If you have written anything, you have likely used conjunctions. However, despite their common use, many students still struggle with the proper placement and understanding of when to use words like "and," "but," or "because" in their sentences.

But don’t worry because, in this blog, we'll break down everything you need to know about conjunctions, their various types, and examples. This blog has everything you need and more.

So, let’s get started!

How do Conjunctions Work?

Conjunction words are the parts of speech that join words, phrases, or clauses together. They act as bridges, linking different parts of a sentence to convey a complete idea.

Without conjunctions, your writing will lack proper flow and affect your readability and understanding.

Take a look at this example below to have a better understanding:

Without Conjunctions:

The sun was shining. The birds were singing. I went for a walk. I saw a rainbow. I felt happy.

With Conjunctions:

The sun was shining, and the birds were singing, so I went for a walk. As I walked, I saw a rainbow, which made me feel happy.

See how much better the second part sounds? Adding conjunctions helps to connect the sentences more fluently, creating a smoother and more coherent narrative flow.

Different Types of Conjunctions

Conjunctions come in various forms, each serving a specific purpose in connecting ideas. There are three main types of conjunctions:

• Coordinating Conjunctions: They connect words, phrases, or independent clauses of similar grammatical positions.
• Subordinating Conjunctions: They connect an independent clause with a dependent clause, creating complex sentences where one idea is dependent on the other.
• Correlative Conjunctions: They come in pairs and work together to join elements within a sentence. Common pairs include "either/or," "neither/nor," "both/and," "not only/but also," and "whether/or."

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions are like the glue that holds your ideas together. They can connect words, phrases, or even entire sentences.

Common Words

Remember the acronym "FANBOYS" to recall the most common coordinating conjunctions:

• For
• And
• Nor
• But
• Or
• Yet
• So

How to Punctuate Coordinating Conjunctions

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction when joining two independent clauses. Here are some examples for your understanding:

• I wanted to go to the party, but I had too much homework.
• She is intelligent and hardworking.
• You can have cake or ice cream for dessert.
• I like tea and coffee.

Common Errors to Avoid

Avoid using coordinating conjunctions to join independent and dependent clauses without proper punctuation.

Remember the comma before a coordinating conjunction when joining independent clauses.

Take a look at this comparison between the correct and wrong way of using coordinating conjunctions:

| | | | --- | --- | | Incorrect | Correct | | She wanted to go to the party but she had too much work to finish. | She wanted to go to the party, but she had too much work to finish. | | They went for a walk but it started raining heavily. | They went for a walk, but it started raining heavily. |

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions link dependent clauses to independent clauses, making one idea reliant on the other.

Common Words

Here are some common subordinating conjunctions:

• After
• Although
• As
• Because
• Before
• Even though
• If
• Since
• Though
• Unless
• Until
• When
• Whenever
• Where
• Whereas
• While

How to Punctuate Subordinating Conjunctions

When a subordinating conjunction introduces a dependent clause, no comma is needed unless it’s at the beginning of a sentence.

Examples:

• Because she studied hard, she aced the exam.
• As it was raining, we decided to stay indoors.
• I'll go to the gym if I finish my work early.
• He'll come to the party when he finishes his assignment.

Common Errors to Avoid

Don’t confuse subordinating conjunctions with coordinating conjunctions. Remember, subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses while coordinating conjunctions join independent clauses.

Here’s a comparison between the correct and wrong ways of using subordinating conjunctions:

| | | | --- | --- | | Incorrect | Correct | | She didn’t go to the party, but she had too much work to finish. | She didn’t go to the party because she had too much work to finish. | | He couldn't attend the meeting because he was stuck in traffic. | He couldn't attend the meeting since he was stuck in traffic. |

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to join words, phrases, or clauses with similar grammatical structures. They provide balance and clarity to your writing.

Common Words

Here are the common pairs for correlative conjunctions:

• Both...and
• Either...or
• Neither...nor
• Not only...but also
• Whether...or
• Just as...so
• As...as

How to Punctuate Correlative Conjunctions

Punctuate correlative conjunction pairs in the same way you would coordinate conjunctions. Here are some examples for your understanding:

• Not only did she bring snacks, but also drinks.
• Either we go to the beach, or we stay home and watch movies.
• She is neither tall nor short.
• Both my sister and I enjoy hiking.

Common Errors to Avoid

Ensure that both elements connected by correlative conjunctions are grammatically parallel.

Don’t separate the correlative conjunction pairs with unnecessary punctuation.

Take a look at the incorrect and correct ways of using correlative conjunctions:

| | | | --- | --- | | Incorrect | Correct | | Sarah and Tom attended the meeting but nor Tom or Sarah didn't speak during the discussion. | Both Sarah and Tom attended the meeting, yet neither of them spoke during the discussion. | | We go to the beach today, nor we stay home and watch a movie. | Either we go to the beach today, or we stay home and watch a movie. |

Comparison Between Types of Conjunctions

Now that we've covered coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions, let's summarize the key differences between them:

| | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Type | Function | Examples | | Coordinating | Joining words, phrases, or clauses of equal rank | And, but, or, nor, yet, so | | Subordinating | Introducing dependent clauses | Because, although, if, when | | Correlative | Joining balanced sentence elements | Either/or, neither/nor, both/and |

Test Your Knowledge

Now that you know everything about conjunctions and their uses, let’s test your knowledge.

Exercise 1

Below are some sentences with gaps. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate conjunction from the list provided and guess the type of conjunction used as well.

| | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Sentence | Conjunction | Conjunction Type | | She wants to go to the beach _____ she has to finish her homework. | | | | I will either take a nap _____ go for a walk. | | | | He didn't pass the exam _____ he didn't study enough. | | |

exercise 2

Rewrite the following sentences by replacing the incorrect conjunctions with the correct ones:

1. She likes to read books but watch movies.
2. He is not tall nor strong.
3. I will go to the store, so I need some groceries.

By now, you should have a solid grasp of conjunctions and their usage. Whether you're writing an essay, a story, or just a simple email, knowing how to use conjunctions correctly will enhance the clarity and coherence of your writing.

So there you have it!

Conjunctions may seem like small words, but they play a crucial role in the structure and coherence of our language. 

By learning various types of conjunctions and their proper uses in sentences, your writing skills will improve. 

So, the next time you sit down to write and get confused with the correct conjunction to use, revisit this blog. 

Are You Having Grammar Errors in Your Writing?

Bid farewell to typos, grammatical errors, and clumsy wording using the grammar checker tool provided by MyEssayWriter.ai.

Our grammar checker is dedicated to guaranteeing that your writing is refined and of high quality.

Do not allow limited writing abilities to hinder your progress. You can also opt for an AI that can help you write essays in just 90 seconds.