Conjunctions

Conjunctions Quizzes

Quizzes

Conjunctions Exercises

Conjunctions: Connecting Thoughts and Ideas

Conjunctions are important linguistic tools used to connect words, phrases, clauses, and sentences. They play a crucial role in organizing and expressing relationships between different elements in a sentence. Understanding the various types of conjunctions and their usage is essential for effective communication. In this section, we will explore the concept of conjunctions, their classifications, and provide examples to illustrate their functions.

1- Coordinating Conjunctions: Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, or independent clauses of equal importance. They include: “and,” “but,” “or,” “nor,” “for,” “so,” and “yet.”

Example 1: I like coffee and tea. (Connecting two nouns: coffee and tea)

Example 2: She studied hard, but she didn’t pass the exam. (Connecting two independent clauses)

2- Subordinating Conjunctions: Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses and establish a subordinate relationship to the main clause. They include: “after,” “although,” “because,” “if,” “since,” “unless,” “when,” etc.

Example 3: I will go to the park if it stops raining. (Connecting a dependent clause to the main clause)

Example 4: Although it was late, they continued working. (Introducing a dependent clause)

3- Correlative Conjunctions: Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to connect words, phrases, or clauses. Common examples include: “either…or,” “neither…nor,” “both…and,” “not only…but also,” “whether…or,” etc.

Example 5: Either you come with me, or I will go alone. (Connecting two options)

Example 6: She not only sings beautifully but also plays the piano. (Connecting two parallel elements)

4- Conjunctive Adverbs: Conjunctive adverbs, such as “however,” “therefore,” “consequently,” “meanwhile,” “nevertheless,” etc., connect independent clauses and show relationships between ideas.

Example 7: I wanted to go out; however, it was raining heavily. (Connecting independent clauses)

5- Using Conjunctions for Emphasis and Contrast: Conjunctions can be used to emphasize or contrast ideas, highlighting the relationship between different elements in a sentence.

Example 8 (Emphasis): I will do it, and I will do it well. (Emphasizing the commitment)

Example 9 (Contrast): She loves ice cream, but her sister prefers cake. (Highlighting a contrast between preferences)

Conclusion: Conjunctions are valuable tools for connecting thoughts and ideas, enhancing the coherence and structure of sentences. By utilizing coordinating, subordinating, correlative conjunctions, and conjunctive adverbs, you can create meaningful connections between words, phrases, clauses, and sentences. Pay attention to the purpose and relationship you want to convey, using the appropriate conjunctions to express your intended meaning. Practice incorporating conjunctions into your writing and speaking to improve your language skills and communicate more effectively.

What is A Conjunction?

A conjunction is a word that connects elements of a sentence, such as words, phrases, or clauses. The three types of conjunctions are: subordinating conjunctions, coordinating conjunctions, and correlative conjunctions.

Subordinating conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions break sentences into word clusters called dependent ( or subordinate ) clauses. Dependent clauses cannot stand alone and must be connected to an independent clause to make a complex sentence. Subordinating conjunctions connect the dependent clause to the independent clause.

Common Subordinating Clauses

After	If only	Unless
Although	In order that	Until
As	Now that	When
As if	Once	Whenever
As long as	Provided	Where
As though	Rather than	Whereas
Because	Since	Wherever
Before	So that	Whether
Even if	That	While
Even though if	Though without	Within Besides

Examples:

Even if the movies are closed, we could still go to the mall.
We could still go to the mall even if the movies are closed.
We can go to the beach when it opens in June.
The baby always cries whenever his mother leaves the room.

Conjunctions

CONJUNCTIONS

Coordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions are single words that connect similar parts of a sentence, such as adjectives, nouns, and clauses. The acronym FANBOYS is often used to refer to coordinating conjunctions.

For

And

Nor

But

Or

Yet

So

Examples

I am going on a cruise to Mexico, Jamaica, and Aruba.

I really want to go skiing, but there isn’t enough snow on the slopes.

Meredith does not want an orange nor a grapefruit.

Danny would rather have a chocolate bar or hot cocoa than a granola bar.

Jenny could not find her notes last night, so she could not study for her test.

Her dress was blue and purple.

Coordinating conjunctions

Exercise-1

Choose the correct word in the following sentences.

1. We cannot believe that he is the man ……… saved you from drowning.

A ) that

B ) whom

C ) who

D ) whose

2. The only thing ……… stopped her from going to study abroad was the pleading of her grandmother.

A ) who

B ) which

C ) whom

D ) why

3. Most folk songs are ballads ……… have simple words and tell simple stories.

A ) what

B ) although

C ) with

D ) that

4. ……… other mammals, whales do not have a sense of smell.

A ) not alike

B ) unlike

C ) unlikely

D ) dislike

5. John missed the neighborhood ……… he had grown up.

A ) in which

B ) in where

C ) which

D ) that

6. I ……… like the film nor the novel it’s based on.

A ) both

B ) neither

C ) so

D ) either

7. ……… my brother and I were upset when we heard the news.

