4.What is a Conjunction

8/14/2019 4.What is a Conjunction

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What is a Conjunction?What is a Conjunction?

A conjunctionA conjunction links words,links words,phrasesphrases, and, and clausesclauses..

Examples:Examples:I ate the pizzaI ate the pizza andand the pasta.the pasta.

Call the moversCall the movers whenwhen you areyou are

ready.ready.
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yy

Co-ordinating ConjunctionsCo-ordinating Conjunctions

And," "but," "or," "nor," "for," "so,"And," "but," "or," "nor," "for," "so,"

or "yet") join individual words,or "yet") join individual words,phrases, andphrases, and independent clausesindependent clauses..

Note that but" and "for" can alsoNote that but" and "for" can alsobe used asbe used as prepositionsprepositions..
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ExamplesExamples

LilacsLilacs

andand

violets are usually purple.violets are usually purple.

Here, the co-ordinating conjunction "and"Here, the co-ordinating conjunction "and"

links twolinks two nounsnouns..

This movie is particularly interesting toThis movie is particularly interesting to

feminist film theorists,feminist film theorists, forfor the screenplaythe screenplaywas written by Mae West.was written by Mae West.

Here, the co-ordinating conjunction "for" isHere, the co-ordinating conjunction "for" is

used to link two independent clauses.used to link two independent clauses.
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ExampleExample

Daniel's uncle claimed that he spentDaniel's uncle claimed that he spentmost of his youth dancing on rooftopsmost of his youth dancing on rooftops

andand swallowing goldfish.swallowing goldfish.

Here the co-ordinating conjunctionHere the co-ordinating conjunction"and" links two"and" links two participle phrasesparticiple phrases("dancing on rooftops" and "swallowing("dancing on rooftops" and "swallowing

goldfish") which act asgoldfish") which act as adverbsadverbs

describing thedescribing the verbverb "spends.""spends."
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Subordinating ConjunctionsSubordinating Conjunctions

AA subordinating conjunctionsubordinating conjunction

introduces aintroduces a dependent clausedependent clauseand indicates the nature of theand indicates the nature of the

relationship among therelationship among the

independent clause(s) and theindependent clause(s) and thedependent clause(s).dependent clause(s).
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The most common subordinatingThe most common subordinating

conjunctions are "after," "although,"conjunctions are "after," "although,"

"as," "because," "before," "how,""as," "because," "before," "how,""if," "once," "since," "than," "that,""if," "once," "since," "than," "that,"

"though," "till," "until," "when,""though," "till," "until," "when,"

"where," "whether," and "while.""where," "whether," and "while."


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ExamplesExamples

AfterAfter she had learned to drive, Alice feltshe had learned to drive, Alice felt

more independent.more independent.

After" introduces the dependent clauseAfter" introduces the dependent clause

"After she had learned to drive.""After she had learned to drive." IfIfthe paperwork arrives on time, yourthe paperwork arrives on time, your

cheque will be mailed on Tuesday.cheque will be mailed on Tuesday.

If" introduces the dependent clause "If theIf" introduces the dependent clause "If the

paperwork arrives on time."paperwork arrives on time."


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ExampleExample

Gerald had to begin his thesisGerald had to begin his thesis

over againover again whenwhen his computerhis computercrashed.crashed.

When" introduces theWhen" introduces the

dependent clause "when hisdependent clause "when hiscomputer crashed."computer crashed."


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Correlative ConjunctionsCorrelative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctionsCorrelative conjunctions alwaysalways

appear in pairs -- you use them to linkappear in pairs -- you use them to link

equivalent sentence elements. Theequivalent sentence elements. The

most common correlativemost common correlative

conjunctions are "both...and,"conjunctions are "both...and,"

"either...or," "neither...nor,", "not"either...or," "neither...nor,", "notonly...but also," "so...as," andonly...but also," "so...as," and

"whether...or.""whether...or."


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ExampleExample

BothBoth my grandfathermy grandfather andand my fathermy fatherworked in the steel plant.worked in the steel plant.

In this sentence, the correlativeIn this sentence, the correlativeconjunction "both...and" is used toconjunction "both...and" is used tolink the twolink the two noun phrasesnoun phrases that act asthat act asthethe compound subjectcompound subject of theof thesentence: "my grandfather" and "mysentence: "my grandfather" and "myfather".father".
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ExampleExample

BringBring eithereither a Jello salada Jello salad oror aa

potato scallop.potato scallop.

