Tips on Using Conjunctions

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10 TIPS on USING CONJUNCTIONS

• Grammar Rules and Tips for using Conjunctions

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What is a Conjunction?

• A conjunction is a part of speech that is used to
  connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences.  
• Functions of Conjunction
• Joins together sentences, and sometimes words.
• Makes sentences more compact. Example Sudhir
  is a good bowler and Sanjay is a good bowler.
  Using conjunction we can say in short Sudhir and
  Sanjay are good bowlers.
• NOTE When conjunctions simply joins two words in
  a sentence, then the sentence cant be dissolved
  into two separate, independent sentences.
  Example Rumi and Ruhi are sisters.

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Types of Conjunctions

1. Correlative Conjunction used in pairs to join
   phrases or words that carry equal importance
   within a sentence (Either-or, Neither-nor,
   Both-and, Though-yet, Whether-or, Not only-But
   also). Either take it or leave it.
2. Compound Conjunction formed when compound
   expressions are used as conjunctions (In order
   that, As well as, Provided that, So that, As
   through, As soon as, As if etc.) Such an act
   would not be kind even if it were just.
3. Coordinating Conjunction coordinates or joins
   two or more sentences, main clauses, words or
   other parts of speech which are of equal
   importance or rank (for, and, nor, but, yet).
   Birds fly and fish swim.
4. Subordinating Conjunctions joins a clause to
   another one on which it depends for its full
   meaning or joins dependent clauses to independent
   clauses (after, because, if, that, though,
   although, till, before, unless, as, when, where,
   while). He ran away because he was afraid.

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Tips on using Conjunctions
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Tip 1 Correlative Conjunctions
Tip 2 Coordinating Conjunctions

• Placement of Correlative Conjunctions When
  Conjunctions are used as Correlatives, each of
  the correlated words should be placed immediately
  before the words to be connected.
• Example
• He visited not only Mumbai, but also Pune.
• He not only visited Mumbai, but also Pune.
  (wrong)

Replacement of Coordinating Conjunctions Any of
the Coordinating Conjunctions, with the exception
of or, nor, may be omitted and its place taken
by a comma, semicolon, or colon. Example Rama
went out to play but Hari stayed in to
work. Rama went out to play Hari stayed in to
work. (conjunction but replaced by mark)
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Tip 4 Conjunction, Relative Adverb, Relative
Pronoun,
Tip 3 Preposition and Conjunction

• Prepositions cannot be used to connect two
  clauses It should be followed by a noun or noun
  equivalent which acts as its object.
• Certain words are used both as Prepositions and
  Conjunctions
• Stay till Sunday. (till is a preposition here)
• We shall stay here till you return. (till is a
  conjunction here)
• The dog ran after the cat. (after is a
  preposition here)
• We came after they had left. (after is a
  subordinating conjunction here)

Relative Adverb is an adverb which introduces a
relative clause. The relative adverbs are where,
when, whenever and wherever. I will never forget
the day when I met Jane. (here when a is
relative adverb) When the doorbell rang, my dog
Rusty barked loudly. (here when is a
subordinating conjunction as the dogs barking is
dependent on the ringing of the bell) Relative
Pronoun is a pronoun which introduces a relative
clause. The relative pronouns are who, whom,
which and whose. The boy whose sister works with
me is a good designer. (relative pronoun) I hired
Satish, whose interior design work is top-notch.
(subordinating conjunction )
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Tip 5 Since, Or
Tip 6 Yet
Yet as conjunction used when we want to
emphasize that contrast to achieve a stronger
effect. She can speak Hindi very well, yet she
cant write Hindi at all. Yet as adverb is
used to talk about something over a period of
time, up till now, sometimes with negative
meanings and in questions. Isnt the dinner
ready yet? Dont eat the mangoes. Theyre not
ripe yet.

• Since in the meaning of from and after the
  time when it should be preceded by a verb in
• the present perfect tense, and followed by a verb
  in the simple past tense.
• Many things have changed since I left the city.
• Since in the meaning of because
• Since you will not work, you shall not eat.
• Or in the meaning of introducing an
  alternative
• He may study law or medicine, or engineering.
• Or to mean otherwise
• We must hasten or the train will leave.

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Tip 7 If
Tip 8 That

• If in the meaning of condition or supposition
• If he is there, I shall see him.
• If in the manner of an admission
• If I am rude, I am at least honest.
• If in the meaning of whether
• I asked him if he would come to the party.
• If in the meaning of whenever
• If I face any problem, I will call you.

That to express a reason or cause, and is
equivalent to because He was annoyed that he
was interrupted. That to express a
consequence, result, or effect I am so tired
that I cannot walk. That as a Relative
Pronoun to define a person, animal or thing He
went to the school that my father went to. (here
that is not joining sentences but defining an
object, i.e., the school )
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Tip 9 Than, Lest, Except
Tip 10 While, Only

• Than as a Conjunction, follows adjectives and
  adverbs in the comparative degree.
• Oceans are bigger than seas (are).
• Lest as a Subordinating Conjunction to express
  fear or apprehension.
• He is hesitant to speak out lest he be fired.
• Except used for introducing the only person,
  thing, or fact that is not included.
• Id invite Paresh myself, except I dont know
  where he lives. (conjunction)
• I havent invited anyone except Paresh. (here
  except is a preposition followed by the noun
  Paresh)

While is used to mean during the same time as
While he was sleeping, a thief entered the
house. The girls studied while the boys played.
While to mean whereas While I have no money
to spend, you have nothing to spend on. Only
as a Conjunction, means except that or
but. She sings well, only that she forgets the
lyrics in the middle. I would go with you, only I
cant take leave from office.
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Spot the Errors
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Spot the Error

• Either Im feeling happy or sad, I try to keep a
  positive attitude.
• Meera went to the market and Meera bought
  oranges.
• Will you please wait here as soon as I come back?
• I have spoken to Ritesh, and confirmed the time
  of meeting.
• He not only called Amit, but Rita also.

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Spot the Error

• Either Im feeling happy or sad, I try to keep a
  positive attitude.
• Whether Im feeling happy or sad, I try to keep a
  positive attitude.
• Meera went to the market and Meera bought
  oranges.
• Meera went to the market and bought oranges.
• Will you please wait here as soon as I come back?
• Will you please wait here until I come back?
• I have spoken to Ritesh, and confirmed the time
  of meeting.
• I have spoken to Ritesh and confirmed the time of
  meeting.
• He not only called Amit, but Rita also.
• He called not only Amit, but also Rita.

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Spot the Error

• You wont pass the test if you study.
• I am living in Shillong since I left school in
  2012.
• I will not go unless you also.
• I like coffee yet my wife prefers tea.
• I am late because of the traffic was terrible.

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Spot the Error

• You wont pass the test if you study.
• You wont pass the test unless you study.
• I am living in Shillong since I left school in
  2012.
• I have been living in Shillong since I left
  school in 2012.
• I will not go unless you also.
• I will not go unless you also do.
• I like coffee yet my wife prefers tea.
• I like coffee but my wife prefers tea.
• I am late because of the traffic was terrible.
• I am late because of the traffic. / I am late
  because the traffic was terrible.

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