Conjunctions Only

CONJUNCTIONS

CON = together

JUNCT = join

A conjunction JOINS two words or group of words TOGETHER.

Examples:

Watermelon and grapefruit are my favorite fruits.

Bill plans to sell his truck and to buy a hybrid.

CONJUNCTIONS

Coordinating

We can remember the Coordinating conjunctions by thinking of:

Coordinating Conjunctions connect any two units that are the same type.

Two nouns: Jane and Mark swam.

Two verbs: We laughed or sang.

Two Adjectives: He was strong and fast.

Two Adverbs: She wrote quickly but well.

Two Pronouns: She and I took a walk.

Two Phrases: She was on the path and in the clear.

Two Clauses: People laughed, so we laughed too.

Coordination combines two clauses into ONE sentence:

You called my sister, and I called your brother.

I have to pay the bill, or they will shut off the lights.

It wasn't dark, but the moon was visible.

Subordinating

Subordinating Conjunctions also connect clauses (sentences). However, once a subordinating conjunction is added to a clause, that clause cannot stand alone.

There is a main sentence with a subpart. This is the Independent Clause and the Dependent Clause.

Subordination holds two clauses together:

She continued arguing until everyone finally agreed with her.

They live down south when the weather gets cold.

When the weather gets cold, they live down south.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions

after

although

as

as if

as though

because

before

even if

even though

how

if

in order that

once

rather than

since

so (that)

than

that

though

till

unless

until

what

when

whenever

where

wherever

whether

which

while

who

why

Correlative Conjunctions join words, phrases, and sentences of equal importance. They appear in pairs, and both parts receive the same attention.

Common Correlative Conjunctions

both/and

either/or

whether/or

neither/nor

not only/but also

Correlative

A clause is another name for a short sentence -- a complete thought.

Subordination and Coordination

through

Fanboys

Thanks for watching!

Only the independent clause can stand alone as a sentence:

She continued arguing.

They live down south.

The dependent clauses are FRAGMENTS if they are not attached to an independent clause:

Until everyone finally agreed with her. = frag

When the weather gets cold. = frag

Examples:

Either Bernice or Lauren determines the work schedule.

The speaker not only described the benefits of laughter but also related some personal stories to illustrate her point.

Coordination and subordination give you options!

A deer dodged around my car. I almost hit him.

Coordination:

Subordination

When a deer dodged around my car, I almost hit him.

A deer dodged around my car, so I almost hit him.

A deer dodged around my car after I almost hit him.

A deer dodged around my car, and I almost hit him.