What Are Conjunctions|Definition, Rules & Examples

Conjunctions, the glue of sentences, play a pivotal and connecting role in crafting clear, impactful communication. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the depths of conjunctions in English grammar, exploring their essence, various types, and exemplary usage.

What are conjunctions?

Conjunctions, indispensable components of speech, serve as connectors, uniting disparate segments of a sentence. They facilitate the expression of relationships between ideas, delineate contrasts, impart additional information, and more. Consider this example: “I yearned to visit the park, but alas, rain intervened.” Here, “but” functions as a conjunction, juxtaposing the desire to visit the park against the unforeseen rain.

List of Conjunctions 

Behold a plethora of these invaluable connecting words that enrich our expressions and enrich our discourse:

• And I relish ice cream, and I equally savor cake.
• But: She aspired to wander in the park, but the heavens opened up.
• Or: Dinner beckons, offering either pizza or pasta.
• Diligence in my studies ensued, so victory graced my test.
• A present procured for a friend’s birthday celebration.
• Although the hour grew late, my commitment to finishing the book endured.
• Because: She carried an umbrella, forewarned by ominous skies.
• Unless: Beyond thresholds, I won’t tread, unless the sun emerges from hiding.
• Since commemorating your day of birth, a celebration beckons.
• While waiting for the bus, a book captivated my attention.
• Either… or: The culinary dilemma persists: tea or coffee?
• Neither feline nor canine displayed fondness for the clamor.
• Both…and: Her pursuits encompass both song and dance.
• Not only… but also: mastery extends beyond guitar playing to the strokes of painting.
• Whether or not the weather is but a trifle, merriment shall prevail.

Types of Conjunctions

Let us now embark on a journey through the diverse categories of conjunctions, enriching our understanding and honing our linguistic prowess.

Coordinating Conjunctions:

These stalwart connectors bridge similar sentence constituents, be they words, phrases, or clauses. They foster equilibrium between parallel notions. Common examples include “and,” “but,” “or,” “so,” and “for,” among others.

Examples:

Coordinating Conjunction	Example Sentence
And	I like coffee and tea.
But	He wanted to go out, but it was raining.
Or	Would you like pizza or pasta for dinner?
So	She studied hard, so she passed the exam.
For	He went to the store, for he needed groceries.
Yet	She was tired, yet she couldn’t sleep.
Nor	She nor her sister could attend the event.
However	He wanted to go, however he didn’t have enough money.
Therefore	It’s raining, therefore we should bring umbrellas.
Moreover	He is intelligent, moreover, he is hardworking.

Subordinating Conjunctions:

Distinguished by their introduction of dependent clauses, subordinating conjunctions necessitate the support of independent clauses to convey coherence. They unveil causal relations, temporal sequences, conditional clauses, and more. Notable members comprise “although,” “because,” “unless,” “since,” and their ilk.

Examples:

Subordinating Conjunction	Sentence
Although	Although it was raining, we decided to go for a walk.
Because	We canceled the picnic because of the thunderstorm.
Unless	I won’t eat dinner unless I finish my homework.
Since	She’s been feeling better since she started taking the medication.
If	If it snows tomorrow, we’ll build a snowman.
When	We’ll go to the beach when the weather gets warmer.
While	I like to listen to music while I’m working.
Before	Finish your homework before you go out to play.
After	We went for ice cream after we finished our dinner.
Wherever	We’ll go on vacation wherever you want to go.

Correlative Conjunctions:

Functioning in pairs, these dynamic duos synchronize sentence elements, ensuring equipoise and symmetry. Through parallelism, they underscore interrelationships between concepts. Classic instances include “either/or,” “neither/nor,” “both/and,” and their kindred.

Examples:

Correlative Conjunctions	Sentences
Either…or	Either you come with us, or stay here alone.
Neither…nor	Neither the cat nor the dog wants to go outside in the rain.
Both…and	She enjoys both singing and dancing.
Not only…but also	Not only did they visit the museum, but also they explored the zoo.
Whether…or	Whether it’s sunny or rainy, we’ll have fun.
As…as	He is as tall as his brother.
Such…that	She was such a good singer that everyone applauded.
The…the	The more you practice, the better you’ll get.
No sooner…than	No sooner had she arrived than the party started.
Scarcely…when	Scarcely had they left when it started to rain.

Using Conjunctions in Sentences 

Harnessing the prowess of conjunctions elevates our linguistic finesse, rendering our discourse compelling and articulate. Let’s explore their application in diverse contexts:

Combining Two Independent Clauses:

Unifying standalone sentences via coordinating conjunctions enriches narrative fluidity. Commas herald the conjunction’s arrival when merging complete thoughts.

Examples:

Example	Sentence
1.But	Adam wanted to go to the park, but it started raining.
2.And	She loves dancing, and she’s great at playing the piano.
3.And	Mona wanted to go shopping, and I needed new shoes.
4.But	Emma wanted to go to the party, but she had to study.
5.But	John is good at basketball, but he’s even better at soccer.
6.So	The movie was interesting, so we stayed until the end.
7.So	The sun was shining brightly, so we decided to have a picnic.
8.But	I enjoy reading novels, but I also like watching movies.
9.And	Sarah is a talented singer, and she’s an accomplished painter too.
10.But	The concert was canceled, but we managed to get refunds.

