Common Conjunctions
Although = in spite of the fact that Everyone enjoyed the trip to
Always used with clauses
Though 1. =although
(though is more informal)
2. however, regardless,
nonetheless
(It qualifies or imposes
restrictions on what was
previously said)
has a meaning very similar to as if.
As if is much more common
As though / as if than as though
Even though  used as subordinating
conjunctions in the same way
as although/though.
Even though is similar
to although but it makes a
stronger contrast
As 1. when one event happens
while another is in progress
(‘during the time that’). In
this case the verb after is
often in the continuous
form.
2. to connect a result with a
cause
3.  to mean ‘in the way that’
As … as We use as + adjective/adverb +
as to make comparisons when the
things we are comparing are equal
in some way
 concerning someone or something
As to whether
Even so follows a statement of fact (used in
the final 
although [subordinate clause]
we lost the match!
1. Though (although) it was
rainy, [main clause] we put on
our jackets and went for a
walk.
2. It’s hard work. I enjoy it,
though.
You look as though/as if you
have seen a ghost!
Even though I cycle to work, I
don’t feel very fit.
1. They arrived  as we
were leaving. (time
conjunction meaning
‘while’ or ‘when’)
2. I went to bed at 9
pm  as I had a plane to
catch at 6 am. (reason
and result meaning
‘because’)
3. As  the forecast
predicted, the weather
was dreadful for the
whole of the weekend.
The world’s biggest bull is as
big as a small elephant.
There is some doubt as
to whether the information is
totally accurate.
Our instructor was very
 the main clause).
It means ‘although that is true’ or
‘nevertheless.
Whereas to indicate a contrast between two
facts or ideas.
Whereas means the same
as while in sentences
expressing contrasts. It
does not mean the same
as while when while refers
to time:
The secretary took care of
my appointments while I
was away from the office.
Not: … whereas I was
away from the office.
First 1. can be an adjective or an
adverb and refers to the
person or thing that
comes before all others in
order, time, amount, quality
Beth always arrives first at
or importance
meetings. (adverb)
2. to show the order of the
points we want to make.
When we are making lists,
we can use first or firstly. 
Firstly is more formal
than first
At first ‘at the beginning’ or ‘in the
beginning’ and we use it
when we make contrasts
strict.  Even so, we liked him.
The weather was cold and wet
but even so we enjoyed our
trip.
He loves foreign
holidays,  whereas his wife
prefers to stay at home.
Whereas most new PCs have
several USB slots, older ones
often only had one.
1. What’s the name of
the  first person who
walked on the
moon? (adjective)
2. First(ly)  I would like to
thank you for your kind
offer of a job …
Not: At first I would like to
thank you …
- At first when I went to
England to study
English, I was
homesick, but in the
end I cried when it was
time to leave.
- He called for help. No