Here the correlative conjunctionHere the correlative conjunction

"either...or" links two noun phrases:"either...or" links two noun phrases:

"a Jello salad" and "a potato"a Jello salad" and "a potatoscallop."scallop."


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ExampleExample

Corinne is trying to decideCorinne is trying to decide

whetherwhether to go to medical schoolto go to medical schooloror to go to law school.to go to law school.

Whether ... or" links the twoWhether ... or" links the two

infinitive phrasesinfinitive phrases "to go to medical"to go to medicalschool" and "to go to law school."school" and "to go to law school."
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ExampleExample

The explosion destroyedThe explosion destroyed not onlynot onlythe schoolthe school but alsobut also thethe

neighbouring pub.neighbouring pub.

Not only ... but also" links the twoNot only ... but also" links the two

noun phrases ("the school" andnoun phrases ("the school" and

"neighbouring pub") which act as"neighbouring pub") which act asdirect objectsdirect objects..
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Adverbs as linking wordsAdverbs as linking words

The primary consideration inThe primary consideration in

choosing a connective ischoosing a connective isobviouslyobviously meaningmeaning - what is the- what is the

logical relation that needs to belogical relation that needs to be

made explicit?made explicit?


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NeverthelessNevertheless

(=despite this fact)(=despite this fact)

Peter has a bad temper and he isPeter has a bad temper and he israther arrogant. Nevertheless, he israther arrogant. Nevertheless, he is

a brilliant engineer and is verya brilliant engineer and is very

useful to our firm.useful to our firm.


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HoweverHowever

Jane is very fond of cats.Jane is very fond of cats.

However, she dislikes dogs.However, she dislikes dogs.

Anne is fond of cats. Her dislikeAnne is fond of cats. Her dislike

of dogs, however, is well known.of dogs, however, is well known.


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Moreover (=in addition)Moreover (=in addition)

The Columbia space shuttle isThe Columbia space shuttle is

cheaper to build than the earliercheaper to build than the earliertype of space-craft. Moreover, ittype of space-craft. Moreover, it

can be used several times and iscan be used several times and is

thus cheaper to operate.thus cheaper to operate.


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Thereby (+ an ing word)Thereby (+ an ing word)

When charged with the crime,When charged with the crime,

the man nodded his head,the man nodded his head,

thereby admitting his guilt.thereby admitting his guilt. When the traffic lights changedWhen the traffic lights changed

to red, a taxi stopped suddenly,to red, a taxi stopped suddenly,

thereby causing a chain collisionthereby causing a chain collisionwhich involved five vehicles.which involved five vehicles.


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Whereas (introducing aWhereas (introducing a

contrast or comparison)contrast or comparison)

John always drinks tea whereasJohn always drinks tea whereas

his sister prefers coffee.his sister prefers coffee.

Russia is self-sufficient in oilRussia is self-sufficient in oil

whereas the U.S.A. is not.whereas the U.S.A. is not.


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For exampleFor example

If she likes, Jane can take up aIf she likes, Jane can take up a

career as, for example, law,career as, for example, law,medicine or accountancy.medicine or accountancy.

If she is good enough, Jane canIf she is good enough, Jane can

prepare for a career. For example,prepare for a career. For example,she can be a doctor, lawyer orshe can be a doctor, lawyer or

accountant.accountant.


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A List of ConnectivesA List of Connectives


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broadmeaning

connective adverbsand phrases

conjunctions

addition also, too, similarly, inaddition, even, indeed,let alone

and, as, like

opposition however,nevertheless, on the

other hand, incontrast, though,alternatively, anyway,yet, in fact, even so

but, or,(al)though,

whereas,while

broad connective conjunctions


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broadmeaning

connectiveadverbs andphrases

conjunctions

reinforcing besides, anyway,after all

explaining for example, forinstance, in otherwords, that is tosay, i.e., e.g.

in that


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broadmeaning

connectiveadverbs andphrases

conjunctions

listing first of all, finally,lastly, for onething ... foranother, in the

first place, tobegin with, next, insum, to conclude,in a nutshell

and

indicatingresult

therefore,consequently, as aresult, so, then

because, since,as, for, if,unless, now

(that), so (that),in case,


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broadmeaning

connectiveadverbs and

phrases

conjunctions

indicatingtime

then,meanwhile,later,afterwards,before (that),since (then),meanwhile

when, before,after, since,until, till, while,as, once,whenever

4.What is a Conjunction

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