How To Identify Conjunctions

The word is probably a conjunction if it is a connector between words, phrases or clauses. Like prepositions, there are only a limited number of conjunctions in English. Common examples are: and, but, or, yet, for, so, because, since, as, when, while, after, before, that, whether, if etc.

  • My brother and I enjoy playing badminton.
  • She is very beautiful but no one likes her.
  • He was ill, yet he went to work.
  • Ice will melt if you heat it.
  • I went home because I was bored.

There is yet another category of connectors. Examples are: who, whom, which, that, where and whose. These are not exactly conjunctions. In grammars they are called relative pronouns.

Exercise

Identify the conjunctions in the following sentences.

  1. I waited for him but he didn’t come.
  2. I am not sure if I will have time.
  3. She started shouting before I said a word.
  4. Will you wait here until I am back?
  5. You are going to eat this whether you like it or not.
  6. She was both surprised and excited.
  7. Though it was a brilliant idea, it did not succeed.

Answers

  1. I waited for him but he didn’t come.
  2. I am not sure if I will have time.
  3. She started shouting before I said a word.
  4. Will you wait here until I am back?
  5. You are going to eat this whether you like it or not.
  6. She was both surprised and excited.
  7. Though it was a brilliant idea, it did not succeed.

See Also

Manjusha Nambiar

Hi, I am Manjusha. This is my blog where I give English grammar lessons and worksheets.

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