Conjunctions (and types of clauses)

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Conjunctions

A conjunction is a word that links together words and phrases.

A conjunction is the glue that joins together words, lists of words, and phrases in a sentence.

There are coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions and correlative conjunctions. Before we discuss each type, you first need to understand the differences between an independent clause and a dependent clause.

An independent clause has everything a sentence needs: a subject and a predicate. A subject is the who or what doing the action in a sentence. The predicate is the action the subject is doing.

Examples of independent clauses:

She went to school.

Subject = she; Predicate = went to school

I loaded the dishwasher.

Subject = I; Predicate = loaded the dishwasher

My sister and I bought tickets for the movies.

Subject = my sister and I; Predicate = bought tickets for the movies.

A dependent clause is missing either a subject or a predicate or both.

Examples of dependent clauses:

Went to school

Missing a subject

All of the people at the meeting

Missing a predicate

Working towards a conclusion

Missing both a subject and a predicate

Because of the refrigerator

Missing both a subject and a predicate

An independent clause could stand alone on its own as a sentence with proper punctuation. A dependent clause cannot and relies on an independent clause to help it stand. If a dependent clause is left alone and isn't attached to an independent clause to help it stand, we call that a sentence fragment.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions are what come to most people's minds when they hear the word "conjunction." They join together words, phrases, and independent clauses. With them, short and choppy sentences can be joined into fuller lines. There are seven of them, and they're easy to remember if you can just think of the acronym "FANBOYS." When a coordinating conjunction is used to join together two independent (able to stand on their own) clauses, a comma (,) is used.

For

And

Nor

But

Or

Yet

So

Examples of a coordinating conjunction joining together words:

For breakfast, would you like bacon or sausage?

I packed shorts, shirts, and shoes.

Example of a coordinating conjunction joining together phrases:

After lunch, I walked back to the building and through the front door.

Example of a coordinating conjunction + a comma joining together independent clauses:

Hockey is fun to watch on the T.V., but it's better to watch in-person. (Hockey is fun to watch is an independent clause, meaning it could be a sentence that stood on its own. So is it's better to watch in-person. A comma and the conjunction but join these two independent clauses together.)

I take a book with me on vacation, yet I never seem to turn a single page. (I take a book with me on vacation is an independent clause. So is I never seem to turn a single page. A comma plus the conjunction yet join these two independent clauses together.)

Subordinating Conjunctions

A subordinating conjunction is used to join together an independent clause and a dependent clause. The most common subordinating conjunctions are:

although

as

because

before

how

if

once

since

than

that

though

until

when

whenever

whether

while

When the dependent clause is at the beginning of the sentence, use a comma between the dependent and independent clauses.

Examples:

Once I remembered that the oven was on, I rushed into the kitchen.

Since that day, I've always wanted a little dog.

Although I don't recommend it, you can purchase all your supplies online.

When the dependent clause is at the end of the sentence, do not use a comma to separate the two clauses.

Examples:

I rushed into the kitchen once I remembered that the oven was on.

I've always wanted a little dog since that day.

You can purchase all your supplies online although I don't recommend it.

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are tag-team conjunctions. They come in pairs, and you have to use both of them in different places in a sentence to make them work. Correlative conjunctions connect two equal grammatical terms. So, if a noun follows "both," then a noun should also follow "and."

Common pairs include:

• both/and

• whether/or

• either/or

• neither/nor

• not/but

• not only/but also

Examples:

I want both a new bike and a new pair of shoes.

Whether we go to the beach or to the boardwalk, we're sure to have a good time.

She wanted neither his sass nor his attitude.

Not only is Oregon beautiful, but it is also peaceful.

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