Learning objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to explain the main rules, identify the target forms in real sentences, avoid common errors and apply the rules to unfamiliar examples.
- Understand the core terms and distinctions.
- Study examples in context rather than memorising isolated rules.
- Complete the practice before opening the answer key.
1. What do conjunctions do?
Conjunctions connect words, phrases, clauses or sentences. The relationship may show addition, contrast, choice, reason, result, condition, time or concession.
I wanted to go, but I was busy. (contrast)
We stayed inside because it was raining. (reason)
2. Coordinating conjunctions
The common coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (often remembered as FANBOYS). They connect grammatical units of similar status.
| Conjunction | Typical relationship | Example |
|---|---|---|
| and | Addition | She read and took notes. |
| but / yet | Contrast | It was late, but we continued. |
| or | Choice | Call me or send a message. |
| so | Result | It rained, so the match stopped. |
| nor | Negative alternative | He did not call, nor did he write. |
| for | Reason, more formal | We left, for it was getting dark. |
When a coordinating conjunction joins two independent clauses, a comma is normally placed before it. A comma is not automatically needed when it joins only two short words or phrases.
3. Subordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses. They show a relationship such as time, cause, condition, contrast or purpose.
| Relationship | Common words | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Time | when, while, before, after, until | Call me when you arrive. |
| Cause | because, since, as | We stayed home because it rained. |
| Condition | if, unless, provided that | If you practise, you will improve. |
| Contrast / concession | although, though, even though, whereas | Although tired, she continued. |
| Purpose | so that, in order that | He spoke slowly so that we could understand. |
If the dependent clause comes first, a comma commonly separates it from the main clause: “Although it was raining, we played.” If it comes second, the comma is often unnecessary: “We played although it was raining.”
4. Correlative conjunctions and parallel structure
Correlative pairs work together: either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but also, whether…or. Keep the connected structures grammatically parallel.
Parallel: He is not only intelligent but also hardworking.
Awkward/non-parallel: She likes both reading and to write.
With either…or and neither…nor, subject–verb agreement can depend on the nearer subject in common school grammar guidance: “Either the teacher or the students are coming”; “Either the students or the teacher is coming.” When possible, rewrite a clumsy sentence to avoid disagreement.
5. Conjunctions, connectors and interjections
Some linking expressions are adverbs or phrases rather than conjunctions: however, therefore, moreover, as a result, on the other hand. Punctuation differs: “It was late; however, we continued” or “It was late. However, we continued.” Avoid joining two complete sentences with only a comma.
An interjection expresses a reaction or emotion: Oh! Wow! Alas! Ouch! It is often set apart by punctuation and is less central to sentence grammar.
- Incorrect: Although it rained, but we played. Correct: Although it rained, we played. / It rained, but we played.
- Incorrect: It was raining, however we continued. Correct: It was raining; however, we continued.
- Incorrect: She likes not only singing but also to dance. Better: She likes not only singing but also dancing.
Guided practice
Try each item first. Then open the answer key and read the explanation for any answer you missed.
- Choose: Rina ___ Mina attended the class. (and / but)
- Complete: I stayed home ___ I was ill.
- Choose: ___ you hurry, you will miss the bus. (Unless / Because)
- Correct: “Although he was tired, but he continued.”
- Choose punctuation: “It was late, so we left” or “It was late so we left” when joining two independent clauses.
- Complete: Either you ___ your brother must call. (or / nor)
- Complete: Both singing ___ dancing are enjoyable.
- Improve parallelism: “She likes reading and to swim.”
- Choose: I will wait ___ you return. (until / but)
- What punctuation can precede however between two independent clauses?
- Identify the interjection: “Wow! That was amazing.”
- Complete: He studied hard, ___ he passed the exam. (so / although)
- Choose: ___ it was cold, they went swimming. (Although / Because)
- Correct the comma splice: “The road was flooded, we turned back.”
- Choose the standard phrase: neither tea ___ coffee.
Show answer key and explanations
- and — And expresses addition.
- because — Because introduces a reason clause.
- Unless — Unless means if not and introduces a condition.
- Although he was tired, he continued. — Do not normally use although and but together for the same contrast.
- It was late, so we left. — A comma commonly precedes a coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses.
- or — The correlative pair is either…or.
- and — The pair is both…and.
- She likes reading and swimming. — Parallel forms are coordinated.
- until — Until introduces a time boundary.
- A semicolon or a full stop. — However is a conjunctive adverb, not a coordinating conjunction.
- Wow — Wow expresses a reaction.
- so — So introduces the result.
- Although — Although introduces a concession or contrast.
- The road was flooded, so we turned back. (or use a full stop/semicolon) — Two independent clauses should not normally be joined by a comma alone.
- nor — The correlative pair is neither…nor.
Revision checklist
- I can explain the main rule in my own words.
- I can identify the target form in a sentence.
- I can explain why a common incorrect example is wrong.
- I can apply the rule in a new sentence.
If an answer was wrong, identify the rule behind the mistake and practise that pattern again.
Continue learning
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