Conjunctions Introduction

Conjunctions are words that link other words, phrases, clauses, or sentences together.

Susan is an amazing wife and a wonderful mom

Conjunctions add eloquence to our speech. They also allow us to form complex sentences instead of using multiple short ones.

Bran likes eating. He doesn't like cooking. He finds cooking boring

Bran likes eating but he doesn't like cooking as he finds it boring

Conjunctions can be divided into the following categories:

• subordinating conjunctions -- link two clauses, a main (independent) one and a subordinate (dependent) one. The most commonly used subordinating conjunctions are although, as, because, if, though, unless, etc.

She won't speak with her parents unless they apologise first

• correlative conjunctions -- connect two equal grammatical items. These conjunctions come in pairs - either ... or, neither ... nor, not only ... but also.

Either we go to the party or we stay at home

• compound conjunctions -- are phrases which are used as conjunctions. A compound conjunction has two or three words that go together - so that, as long as, even though, etc.

Mike lied to his parents so that he could go to the party

• coordinating conjunctions -- are used to link words, phrases, and clauses of equal importance in a sentence. There are seven coordinating conjunctions - for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Beth doesn't like cheese, yet she eats pizza nearly every day

Guided Practice#

• Yet/if it is raining outside, take an umbrella so that/unless you want to get wet.

• Either/Neither did they message her afterwards, or/nor did they invite her over again.

• You claim to be allergic to dairy, yet/or you eat cheese for/and butter.

Short Story using Conjunctions#

-I heard that Erick is moving to a new place. Is it true?

-Yeah, he is moving to a bigger apartment with his girlfriend. Even though they haven't been dating for that long, they decided to live together to save some money.

-Yeah, it actually makes sense as rent is so expensive right now!

-Totally! And as long as they get along, I don't see a problem with them living together so soon.

Independent Practice#

Spot conjunctions in the following text.

The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of the pink-flowering thorn.

...

As the painter looked at the gracious and comely form he had so skilfully mirrored in his art, a smile of pleasure passed across his face, and seemed about to linger there. But he suddenly started up, and closing his eyes, placed his fingers upon the lids, as though he sought to imprison within his brain some curious dream from which he feared he might awake. [The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde]