LET's DO GRAMMAR!: Conjunctions

Definition

A conjunction is a joiner; a word that connects (conjoins) two words, sentences, phrases or clauses together.

Classification and Use

Coordinating conjunctions are the simplest kind, and they denote equality of relationship between the ideas they join. Coordinating conjunctions are sometimes called the fanboys because that is an acronym for them, e.g.:

for - presents a reason ("He is gambling with his health, for he has been smoking far too long.").
and - presents non-contrasting item(s) or idea(s) ("They gamble, and they smoke."
nor - presents a non-contrasting negative idea ("They do not gamble nor do they smoke.").
but - presents a contrast or exception ("They gamble, but they don't smoke.").
or - presents an alternative item or idea ("Every day they gamble or they smoke.")
yet - presents a contrast or exception ("They gamble, yet they don't smoke.").
so - presents a consequence ("He gambled well last night so he smoked a cigar to celebrate.").

Their relatives, correlative conjunctions, not only denote equality, but they also make the joining tighter and more emphatic. They are:

both . . . and (“Both the cross country team and the swimming team are doing well”
not only . . . but also (“Not only is he handsome, but he is also brilliant”
either . . . or (“You either do your work or prepare for a trip to the office”
neither . . . nor (“Neither the basketball team nor the football team is doing well”
whether . . . or (“Whether you stay or you go, it's your decision”
just as . . . so too (“Just as many Australians love cricket, so many Canadians love ice hockey”)

A Subordinating Conjunction (sometimes called a dependent word or subordinator) comes at the beginning of a Subordinate (or Dependent) Clause and establishes the relationship between the dependent clause and the rest of the sentence. It also turns the clause into something that depends on the rest of the sentence for its meaning. The subordinate clause supplies a time, reason, condition, and so on for the main clause.

Subordinating Conjunctions
Time	Reason	Concession	Place	Condition	Manner
after before since when whenever while until as as . . . as once	because since so that in order that why	although though even though while	where wherever	if unless until in case provided that assuming that even if	as if as though how

Examples:

Sally steamed the corn while Fred fried the steak
After the rain stopped, the dog ran into the mud to play.
The snowman melted because the sun came out.
Even though John fell asleep, the telephone salesman kept talking.

Conjunctive adverbs make up an even stronger category of conjunctions. They show logical relationships between two independent sentences, between sections of paragraphs, or between entire paragraphs. Conjunctive adverbs are so emphatic that they should be used sparingly; however, when used appropriately, they can be quite effective.

Conjunctive adverbs
also hence however still likewise otherwise therefore conversely rather	consequently furthermore nevertheless instead moreover then thus meanwhile accordingly

Examples:

If the salmon is grilled, I will have that; otherwise, I might have the chicken
James has a garage full of wood working tools. He might, however, have some metric wrenches, too.
I do not recommend that you play with a stick of dynamite lit at both ends. Rather, a ham sandwich would be better for you.

Relative pronouns and relative adjectives are also used to join ideas together by creating adjective or noun clauses, which allow a writer to create smoother, more flowing and effective sentences by combining ideas.

Relative Pronouns and Relative Adjectives
who whom whose whoever whomever	which that what whichever whatever

Examples:

This is the man who sells peanuts
Tell me what you want
Hers is an idea that I would like to think through.
The shirts, which are in the laundry, will need ironing.

Adverbs of time, place, and sequence are actually transitions of logic, but as such they also have conjunctive force, because they connect ideas by showing a time relationship.

Adverbs of Time, Place, and Sequence
earlier next lastly later before after	then now soon here there today	first second third fourth eventually tomorrow

Examples:

The twilight glides away. Soon night will awake.
First, get a pad and pencil. Next, find a quiet place to think.

Sentential Adverbs are closely related to conjunctive adverbs. The "official" line on these words is that they convey no meaning of their own but instead serve only to emphasize the statement to which they are attached. As such, then, they technically do not show a logical relationship like time or cause between ideas, and that fact prevents them from being true-blue conjunctive adverbs. But it could be argued that sentential adverbs create a relationship of emphasis between ideas: this new idea is important in light of what preceded it. Indeed, that is why they are included here.

Sentential Adverbs
of course indeed naturally after all in short I hope at least remarkably	in fact I think it seems in brief clearly I suppose assuredly definitely	to be sure without doubt for all that on the whole in any event importantly certainly naturally

Examples:

The flashlight hit the floor and broke into a hundred pieces. At least there was a candle in the room.
They all began to use appropriate sentential adverbs in their writing. They were convinced, I suppose, by the excellent examples.
The conjunction list has left the building. On the whole, I hope you enjoyed it.