Joining dependent and independent clauses:

Subordinating conjunctions orchestrate the fusion of principal and ancillary clauses, bestowing depth upon our prose. The comma’s presence hinges on the clause’s positioning.

Examples:

Example	Sentence
1. With dependent clause first	Unless I clean my room, I won’t be able to watch TV later.
2. With independent clause first	I won’t be able to watch TV later unless I clean my room.
3. With dependent clause first	Because the weather was terrible, we decided to stay home.
4. With independent clause first	We decided to stay home because the weather was terrible.
5. With dependent clause first	Although John was tired, he continued working.
6. With independent clause first	He continued working although John was tired.
7. With dependent clause first	Since it’s your birthday, let’s have a party.
8. With independent clause first	Let’s have a party since it’s your birthday.
9. With dependent clause first	While waiting for the bus, I read a book.
10. With independent clause first	I read a book while waiting for the bus.

Coordinating Ideas with Correlative Conjunctions:

Correlative conjunctions, through their balanced pairing, confer cadence and symmetry upon our expressions, echoing harmonious melodies.

Examples:

Correlative Conjunctions	Sentences
Either…or	Either you come to the party, or you stay home alone.
Neither…nor	Neither the cat nor the dog wants to go outside in the rain.
Both…and	Both the parents and the children enjoyed the movie.
Not only…but also	Not only did she finish her homework, but she also cleaned her room.
Whether…or	Whether it rains or shines, the picnic will go on.
Either…or	You can either go for a walk or watch a movie tonight.
Neither…nor	Neither John nor Mary has finished their assignments.
Both…and	Both the sun and the moon illuminate the sky.
Not only…but also	Not only was the cake delicious, but the icing was also delightful.
Whether…or	Whether you study hard or not, the exam will still be tough.

Common Mistakes with Conjunctions

Navigating the labyrinth of conjunctions demands vigilance to circumvent potential pitfalls. Let us illuminate and rectify these errors to fortify our linguistic acumen.

Subject-Verb Agreement Errors: 

Vigilance in subject-verb agreement is paramount, particularly when conjunctions introduce multiple subjects, ensuring grammatical harmony.

Misplaced Modifiers: 

Precision in word placement prevents the distortion of intended meanings, safeguarding coherence and clarity.

Tips for Using Conjunctions Effectively 

Crafting compelling narratives necessitates finesse and creativity. By judiciously incorporating conjunctions, we wield a powerful tool to captivate our audience. Here are strategies to wield conjunctions with finesse:

Mix and Match for Variety: 

Blend diverse conjunctions to infuse vibrancy and rhythm into your prose, painting a vivid tapestry of expression.

Choose the Right Conjunction: 

Selecting apt conjunctions imbues our discourse with clarity and coherence, ensuring seamless transitions between ideas.

Create Clear Relationships: 

Forge robust connections between ideas, employing conjunctions to delineate contrasts or expound upon reasons, fostering lucidity and comprehension.

Keep it Balanced: Maintain equilibrium when employing correlative conjunctions, ensuring parity between paired elements, and harmonizing our narrative’s cadence.

FAQs

What are the 100 conjunctions?

Conjunctions are words that connect clauses or sentences. While there are many conjunctions in the English language, some of the most common ones include and, but, or, so, for, nor, yet, and because.

What are the 3 main conjunctions?

The three main conjunctions are coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, and correlative conjunctions. They each serve different purposes in connecting words, phrases, or clauses within a sentence.

What are the 7 most common conjunctions?

The seven most common conjunctions, often referred to as FANBOYS, are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. These words are frequently used to join words, phrases, or clauses in sentences.

What are the 7 Fanboys conjunctions?

The FANBOYS conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. They are used to join words, phrases, or clauses in sentences and are known for their mnemonic device that helps remember them.

What are 10 examples of interjections in a sentence?

Interjections are words or phrases used to express emotions or sentiments and are often followed by an exclamation mark. Here are 10 examples:

1. Wow! That was an amazing performance!
2. Ouch! That hurt.
3. Yay! We won the game!
4. Oh no! I forgot my keys.
5. Bravo! You did a fantastic job.
6. Alas! We missed the train.
7. Phew! That was a close call.
8. Oops! I dropped my phone.
9. Hooray! It’s finally Friday.
10. Hey! What are you doing?

What are the 5 examples of conjunctions on Brainly?

Some examples of conjunctions are and, but, or, so, and because. These words are used to connect words, phrases, or clauses in sentences to show relationships between ideas.

What are the 8 correlative conjunctions?

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words used to join sentence elements that are grammatically equal. The eight correlative conjunctions are either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but also, whether…or, as…as, no sooner…than, and rather…than.

How many conjunctions exist?

While the exact number of conjunctions in the English language is not fixed, there are hundreds of them. However, some of the most common ones are frequently used in everyday speech and writing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the intricate tapestry of language is interwoven with the subtle yet powerful threads of conjunctions. From the humble “and” to the majestic “correlative conjunctions,” these linguistic marvels serve as the linchpins of coherence and clarity in our communication. 

As we navigate the vast expanse of discourse, let us not underestimate the profound impact of these small but mighty words. Embrace the artistry of conjunctions, for they are the silent architects of eloquence and the guardians of seamless expression.