CONJUNCTIONS

A conjunction is the glue that holds words, phrases and clauses ( both dependent and independent) together. 

There are three kinds to it :

• Coordinating 
• Subordinating
• Correlative

Coordinating conjunctions are the simplest of all the conjunctions to recognize and master. A knowledge of the same will improve the quality of your writing. 

So if that's what you are aiming for, this is your chance to master it !!

There are seven of them, and they're easy to remember if you can just remember FAN BOYS :

For - explains reason and purpose ( instead of "because" )

I hate going on the Merry-go-round, for it makes me feel dizzy.
People like surfing the net, for it is very informative.

And - Adds one thing to another.

I visit the club every weekend to play a game of tennis and catch up on my friends.
My student is an extraordinary artist and has held many exhibitions of her work.

Nor - is used to present an alternative negative idea to an already existing negative idea. 

I don't like watching movies at the theatre nor visiting folks, i love to laze around at home.
I have no time nor intention to surf the net.

But - shows contrast.

He is very able, but never makes an effort to work hard.
I can sing, but just can't shake a leg !!

Or - presents a choice

My mom dislikes coffee or tea.
You may walk or take a rick.

Yet - introduces a contrasting idea that follows the preceding idea logically.

Some people love to cook, yet they never entertain guests at home.
He was unwilling to go to his neighbour for help, yet he went.

So - indicates effect, result or consequence.

I didn't have the money, so I couldn't buy the book.
Some people are pessimists, so they never see the brighter side of life.

Please notice that in the examples, some of the FAN BOYS conjunctions are preceded by a comma while others are not. Place a comma before "but", "for", "so" and "yet".


Subordinating conjunctions are used to link a subordinate clause ( also known as dependent clause) to the main clause (also known as independent clause ).

In the given examples, the main clause is in bold and the subordinating conjunction is shaded.

Subordinating Conjunction	Category	Example
as	reason	As it's raining, I'm staying in.
because	reason	I'm staying in because it's raining.
in order that	reason	In order that I don't miss the postman, I'm staying in.
since	reason	Since you're going out, I'm staying in.
so that	reason	I'm staying in so that I don't miss the postman.
although	concession and comparison	I'm staying in although I'd rather go out.
as	concession and comparison	I'm staying in as you should.
even though	concession and comparison	I'm staying in even though the sun is out.
just as	concession and comparison	I'm staying in just as you should.
though	concession and comparison	I'm staying in though I wish I weren't.
whereas	concession and comparison	I'm staying in whereas you are going out.
while	concession and comparison	I'm staying in while you are going out.
even if	condition	Even if it rains, I'm going out.
if	condition	If it rains, I'm staying in.
in case	condition	I'm staying in in case it rains.
provided that	condition	Provided it doesn't rain, I'm going out.
unless	condition	I'm going out unless it rains.
where	place	I fish where the waves start to form.
wherever	place	I will live wherever the weather is good.
after	time	I'm going out after the football.
as soon as	time	I'm going out as soon as the football has finished.
as long as	time	I'm staying out as long as the weather stays good.
before	time	I'm going out before the football.
once	time	I'm going out once the football has finished.
till	time	I'm staying out till the weather turns bad.
until	time	I'm staying out until the weather turns bad.
when	time	I'm going out when the weather improves.
whenever	time	I go out whenever the weather is good.
while	time	I'll stay out while the weather is good.

Correlative conjunctions come in pairs, and you have to make use of both in a sentence to make them work.

Here are examples which I hope will make things clearer.

I either have a glass of milk or a fruit after dinner.( The speaker has any one .... not both)

I will have both fruit and a glass of milk for breakfast. ( He will have both)

I don't know whether to call him or go to his home.

I want neither the glass of milk nor the fruit. ( He does not want both)

I want not only the glass of milk but also the fruit. ( I want both)

So here goes ! I hope I have been able to put across this lesson on conjunctions in an easy and understandable manner. As I mentioned at the beginning of this lesson, it is extremely important to use conjunctions to enhance and improve your writing. They spice up the article. 

So happy writing !!