What Is a Conjunction? Definition and Example Sentences

English Using Conjunctions, What Is a Conjunction? Definition and Example Sentences

If without conjunctions, you will have to express every complex idea in a series of short, simplistic sentences:

• I like cooking new dishes. I like eating meat. I don’t like washing dishes afterward.

Thanks to conjunctions, words link other words, phrases, or clauses together.

• I like cooking new dishes and eating meat, but I don’t like washing dishes afterward.

Conjunctions allow you to create clear and elegant sentences. Allows you to avoid the complexity of very short sentences. It makes your job easier to make sure the expressions that the conjunctions combine are the same.  (share the same structure)

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions allow you to link words, phrases, and clauses of equal grammatical rank in a sentence. Some common and important coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or yet. The use of the comma when a coordinating conjunction is linking two independent clauses.

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions work together. These examples are either / or, neither / nor, and not only / but also. For detailed expressions and examples about correlative conjunctions.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions link independent and dependent clauses. A subordinating conjunction can express a cause-and-effect relationship, a contrast, or some other kind of relationship between the clauses. Common and useful subordinating conjunctions are because, since, as, although, though, while, and whereas. Sometimes can be an adverb, such as until, after, or before can function as a conjunction.

The adverb functions as a coordinating conjunction to connect two ideas. I can stay out (the independent clause) and the clock strikes eleven (the dependent clause). The independent clause could can be alone as a sentence. The dependent clause depends on the independent clause to express something. The subordinating conjunction can not be in the middle of the sentence. Always, it has to be part of the dependent clause. The dependent clause can come before the independent clause. If the dependent clause comes first, you can use a comma before the independent clause.

A subordinating conjunction can be at the beginning of  a sentence if the dependent clause comes before the independent clause. It is correct to begin a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. It’s a very good way to add emphasis. Beginning too many sentences with conjunctions will cause the sentence to lose its meaning, however, so you should use this technique.

Conjunction Rules

• There are some important rules for using conjunctions. Using conjunctions you will help your writing flows better.
• Conjunctions link thoughts, actions, and ideas as well as nouns, clauses, and other parts of speech. For example: Sam went to the supermarket and bought apples.
• Conjunctions are useful for making lists. For example: We made eggs, and coffee for breakfast.
• When using conjunctions, make sure that all the parts of your sentences same.

For example: “I work busily yet am careful”. It does not same. “I work busily yet carefully”. It shows same.

List of Conjunctions

There are some useful conjunctions, and these words have many important functions: They express explanations, ideas, exceptions, consequences, and contrasts.



Coordinating Conjunctions

for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Correlative Conjunctions

both/and, either/or, neither/nor, not only/but, whether/or

Some Subordinating Conjunctions

although, as, as if, as long as, as much as, as soon as, as though, because, before, by the time, even if, even though, if, in order that, lest, now that, once, only, only if, provided that, after, since, so, supposing, that, than, though, till, unless, until, when, whenever, where, whereas, wherever, whether or not, while

Here is Example sentences with conjunctions;

• The teacher tried to be fair to his students. She therefore, made an exam in addition to the three written exams.
• I not only want to earn respect, but also make money.
• We haven’t finished eating the watermelon yet.
• She usually eats at home, because she likes cooking.
• She speaks three languages besides Spanish.
• They can listen to music provided they disturb nobody.
• Since I see you, I am better.
• Let me know if you go to the school.