What is a Conjunction?

A conjunction is a word that "joins". A conjunction joins two parts of a sentence

Form

Conjunctions have three basic forms:

• Single Word
  for example: and, but, because, although
• Compound (often ending with as or that)
  for example: provided that, as long as, in order that
• Correlative (surrounding an adverb or adjective)
  for example: so...that

Function

Conjunctions have two basic functions or "jobs":

• Coordinating conjunctions are used to join two parts of a sentence that are grammatically equal. The two parts may be single words or clauses, for example:
  - Jack and Jill went up the hill.
  - The water was warm, but I didn't go swimming.
• Subordinating conjunctions are used to join a subordinate dependent clause to a main clause, for example:
  - I went swimming although it was cold.

Position

• Coordinating conjunctions always come between the words or clauses that they join.
• Subordinating conjunctions usually come at the beginning of the subordinate clause

Coordinating conjunctions are the simplest kind, and they denote equality of relationship between the ideas they join. Their relatives, correlative conjunctions, not only denote equality, but they also make the joining tighter and more emphatic.

Coordinating Conjunctions	Correlative Conjunctions
and but or nor for so yet	both . . . and not only . . . but also either . . . or neither . . . nor whether . . . or just as . . . so too

Examples:

• John and Sally built a fish pond.
• The train was late, and Tom was tired.
• Just as the smell of baking brought back memories, so too did the taste of the cider.

Coordinating and correlative conjunctions are great when two ideas are of the same importance, but many times one idea is more important than another. Subordinating conjunctions allow a writer to show which idea is more and which is less important. The idea in the main clause is the more important, while the idea in the subordinate clause (made subordinate by the subordinating conjunction) is less important. The subordinate clause supplies a time, reason, condition, and so on for the main clause.

Subordinating Conjunctions
Time	Reason	Concession	Place	Condition	Manner
after before since when whenever while until as as . . . as once	because since so that in order that why	although though even though while	where wherever	if unless until in case provided that assuming that even if	as if as though how

Examples:

• Sally steamed the corn while Fred fried the steaks.
• After the rain stopped, the dog ran into the mud to play.
• The snowman melted because the sun came out.
• Even though John fell asleep, the telephone salesman kept talking.

Conjunctive adverbs make up an even stronger category of conjunctions. They show logical relationships between two independent sentences, between sections of paragraphs, or between entire paragraphs. Conjunctive adverbs are so emphatic that they should be used sparingly; however, when used appropriately, they can be quite effective.

Conjunctive Adverbs
also hence however still likewise otherwise therefore conversely rather	consequently furthermore nevertheless instead moreover then thus meanwhile accordingly

Examples:

• If the salmon is grilled, I will have that; otherwise, I might have the chicken.
• James has a garage full of wood working tools. He might, however, have some metric wrenches, too.
• I do not recommend that you play with a stick of dynamite lit at both ends. Rather, a ham sandwich would be better for you.

Relative pronouns and relative adjectives are also used to join ideas together by creating adjective or noun clauses, which allow a writer to create smoother, more flowing and effective sentences by combining ideas.

Relative Pronouns and Relative Adjectives
who whom whose whoever whomever	which that what whichever whatever

Examples:

• This is the man who sells peanuts.
• Tell me what you want.
• Hers is an idea that I would like to think through.
• The shirts, which are in the laundry, will need ironing.

Adverbs of time, place, and sequence are actually transitions of logic, but as such they also have conjunctive force, because they connect ideas by showing a time relationship.

Adverbs of Time, Place, and Sequence
earlier next lastly later before after	then now soon here there today	first second third fourth eventually tomorrow

Examples:

• The twilight glides away. Soon night will awake.
• First, get a pad and pencil. Next, find a quiet place to think.

Expletives are closely related to conjunctive adverbs. The "official" line on expletives is that they convey no meaning of their own but instead serve only to emphasize the statement to which they are attached. As such, then, they technically do not show a logical relationship like time or cause between ideas, and that fact prevents them from being true-blue conjunctive adverbs. But it could be argued that expletives create a relationship of emphasis between ideas: this new idea is important in light of what preceded it. Indeed, that is why they are included here.

Expletives
of course indeed naturally after all in short I hope at least remarkably	in fact I think it seems in brief clearly I suppose assuredly definitely	to be sure without doubt for all that on the whole in any event importantly certainly naturally

Examples:

• The flashlight hit the floor and broke into a hundred pieces. At least there was a candle in the room.
• They all began to use appropriate expletives in their writing. They were convinced, I suppose, by the excellent examples.
• The conjunction list has left the building. On the whole, I hope you enjoyed it.