CONJUNCTIONS
Conjunctions are words used as joiners.
Different kinds of conjunctions join different kinds of grammatical structures.
The following are the kinds of conjunctions:
A. COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS (FANBOYS)
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Coordinating conjunctions join equals to one another:
words to words, phrases to phrases, clauses to clauses.
Coordinating conjunctions usually form looser connections than other conjunctions do.
Coordinating conjunctions go in between items joined, not at the beginning or end.
Punctuation with coordinating conjunctions:
When a coordinating conjunction joins two words, phrases, or subordinate clauses, no comma should be placed before the conjunction.
A coordinating conjunction joining three or more words, phrases, or subordinate clauses creates a series and requires commas between the elements.
A coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses creates a compound sentence and requires a comma before the coordinating conjunction
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either. . .or |
both. . . and |
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neither. . . nor |
not only. . . but also |
These pairs of conjunctions require equal (parallel) structures after each one.
These conjunctions join independent clauses together.
The following are frequently used conjunctive adverbs:
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after all |
in addition |
next |
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also |
incidentally |
nonetheless |
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as a result |
indeed |
on the contrary |
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besides |
in fact |
on the other hand |
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consequently |
in other words |
otherwise |
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finally |
instead |
still |
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for example |
likewise |
then |
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furthermore |
meanwhile |
therefore |
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hence |
moreover |
thus |
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however |
nevertheless |
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Punctuation: |
Place a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb and a comma after the conjunctive adverb. |
These words are commonly used as subordinating conjunctions
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after |
in order (that) |
unless |
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although |
insofar as |
until |
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as |
in that |
when |
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as far as |
lest |
whenever |
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as soon as |
no matter how |
where |
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as if |
now that |
wherever |
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as though |
once |
whether |
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because |
provided (that) |
while |
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before |
since |
why |
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even if |
so that |
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even though |
supposing (that) |
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how |
than |
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if |
that |
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inasmuch as |
though |
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in case (that) |
till |
Subordinating conjunctions also join two clauses together, but in doing so, they make one clause dependent (or "subordinate") upon the other.
A subordinating conjunction may appear at a sentence beginning or between two clauses in a sentence.
A subordinate conjunction usually provides a tighter connection between clauses than a coordinating conjunctions does.
| Loose: | It is raining, so we have an umbrella. |
| Tight: | Because it is raining, we have an umbrella. |
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Punctuation Note: |
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When the dependent clause is placed first in a sentence, use a comma between the two clauses. When the independent clause is placed first and the dependent clause second, do not separate the two clauses with a comma. |
