Parts of Speech: Conjunction

With Help from Lenny and Carl

What is a Conjunction?

• A conjunction is a word that joins words or groups of words:– “We call each other by number but not by

name. Carl is number 14, and I’m number 12.”

Types of Conjunctions

• There are three kinds of conjunctions: COORDINATING conjunctions, CORRELATIVE conjunctions, and SUBORDINATING conjunctions.

Coordinating Conjunctions

• For Coordinating Conjunctions

• And can combine subjects, predicates,

• Nor objects, or sentences (to make

compound sentences).

• But Only if they are used in a list or

• Or to combine sentences do they

• Yet need a comma (,) before them.

• So

Correlative Conjunctions

• Correlative Conjunctions are always used in pairs:

• Example:– Homer cannot decide whether Carl or Lenny is

his best friend.

• Correlative Conjunction Pairs:– Either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but (also), and whether…or.

Subordinating Conjunctions

• Subordinating conjunctions are used to begin subordinate clauses, usually adverb clauses.

• Example:– Lenny hurt his eye when he took the rubber

band off his newspaper because he did not have goggles to protect his face.

Subordinating Conjunctions (Cont.)

• A subordinating conjunction need not come between the sentence part that it joins. It may come at the beginning of the sentence:– Because he did not have goggles, Lenny hurt

his eye when he took the rubber band off his newspaper.• Note: When a subordinating conjunction begins a

sentence, a comma must separate the subordinate clause and the independent clause.

Commonly Used Subordinate Conjunctions

• After, although, as, as much as, because, before, how, if, in order that, inasmuch as, provided, since, than, that, though, unless, until, when, where, while– Some of these words may be used as

prepositions: after, before, since, until.– Others may be used as adverbs: how, when,

where.– That is often a relative pronoun.

Practice

• Combine the following sentences using the conjunctions indicated:– Coordinating: Mr. Burns knows Lenny by name. He

knows Carl’s name. He can never remember Homer’s name.

– Correlative: Lenny works at the power plant. Carl works there too.

– Subordinate: Lenny loses hope in his and Carl’s friendship. Carl tries to save the friendship.

Practice (Corrected)

• Coordinating: Mr. Burns knows Lenny and Carl by name, but he can never remember Homer’s name.

• Correlative: Both Lenny and Carl work at the power plant.

• Subordinate: Although Lenny loses hope in their friendship, Carl tries to save it.