CONJUNCTIONS

A conjunction is the glue that holds words, phrases and clauses (both
dependent and independent) together. There are three different kinds of
conjunctions––coordinating, subordinating, and correlative––each serving
its own, distinct purpose, but all working to bring words together.

What Is a Coordinating Conjunction?

Coordinating conjunctions are what come to most people’s minds when

they hear the word “conjunction.” They can join together words, phrases
and independent clauses. There are seven of them, and they’re easy to
remember if you can just remember FAN BOYS:

 For - Explains reason or purpose (just like “because”) I go to the park

every Sunday, for I love to watch the ducks on the lake.

 And - Adds one thing to another I go to the park every Sunday to

watch the ducks on the lake and the shirtless men playing soccer.

 Nor - Used to present an alternative negative idea to an already stated

negative idea I don’t go for the fresh air nor really for the ducks.
Honestly, I just like the soccer.

 But - Shows contrast The soccer in the park is entertaining in the

winter, but it’s better in the heat of summer.

 Or - Presents an alternative or a choice The men play on teams:

shirts or skins.

 Yet - Introduces a contrasting idea that follows the preceding idea

logically (similar to “but”) I always take a book to read, yet I never
seem to turn a single page.

 So - Indicates effect, result or consequence I’ve started dating one of

the soccer players, so now I have an excuse to watch the game each
week.
Recognize a coordinating conjunction when you see one.

And, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet—these are the seven coordinating
conjunctions. To remember all seven, you might want to learn one of these
acronyms: FANBOYS, YAFNOBS, or FONYBAS.

F = for Y = yet F = for

A = and A = and O = or
N = nor F = for N = nor
B = but N = nor Y = yet
O = or O = or B = but
Y = yet B = but A = and
S = so S = so S = so

Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, and clauses. Look at

the examples that follow:

The bowl of squid eyeball stew is hot and delicious.

The squid eyeball stew is so thick that you can eat it with a fork or spoon.

Rocky, my orange tomcat, loves having his head scratched but hates
getting his claws trimmed.

Rocky terrorizes the poodles next door yet adores the German shepherd
across the street.

Rocky refuses to eat dry cat food, nor will he touch a saucer of squid
eyeball stew.

I hate to waste a single drop of squid eyeball stew, for it is expensive and
time-consuming to make.

Even though I added cream to the squid eyeball stew, Rocky ignored his
serving, so I got a spoon and ate it myself.

Understand the difference between coordination and subordination.

Use a coordinating conjunction when you want to give equal emphasis to

two main clauses. The pattern for coordination looks like this:
Main Clause + , + Coordinating Conjunction + Main Clause.

Subordination, however, emphasizes the idea in the main clause more than
the one in the subordinate clause. Generally, the patterns look like
these:

Main Clause + Ø + Subordinate Clause.

Subordinate Clause + , + Main Clause.

Read the pairs of sentences that follow. The first version coordinates the
two ideas. The second version subordinates one idea to emphasize the
other.

To survive the fetal pig dissection, Rinalda agreed to make all of the
incisions, and Frances promised to remove and label the organs.

To survive the fetal pig dissection, Rinalda agreed to make all of the
incisions if Frances would promise to remove and label the organs.

Diana stared dreamily at the handsome Mr. McKenzie, but Olivia, who
hated economics, furiously jiggled her foot, impatient to escape the boring
class.

While Diana was staring dreamily at the handsome Mr. McKenzie, Olivia
furiously jiggled her foot, impatient to escape the boring economics class
that she hated.

At a red light, Maria jumped out of Gino's car and slammed the door, for
she could not tolerate one more minute of the heavy metal music that Gino
insisted on blasting from the stereo.

At a red light, Maria jumped out of Gino's car and slammed the door
because she could not tolerate one more minute of the heavy metal music
that Gino insisted on blasting from the stereo.

Making an A in Anatomy and Physiology has not helped Sima choose a

career. She might decide to make her parents happy and go to medical
school, or she might use her knowledge of the human body to become a
sculptor.
Making an A in Anatomy and Physiology has not helped Sima choose a
career. Although she might decide to make her parents happy and go to
medical school, she might also use her knowledge of the human body to
become a sculptor.

Kyle refused to eat the salad served with the meal, nor would he touch any
green vegetable put on his plate.

After Kyle refused the salad served with the meal, he then would not touch
the green vegetables put on his plate.

Joe spent seven hours studying calculus at the Mexican diner, so now he
can set his math book on fire with his salsa breath.

Since Joe spent seven hours studying calculus at the Mexican diner, he can
now set his math book on fire with his salsa breath.

Because she gets seasick, Danielle is dreading the spring break cruise, yet
she might enjoy herself once she realizes how many cute guys in skimpy
bathing suits parade the decks.

