the common subordinating conjunctions include:

Since, because, if, although, when, before, while, after, until, unless, whereas, though.

Examples:

• Because: I stayed home because I was feeling sick.
• Although: Although it was raining, they went for a hike.
• If: If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
• When: I will call you when I get home.

3. Correlative Conjunctions 

A correlated conjunction is a pair of English conjunctions that work together to combine elements of the same importance. These conjunctions are always shown in pairs, which helps to emphasize the balance of connected ideas.
Some of the common correlation conjunctions:

both...and

either...or

Neither…nor

Not only…but also

Whether…or

Examples:

• Both...and: Both the teacher and the students were excited.
• Either...or: You can either have tea or coffee.
• Neither...nor: She likes neither chocolate nor vanilla.
• Not only...but also: He is not only intelligent, but also very kind.
• Whether...or: Whether you win or lose, you should play fairly.

While using conjunctions is essential for connecting ideas, students must keep in mind certain grammar rules:

1. Use of comma: When using coordinating conjunctions to join independent clauses, a comma is often placed before the conjunction (especially in longer sentences).

For example: I wanted to go to the park, but it started raining.

2. Subordinate Clauses: If a subordinate (or dependent) clause comes before the main (or independent) clause in a sentence, it's generally followed by a comma to separate it.

Example of conjunction in sentence: Although she was tired, she finished her homework.

1. No Comma with Correlative Conjunctions: Correlative conjunctions don’t require a comma between them.

Example: Both the teacher and the students enjoyed the play.

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Conjunctions in English Grammar are important for many reasons:

1. Improving Sentence Structure: Conjunctions enable us to form more complex sentences, which makes our communication more detailed.
2. Creating Coherence: They help link ideas logically and smoothly, making writing and speech smoother.
3. Add Clarity: By connecting different ideas, conjunctions help clarify the relationship between the ideas.

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While using conjunctions, we need to keep in mind certain special cases and exceptions as follows:

• Double Conjunctions: Sometimes, a conjunction word in English is used twice for emphasis or clarity.

For example: She not only paints beautiful landscapes, but also sculpts intricate figurines.

Both the students and the teachers were happy with the outcome.

Neither the cat nor the dog wanted to eat the food.

• Omission of Conjunctions: In certain cases, conjunctions can be omitted, especially in informal speech or writing.

Examples of Conjunctions in sentences: She likes tennis; he, basketball.

I came, I saw, I conquered

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