On the contrary used to contradict – to say
that what has been said is
not true.
On the other hand If we want to give the other
side of a question, we
use on the other
hand, not on the contrary.
Otherwise implies something will happen
unless you do something.
“On the other hand” means a
different choice for something.
always used only with a
Despite / In spite noun/pronoun or gerund
of
Both...and Linking subject + subject
(when talking about two
people/things:
that one AND the other
one; this one AND that
one)
Both or Both of can be
used without a difference in
meaning though Both of is
more common in the
United States.
Either...or Linking noun + noun Either you or  John has to
finish the report before 5pm.
to express alternatives and
or a choice between two
(and sometimes more)
things
one heard him at first,
but eventually two
young girls came to
help him.
The crime problem has
not disappeared. On the
contrary, it seems to
be becoming  worse again.
The job wasn’t very
interesting, but  on the other
hand it was well paid.  (NOT
… on the contrary, it was well
paid.)
Do all your homework.
Otherwise, you'll get a bad
grade.
[I really want to travel around
Europe, but on the other hand,
I don't have a lot of money]
Despite the rain we went to the
forest
(or Despite the fact that it was
raining… [clause])
In spite of being tired he
managed to win.
Both my sister and my brother
play the piano
 Neither = not one and not
Neither…nor the other
Neither is a negative word
and is accompanied by an
affirmative singular verb.
sentence + sentence
Not only...but also
Seeing that = considering the fact that
Until a subordinating conjunction to
connect an action or an event to a
point in time
- We don’t use until to talk about
things that will happen before a
particular time or deadline; we
use by
- We don’t use until or till to talk
about quantity; we use up to
-We don’t use until or till to talk
about distance; we use as far as
Correlative conjunction
No sooner than
The structure no sooner … than is
used to talk about sth that happens
immediately after something else.
No sooner is only used with the
past perfect in the sentence that
starts with no sooner and the past
simple in the next sentence.
NOTE: When we begin a sentence
with a negative word, we put the
Neither John nor Fred likes
doing the dishes. (= “Both John
and Fred don’t like doing the
dishes”)
Not only does Sue raise money
for the symphony, but she also
ushers at all of their concerts.
Seeing that I caught one of the
last trains of the night, it was
quite crowded
No one left the room  until  the
talk ended.
Not: Until the talk ended no
one left …
- All applications must be
received  by  Friday, 26 June
2009.
Not: … until Friday, 26 June
2009.
- The theatre can hold  up
to two hundred people.
Not: The theatre can hold until
two hundred people.
- We had to drive as far
as  Liverpool for the last
hockey match that I played.
Not: We had to drive until
Liverpool …
No sooner had  he arrived in
Rome than he was kidnapped.
 auxiliary verb before the subject.
1. Related to time.
While In the temporal
sense, while describes
something that is
happening at the same time
as something else.
2. Contrast.
In this sense, it means
“whereas” or “although.”
Typically, Brits
Whilst use whilst and Americans
use while. That’s the main
difference.
When used as a
conjunction or an
adverb, while and whilst are
interchangeable
 hardly . . . to say that something
when / before . . .  happened
and another thing
happened very soon
afterwards.
We often use the past
perfect tense (I had done)
with hardly.
to express a condition, i.e. to say
As long as that something will happen only on
condition that something else
happens.
As long as has the same meaning
as if, providing and provided.
Conjunctions: typical errors
1. I decided to take a nap
under my desk while everyone
else was in the meeting.
2. I prefer chocolate cake,
while my sister prefers key
lime pie [contrast].
There wasn’t much Stanley
could do  while/whilst  he
waited.
I'd (I had) hardly finished
cleaning up the
mess when / before my son
dropped cake on the floor.
(= I finished cleaning; my son
dropped the cake moments
later.)
I'd (I had) hardly got
home from
work when / before my boss
called me and asked me to go
back to the office.
(= I got home; my boss called
me moments later.)
I'll lend you the book as long
as you promise to give me it
back next week.
(= If you don't promise to give
the book back next week, I will
not lend you it.)
You can go to the
party if/providing/provided  yo
u come back before midnight.
 1. We use and to connect words in a list and to connect phrases and clauses in
a sentence:

- He loves cycling, hiking and ball games.

Not: He loves cycling, hiking, ball games.

2. After conjunctions referring to time, such as when, once and as soon as, we

use the present simple when we refer to the future:

- It will be summer when we see you again.

Not: … when we will see you again.

- They’ll leave once the lecture finishes.

Not: … once the lecture will finish.

- As soon as I hear any news, I’ll call you.

Not: As soon as I’ll hear any news …

3. During is a preposition, not a conjunction, so it must be followed by a noun

or a pronoun:
- She studies while  she is on the train.
Not: She studies during she is on the train.

4. When we use a so-clause to connect a cause/reason to a result, the so-clause

must come second:
- I bought a new computer game so  I have no money left.
Not: So I have no money left I bought a new computer game.

5. We use although/though, not but, to connect a subordinate clause to a main

clause:
- Although I’m tall, I’m not as tall as Bill.
Not: But I’m tall, I’m not as tall as Bill.

6. When as well as or in addition to are followed by clauses, the verb is in the -
ing form:
- As well as living with a family, you practise your English.
Not: As well as you live with a family …
- In addition to being a wonderful seafood restaurant, it had an amazing view.
Not: In addition to it was a wonderful seafood restaurant …

7. We cannot use however to connect words and phrases:

- The area around Cannes has small but nice beaches.
Not: … has small however nice beaches.

8. We only use one conjunction to connect words or phrases:

- Since she had the day off work, she went out for lunch with some friends.
Not: Since she had the day off work, so she went out for lunch …

9. Whereas means the same as while in sentences expressing contrasts. It does

not mean the same as while when while refers to time:

- The south has a hot, dry climate, whereas/while the north has a milder, wetter climate.

- The secretary took care of my appointments while I was away from the office.
Not: … whereas I was away from the office.