Using Conjunctions | Definition, Rules & Examples
A conjunction is a word that is used to connect words, phrases, and clauses. There are many conjunctions in the English language, but some common ones include and, or, but, because, for, if, and when.
There are three basic types of conjunctions: coordinating, subordinating, and correlative.
Coordinating conjunctions
This type of conjunction is used to connect items that are grammatically equal: two words, two phrases, or two independent clauses. There are seven coordinating conjunctions in English, and you can remember them using the mnemonic device FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
Conjunction of this type is placed between the items that it links together.
Subordinating conjunctions
This type of conjunction includes words like because, if, although, since, until, and while. A subordinating conjunction is used to introduce a dependent clause.
In contrast to an independent clause, a dependent clause (also known as a subordinate clause) is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand as a complete sentence on its own. A dependent clause does not express a complete idea, so it must always be attached to an independent clause.
- Because I woke up late this morning. I went to school without eating breakfast.
- Because I woke up late this morning, I went to school without eating breakfast.
- I went to school without eating breakfast because I woke up late this morning.
I woke up late this morning is an independent clause, but the subordinating conjunction turns it into a dependent clause: Because I woke up late this morning does not finish a complete thought. It must be joined to an independent clause to form a grammatically correct sentence.
Correlative conjunctions
This type of conjunction always comes in a pair and is used to join grammatically equal elements in a sentence. Common pairs include either … or, neither … nor, not only … but also, and both … and. In most cases, no comma should be used between the two elements.
- Her book on the Vietnam War drew not only from interviews with other survivors but also from her own experiences in the conflict.
Correlative conjunctions must use parallel structure, which means the two elements should take the same grammatical form.
- She planned to collect data by either using an online survey or phone interviews.
- She planned to collect data by either using an online survey or conducting phone interviews.