A ) both

B ) and

C ) neither

D ) either

8. I met Tom ……… I was waiting for the bus.

A ) while

B ) during

C ) then

D ) for

9. I have travelled a lot ……… by train and by plane.

A ) both

B ) and

C ) or

D ) either

10. I wouldn’t like to go to Scotland. – I wouldn’t like to go ……… .

A ) neither

B ) too

C ) either

D ) both

11. He failed the test ……… he had studied hard.

A ) in spite of

B ) because

C ) as well as

D ) although

12. The friend ……… party I went to is a pianist.

A ) who

B ) whose

C ) which

D ) those

13. I wonder ……… he will come in time.

A ) weather

B ) whether

C ) what

D ) that

14. ……… walking for three hours we were tired.

A ) during

B ) since

C ) before

D ) after

15. North Carolina is well known not only for the Great Smoky Mountains Natural Park ……… for the Cherokee Indian Settlements.

A ) also

B ) and

C ) but also

D ) because of

Ex-1

1. C

2. ?

3. D

4. ?

5. A

6. ?

7. A

8. A

9. A

10. ?

11. D

12. ?

13. ?

14. D

15. ?

Conjunctions Exercise-2

Choose the word that correctly completes each sentence below.

1. Stanley, a black cat, won Friday’s contest, (but, for) he failed to win the contest on Saturday.

2. The Murrays plan to move, (for, yet) they have outgrown their one-room apartment.

3. My car’s heater is noisy (and, nor) it heats very poorly.

4. Psychologists report that having one or more friends is important to a child’s development, (but, for) being popular is not.

5. A foot-pound is used to measure energy, (but, for) a pound-foot is used to measure torque.

6. One of the largest jigsaw puzzles ever completed contained 10,000 pieces, (and, or) it took 2,500 hours to complete.

7. At about eighteen miles into a race, marathons runners often feel that they cannot go on, (for, yet) they usually get a second wind and finish the race.

8. Rocky Mountain National Park contains 355 miles of trails, (nor, so) visitors can hike as far and as high as they wish.

9. Incandescent bulbs neither use as little electricity as fluorescent bulbs, (nor, yet) do they last as long.

Ex-2

1.but

2. for

3. and

4. but

5. but

6. and

7. yet

8. so

9. nor

Conjunctions

Exercise-3

Fill in the blanks with one of the words from A , B , C , or D .

1. It looked dark and heavy ……… it was going to rain.

A ) although

C ) as if

B ) unless

D ) whereas

2. ……… I get your call, I will leave.

A ) As soon as

C ) By the time

B ) As though

D ) Now that

3. ……… he had read the instructions several times, he knew what to do.

A ) Whereas

C ) Until

B ) After

D ) While

4. ……… he cannot afford a car, he rides a bicycle.

A ) Unless

C ) Though

B ) WTiereas

D ) because

5………. the cities do not provide better and cheaper mass transport, the traffic problem will get worse.

A ) So that

C ) If

B ) Even though

D ) Before

6. ……… you go to Canada, you should visit Toronto.

A ) When

C ) Since

B ) As

D ) Before

7. ……… riding a bicycle is good leg exercise, it does not use up a lot of calories.

A ) As

C ) Because

B ) Although

D ) So that

8. She turned off the record player ……… she could study.

A ) now that

C ) so that

B ) even if

D ) in case

9. A man is ……… old ……… he feels.

A ) so … as

B ) as … as

C ) as … that

10. The fellow that agrees with everything you say is ……… a fool, ……… he is getting to skin you.

A ) both … and

B ) not only … but

C ) either … or

11. Nothing ……… needs reforming ……… other peoples habits.

A ) so … as

B ) as … that

C ) as … as

12. ……… your daughter ……… your niece have made great progress.

A ) As .. .as

B ) So … as

C ) Both … and

Ex-3

1.C

2.?

3. ?

4.D

5.?

6. A

7. ?

8.?

9. ?

10. ?

11.A

12. ?

13. ?

Correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions connect similar parts of a sentence, such as adjectives, nouns, and clauses. However, unlike coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions are combinations of coordinating conjunctions, not only a single word. They always come in pairs and link grammatically equivalent items.

As—as	Both—and	Either—or
Neither—nor	Not only—but also	Not—but
Whether—or

Nadine wants to go to either Rutgers University or James Madison University.

The correlative conjunctions link two nouns, RU and JMU.

Neither Molly nor Emma want to see the new Batman movie.

The correlative conjunctions connect two pronouns, Molly and Emma.

To alleviate stress, you should not only identify the stressors but also find ways of coping with them.

The correlative conjunctions link two clauses, identify the stressors and find ways of coping.

Both the dog and the cat knocked over the trashcan.

The correlative conjunctions link two nouns, the dog and the cat.

I like cotton candy as much as I like root beer floats.

The correlative conjunctions link two nouns, cotton candy and root beer floats

Correlative conjunctions