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Conjunction

Conjunction is one of the parts of speech. The primary function of conjunction is to hook up. In simpler form, conjunction is a word which joins two words, sentences, clauses & phrases with each other.

The words like for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so, since, before, until, than, though etc. are conjunctions. Some sentences using conjunctions are given below.

1. My mother and I went to the market.
2. Sumit is good in acting but Karan is best.
3. Think before you speak.
4. I ate out yesterday with my family.

The conjunctions can be categorized in three categories:

1) Coordinating Conjunctions: These conjunctions join two statements of equal importance.

The seven common coordinating conjunctions are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so and can be memorised in their abbreviated form as F.A.N.B.O.Y.S (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Some sentences using coordinating conjunctions are given below.

• Dyna likes tea, but Joe likes coffee.
• This is the worst dish I have ever had, so I will never eat it again.
• She didn’t like the food, yet she ate it.
• They don’t have food, nor do they have money to buy it.

2) Subordinating Conjunctions: These conjunctions join two sentences, one of which depends on other for its complete meaning. They are helpful in writing paragraphs.

The most common examples of subordinating conjunctions are although, as, because, before, if, since, so, so that, than, though, unless, until, when, whenever, whereas, while etc.

Some sentences using subordinating conjunctions are given below.

• I painted the house because the walls were all stained.
• Once you’ve learnt the conjunctions, it’s very easy to use them
• It snowed while I was in Paris.
• Since then, I have changed my opinion about him.
• I won’t sleep unless you come back.

3) Correlative Conjunctions: These are the pair of conjunctions used to join two syntactic equivalent statements, to complete their meanings.

The examples of correlative conjunctions are mentioned below.

• either , or

Thomas will either come on Saturday or Sunday.

• neither, nor

Neither Alice nor Joe knows when aunt Leena left.

• whether, or

They were not sure whether to go out or stay at home on weekend.

• not only, but

It was extreme cold not only in Delhi but in entire northern states of India.

• just as, so

Just as many Americans love football, Indians love cricket.

• both, and

Both Andrew and Liza love their pets.

The use of conjunctions has made English simple as they shorten the sentences. If we do not use conjunction then the conversation or writing will become lengthy. Just remove the conjunctions from the above stated sentences and speak them. See how cumbersome it becomes making sentences without any conjunction. Thus it can be said that in English grammar, conjunctions are an integral part of speech.