CONJUNCTIONS

Conjunctions are words that join sentences or words. They make the sentence
compact. They only do the job of connecting the sentences or words, unlike
adverbs and prepositions.

Bala and Viraj are good players.

(The given two players are joined here by the conjunction ‘and’.)

Mohit is poor but he is honest.

(The given two sentences are joined here by the conjunction ‘but’.)

We use some conjunctions as compound expressions. Examples of such

conjunctions are: As well as, As soon as, As if, So that, Even if, In order that,
Provided that etc.

TYPES OF CONJUNCTIONS

1. Coordinating conjunctions

These conjunctions join the clauses or sentences of equal ranks. The two
sentences or clauses are independent of each other.

Examples of coordinating conjunctions are- For, and, or, but, yet, also, either-
or, neither-nor

For example:
They have ignored all the precautions, for the chikungunya has spread in
all the parts of our state.
(Conjunction “for” is used to show an inference.)

But or Yet

See the following two sentences:

1) Ila is poor but she is honest. (correct)
2) Ila is poor yet she is honest. (incorrect)

The second sentence is incorrect as it implies that all poor people are
dishonest which is not the case.
Now see the following sentence:

He has just eaten a sandwich, yet he is hungry.

The above sentence implies that despite having a sandwich he is hungry. “Yet”
is used to mean inspite of something; still.

2. Subordinating conjunctions

These conjunctions join a clause or a sentence with another clause or sentence

to which it depends upon for its full meaning.

Examples of subordinating conjunctions are- Because, if, that, though,

although, till, before, while, where, unless, as, after

Subordinating conjunctions are further divided according to their meaning:

a) Cause or Reason

i. Everyone left the party early because Mohit and his wife argued.
ii. Deepak has been very busy since he started working.
iii. As Varun was not at home, I spoke to her mother.

b) Time

i. Ankit would die before he lied.

ii. Unnati returned home after his husband had gone.

c) Purpose

i. We eat so that we may live.

(“So that” take the verb may when the sentence is in the present tense and it
takes the verb might when the sentence is in the past tense.)

ii. Speak quietly lest she should hear us.

(The conjunction “lest” always take the auxiliary verb “should” after it.)

d) Condition
 i. I will go if she goes.
ii. Problems cannot be solved unless they are addressed.

e) Result

i. Vartika was so tired that she could hardly stand.

(So – that is used in a negative sense. So – that take the verb can or could after
it, depending on the tense.)

f) Constrasting Situation

i. Though we were speaking in undertones, he could hear us.

ii. This book is very expensive, although it has nothing in it.

3. Correlative Conjunctions

Some conjunctions are used in pairs. Such conjunctions are called correlative
conjunctions. Examples of such conjunctions are: Either – or, Neither - nor,
Both – and, Whether – or, Not only – but also.

For example:

➢ Either Unnati or Varsha cooks dinner.

➢ Raju can neither speak nor write English.
➢ I like both Mercedes and Fiat.
➢ Not only did Tarun fail the examination, but he also dropped out of
college.
➢ You have to appear for the exam whether you like it or not.

When conjunctions are correlative, they should be placed near the words
they connect.

➢ Bhanu not only visited Delhi, but also Mathura. (incorrect)

➢ Bhanu visited not only Delhi, but also Mathura. (correct)

Some other conjunctions that we use

• Hardly – when, Scarcely –when, no sooner-than and as soon as

We use these phrases as a conjunction when two things are taking place at the
same time.

➢ Hardly had Robin gone out of the room when the mailman came.
➢ Scarcely a day goes by when they talk to each other.
➢ No sooner had they started their journey than it started it raining.

• Too - to

This conjunction phrase is used in a negative sense.

e.g. It is too cold to go outside today.

• In spite of/ Despite

They are used to express a contrast between two things.

e.g. Rohan got the job in spite of this bad interview.
e.g. Despite the recession our company is doing good.

• Seldom if ever and Seldom or never

e.g. Ramya seldom or never reads a book.

e.g. Seldom if ever Himanshu cleans his room.

• While and whereas

To make a balance between two opposite meaning sentences

e.g. Sachin passed while/whereas Sohan failed the examinations.

e.g. I was studying while/whereas my mother was watching T.V.

“While” is used to show ‘during the time’.

e.g. While I was sleeping, my mother came into my room.

• The same – that and the same - as

“The same – that” is used when we talk that about one thing in particular.

e.g. I want the same bat that you have.

“The same - as” is used when we talk about the same kind of a thing.

e.g. Yug has the same breed of dog as mine.

• Or and otherwise

These are used to show an alternative.

e.g. The robber asked the lady, “Necklace or life?”

• Only

This conjunction is used to mean except that.

e.g. It is a very bright day today, only a little cold.