Conjunctions join words, or parts of a sentence together. They are sometimes called linking or connecting words. There are three kinds of conjunctions. They are coordinating, subordinating, and correlating conjunctions.
Coordinating conjunctions join the same types of words together.
I want a hamburger and fries.
Here, ‘hamburger’ and ‘fries’ are both nouns. They are joined by and.
Your friend is handsome, but he isn’t kind.
In this sentence, ‘handsome’ and ‘kind’ are both adjectives. They are joined by but.
There are seven coordinating conjunctions. They are: and, or, but, so, for, yet, and nor.
When a coordinating conjunction links two independent clauses, they are preceded by a comma.
Subordinating conjunctions connect a subordinating clause to a main clause. Some common ones are: before, after, because, since, if, when, although, and by the time.
Examples: We will swim if the weather is nice.
Things aren’t the same since you left.
And correlating, or paired conjunctions link equal or contrasting pairs. Some that you will often encounter are: both…and, either…or, neither…nor, and not only…but also.
Quiz 1 – So or because? Click on the correct word.
Quiz 2 – Add the correct conjunction (and, but, so, because, if, while).
