Conjunctions

Conjunctions are words that join clauses into sentences. Conjunctions not only join clauses together; they also show how the meanings of the two clauses are related.

Examples are: and, but, although, because, when, if etc.

He is poor, but honest. (contrast)
I wrote the letters and Ann posted them. (addition)
He was happy because he got a rise. (cause)

Conjunctions are also used to join two or more words together.

Two and two make four.
Ann and Mary are good friends.
Jack and Jill went up the hill.

There are two kinds of conjunctions: coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions.

Coordinating conjunctions join pairs of clauses that are grammatically independent of each other. Examples are: and, or, but or yet.

Other conjunctions, like because, when, that or which, are called subordinating conjunctions. A subordinating conjunction together with its following clause acts like a part of the other clause.

I will phone you when I arrive.

Some conjunctions are made up of two or more words.

I stayed an extra night so that I could see Alice.

Correlative

A general term for a pair of items which work together to connect things in a sentence but are not adjacent.

Common examples of correlative conjunctions are: both … and, either … or, neither … nor, not only … but also, as … as, rather … than and so … that.

• I would rather be good than lucky.
• Peter both smokes and drinks.
• This book is so interesting that I can’t put it down.