31h Conjunctions

Conjunctions connect words or groups of words to each other and tell something about the relationship between these words.

Coordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions (25a) join equivalent structures—two or more nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, phrases, or clauses.

image A strong but warm breeze blew across the desert.

image Please print or type the information on the application form.

image Taiwo worked two shifts today, so she is tired tonight.

COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

and for or yet
but nor so  

Correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions join equal elements, and they come in pairs.

image Both Bechtel and Kaiser submitted bids on the project.

image Jeff not only sent a card but also visited me in the hospital.

CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

both…and just as…so not only…but also
either…or neither…nor whether…or

Subordinating conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions introduce adverb clauses and signal the relationship between an adverb clause and another clause. For instance, in the following sentence, the subordinating conjunction while signals that the two events in the sentence happened simultaneously:

image Sweat ran down my face while I frantically searched for my child.

SOME SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

after if unless
although in order that until
as once when
as if since where
because so that whether
before than while
even though though  

Conjunctive adverbs

Conjunctive adverbs signal a logical relationship between parts of a sentence and, when used with a semicolon, can link independent clauses (31m).

image The cider tasted bitter; however, each of us drank a tall glass of it.

image The cider tasted bitter; each of us, however, drank a tall glass of it.

SOME CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS

also however moreover similarly
anyway incidentally namely still
besides indeed nevertheless then
certainly instead next therefore
finally likewise now thus
furthermore meanwhile otherwise undoubtedly