Types and Examples of Conjunctions

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What are subordinating or subjunctive conjunctions?

Recognize a subordinate conjunction when you see one. Some sentences are complex. Such sentences have two clauses, one main [or independent] and one subordinate [or dependent]. The essential ingredient in a complex sentence is the subordinate conjunction: after although as because before even if even though if in order that once provided that rather than since so that than that though unless until when whenever where whereas wherever whether while why The subordinate conjunction has two jobs. First, it provides a necessary transition between the two ideas in the sentence. This transition will indicate a time, place, or cause and effect relationship. Here are some examples: Louisa will wash the sink full of her dirty dishes once her roommate Shane cleans his stubble and globs of shaving cream from the bathroom sink. We looked on top of the refrigerator, where Jenny will often hide a bag of chocolate chip cookies. Because her teeth were chattering in fear, Lynda clenched her jaw muscle while waiting for her turn to audition. The second job of the subordinate conjunction is to reduce the importance of one clause so that a reader understands which of the two ideas is more important. The more important idea belongs in the main clause, the less important in the clause introduced by the subordinate conjunction. Read these examples: As Samson blew out the birthday candles atop the cake, he burned the tip of his nose on a stubborn flame. Burning his nose > blowing out candles. Ronnie begins to sneeze violently whenever he opens the door to greet a fresh spring day. Sneezing violently > opening the door. Even though Dana persevered at the calculus exam, she was only adding another F beside her name in Dr. Armour's grade book. Adding another F > persevering at the exam. Punctuate a complex sentence correctly. Complex sentences follow two common patterns: main clause + Ø + subordinate clause. Nicky shook her head and sighed Ø as she puzzled over the algebra problem. subordinate clause + , + main clause. When the doorbell rang, Nicky slammed shut her textbook and rose to pay for her pizza. Punctuation gets trickier when the subordinate clause begins with a relative pronoun like who, which, or where. Sometimes you will need a comma, and sometimes you won't, depending on whether the clause is essential or nonessential. When the information in the relative clause clarifies an otherwise general noun, the clause is essential and will follow the same pattern that you saw above: main clause + Ø + essential relative clause. Nicky paid the deliveryman Ø whose rusty hatchback choked and coughed in the driveway. Deliveryman is a general noun. Which one are we talking about? The relative clause whose rusty hatchback choked and coughed in the driveway clarifies the restaurant employee we mean. The clause is thus essential and requires no punctuation. When a relative clause follows a specific noun, punctuation changes. The information in the relative clause is no longer as important, and the clause becomes nonessential. Nonessential clauses require you to use commas to connect them. main clause + , + nonessential relative clause. Nicky paid Fernando , whose rusty hatchback choked and coughed in the driveway. Fernando, the name of a unique restaurant employee, lets us know which deliveryman we mean. The information in the relative clause is no longer important and needs to be separated from the main clause with a comma. Relative clauses can also interrupt a main clause. When this happens, use no punctuation for an essential clause. But if the clause is nonessential, separate it with a comma in front and a comma behind. Take a look at these examples: After seeing the cheap tip, the man Ø who delivered Nicky's pizza Ø wished that he had driven more slowly. After seeing the cheap tip, Fernando, who delivered Nicky's pizza, wished that he had driven more slowly.

although

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before

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both... and

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but

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either...or

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for

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just as... so too

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neither... nor

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nor

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not only... but also

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or

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since

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so

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though

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when

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whether... or

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while

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What are correlating conjunctions?

Recognize a correlative conjunction when you see one. Either ... or, neither ... nor, and not only ... but also are all correlative conjunctions. They connect two equal grammatical items. If, for example, a noun follows either, then a noun will also follow or. Read these examples: In the fall, Phillip will either start classes at the community college as his mother wishes or join the Navy, his father's hope. Neither the potted ivy on the counter nor the dirty dishes in the sink have enjoyed water on their surfaces for the past week. Professor Wilson not only requires a 3,000-word research essay but also assigns a 500-word reaction paper every single week. When you use correlative conjunctions, be careful about verb agreement. If you connect two subjects with a correlative conjunction, the second one must agree with the verb that follows. Every single evening either the horned owl or the squabbling cats wake Samantha with their racket. Every single evening either the squabbling cats or the horned owl wakes Samantha with its racket. When you use correlative conjunctions, be careful about pronoun agreement. If you connect two antecedents with a correlative conjunction, the second one must agree with the pronoun that follows. Neither Yolanda nor the cousins expressed their disappointment when blind Aunt Sophie set down the plate of burnt hamburgers. Neither the cousins nor Yolanda expressed her disappointment when blind Aunt Sophie set down the plate of burnt hamburgers. When you use correlative conjunctions, be careful about parallel structure. Either ... or, neither ... nor, and not only ... but also require special attention when you are proofreading for parallelism. Be sure that you have equal grammatical units after both parts of the conjunction. You can have two main clauses like this: Not only did Michael grill a steak for Tiffany, but he also prepared a hotdog for Rocket, her dog. Or you can shorten the sentence with two prepositional phrases: Michael grilled meat not only for Tiffany but also for Rocket, her dog. Or you can have two nouns as this version does: Michael grilled meat for not only Tiffany but also Rocket, her dog.

What are coordinating conjunctions?

fanboys 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 A = and N = nor B = but O = or Y = yet 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.