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Coordinating Conjunctions
Correlative Conjunctions
Conjunctive Adverbs or Transitions
Subordinators
Coordinating Conjunctions:Coordinating conjunctions (also known as coordinators) connect words, phrases, or clauses of equivalent grammatical structure or serve as transitions between sentences. Students should memorize these seven words and their functions. Some people learn these words with the memory clue, the mnemonic, BOYFANS or FANBOYS (FOR, AND, NOR, BUT, YET, SO).
Examples of Coordinating Conjunctions:
The cars in the showroom and on the highways are large, but they are safe.
The children can go swimming, or they can go bowling.
****Note- use a comma plus the coordinating conjuction if it connects 2 independent clauses.
| Coordinating Conjunctions | Meaning |
|---|---|
| but | shows opposition or contrast ("however") |
| or | indicates choices or alternatives |
| yet | shows an occurrence in spite of another occurrence |
| for | indicates a cause will follow in a cause-effect relationship |
| and | indicates additional information will follow |
| nor | shows a negative option ("not this either") |
| so | indicates a result will follow in a cause-effect relationship |
Correlative Conjunctions: These are pairs of connectors that function together to join words, phrases, and clauses. Remember that the items that follow each correlative conjunction must be grammatically parallel to one another.
Examples of Correlative Conjunctions:
Not only werewolves but also vampires stalk the forest at night.
We hoped that either the garlic or the crosses would scare them.
| as . . . as | both . . . and | either . . . or | |
|---|---|---|---|
| neither . . . nor | not . . . but | not only . . . but also | whether . . . or |
Conjunctive adverbs or transitional words and phrases:These show relationships between sentences or independent (main) clauses; they also may serve as transitions within sentences or clauses.
Examples of Conjunctive adverbs or transitional words and phrases:
All the trucks are new. Furthermore, some of the cars are new.
*The cow escaped from the barn; however, we found her in the meadow.
We were glad we found the cow; she was glad, in fact, to see us.
The horse, meanwhile, jumped the fence and never returned.
***NOTE: When used between 2 independent clauses, it requires a semi-colon, the conjunctive adverb and a comma.
| Conjunctive Adverbs or Transitions | Meaning | Conjunctive Adverbs or Transitions | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
and |
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as a specific case or example |
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but, yet |
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for emphasis |
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at a specific time or in a specific order | meanwhile | at the same time or during the interval |
Subordinators: Subordinators are words and phrases that signal dependent (subordinate) clauses. Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses and signal the relationship between the dependent clause and a word, phrase, or other clause. Another type of subordinators are relative pronouns which introduce and/or serve as subjects of dependent clauses.
Examples of Subordinators:
Because we were late, we missed the first half of the movie.
**NOTE: A comma is needed when the dependent clause comes before an independent clause.
The students were sad when their teacher cancelled the test.
**NOTE: A comma is not needed when the dependent clause follows an independent clause.
If we study tonight, we will pass the test tomorrow.
The house that we bought last year has doubled in value.
The house we bought last year has doubled in value. [implied that]
I liked the man who taught me to read.
| Subordinating Conjunctions (introduces dependent clauses) | Time | Space | Condition or Concession |
Comparison or Contrast |
Cause or Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| as after as soon as once since until whenever while |
where wherever |
as as if as though before even how if less than more than provided that so long as than unless whether why |
although even though though whereas |
because in order that inasmuch as since so that |
|
Relative Pronouns (introduce or serve as subject of dependent clauses) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| that | which whichever |
who whoever whose whom whomever |
what whatever |