Even though Danielle is dreading getting seasick on the spring break

cruise, she will probably enjoy herself once she realizes how many cute guys
in skimpy bathing suits parade the decks.

Punctuate coordinating conjunctions correctly.

Three patterns in writing use coordinating conjunctions. Add commas

when required.

Pattern 1 — Connecting two main clauses

When you connect two main clauses with a coordinating conjunction, use
a comma. The pattern looks like this:

Main Clause + , + Coordinating Conjunction + Main Clause.

Here is an example:

While I am at work, my dog Floyd sleeps on the bed , and my cat Buster
naps in the bathtub.
Pattern 2 — Connecting two items

You can also use a coordinating conjunction to connect any two items.
These items can be any grammatical unit except main clauses. The pattern
looks like this:

Item + Ø + Coordinating Conjunction + Item

Here are some examples:

My dog Floyd has too many fleas and too much hair.

My cat Buster has beautiful blue eyes but a destructive personality.

Pattern 3 — Connecting three or more items in a series

When you have three or more items in a series, you generally use a
comma before the coordinating conjunction. Some handbooks and style
guides will tell you that this comma is optional, but my advice is to put it in.
The pattern looks like this:

Item + , + Item + , + Coordinating Conjunction + Item

Here is an example:

Swatting olives off the kitchen counter, dragging toilet paper streamers
through the house, and terrorizing Jacques Cousteau, the parakeet, have
consumed another of Buster's days.

Yes, you can begin a sentence with a coordinating conjunction!

Some teachers warn that beginning a sentence with a coordinating

conjunction is wrong. Teachers will typically tell you this because they are
trying to help you avoid writing fragments. Other times teachers give this
advice because their preference is that a sentence not begin with a
coordinating conjunction.

What you should remember is that you break no grammar rule if you begin
a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. Because you might be breaking
your instructors' rules, however, you should ask what their preferences are.
If you decide to begin a sentence with a coordinating conjunction, keep
these three things in mind:

 Be sure that a main clause follows the coordinating conjunction.

 Do not use a coordinating conjunction to begin every sentence. Use

this option only when it makes the flow of your ideas more effective.

 Do not use a comma after the coordinating conjunction. Coordinating

conjunctions are not transitional expressions like for example or first
of all. You will rarely use punctuation after them.

Here are some examples:

While I was answering the telephone, Buster, my cat, jumped onto the
kitchen counter and swatted all of my jalapeño-stuffed olives onto the dirty
kitchen floor. So I had to rinse off the cat hair and crumbs sticking to these
delicacies before I could add them to the salad.

Flying down the bumpy path, Genette hit a rock with the front wheel of her
mountain bike, flew over the handlebars, and crashed into a clump of
prickly palmetto bushes. Yet even this accident would not deter her from
completing the race.

Only when an interrupter immediately follows the coordinating

conjunction do you need to use commas. Read this example:

We hoped that decorating the top of Christine's cupcake with a dead

grasshopper would freak her out. But, to our amazement, she just
popped the whole thing in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

What Is a Subordinating Conjunction?

A subordinating conjunction always introduces a dependent clause, tying it

to an independent clause. In contrast to coordinating conjunctions, a
subordinate conjunction can often come first in a sentence. This is due
simply to the nature of the relationship between the dependent and the
independent clause. In English, there are lots of subordinating
conjunctions, but the most common ones are "after," "although," "as,"
"because," "before," "how," "if," "once," "since," "than," "that," "though,"
"until," "when," "where," "whether," and "while." Here are a few examples
of how subordinating conjunctions are used:

 “Because of you, I never stray too far from the sidewalk” (Kelly
Clarkson).

 “If you leave me now, you’ll take away the biggest part of me” (Peter
Cetera/Chicago).

 “When I see you smile, I can face the world” (Bad English).

 “[You] don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” (Cinderella).

 “I guess I’ll never be the same since I fell for you” (B.B. King).

 “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at
my life and realize there’s nothing left” (Coolio).

What Are Correlative Conjunctions?

Correlative conjunctions are sort of like tag-team conjunctions. They come

in pairs, and you have to use both of them in different places in a sentence
to make them work. They include pairs like “both/and,” “whether/or,”
“either/or,” “neither/nor,” “not/but” and “not only/but also.”

 I either want the cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate.

 I’ll have both the cheesecake and the frozen hot chocolate.

 I didn’t know whether you’d want the cheesecake or the frozen hot
chocolate, so I got you both.

 Oh, you want neither the cheesecake nor the frozen hot chocolate? No
problem.

 I’ll eat them both - not only the cheesecake but also the frozen hot
chocolate.
 I see you’re in the mood not for dessert but appetizers. I’ll help you
with those too.