Conjunctions
Introduction:
Imagine trying to build a house without nails or glue—impossible, right? Just as these materials hold a house together, conjunctions act as the linguistic glue that binds our sentences into cohesive thoughts. In this article, we'll delve into the fascinating world of conjunctions and explore how they streamline our communication.
What is a conjunction?
A conjunction joins words or word groups.
Types of Conjunctions
Coordinating and Correlative Conjunctions
A coordinating conjunction joins words or word groups that are used in the same way.
The coordinating conjunctions are
and,
but,
for,
nor,
or,
so,
and yet.
The coordinating conjunctions are
and,
but,
for,
nor,
or,
so,
and yet.
EXAMPLES
- In the morning, the team jogs and does sit-ups. [And joins two verbs, jogs and does.]
- Your keys are in your purse or on the table. [Or joins two phrases, in your purse and on the table.]
- It’s raining, so the seats are wet. [So joins two clauses, It’s raining and the seats are wet.]
Coordinating Conjunctions Quizizz Quiz
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that join words or word groups that are used in the same way.
The correlative conjunctions are
both . . . and,
either . . . or,
neither . . . nor,
not only . . . but also,
and whether . . . or.
both . . . and,
either . . . or,
neither . . . nor,
not only . . . but also,
and whether . . . or.
EXAMPLES
- Both Tiffany and Russell are from Denver. [Both . . . and joins two nouns, Tiffany and Russell.]
- Not only did we discover a boat, but we also found oars and a life preserver. [Not only . . . but also joins two clauses, did we discover a boat and we found oars and a life preserver.]
Correlative Conjunctions Quizizz Quiz
Subordinating Conjunctions
A subordinating conjunction begins a subordinate clause and connects that clause to an independent clause.
Some commonly used subordinating conjunctions are
after,
although,
because,
before,
how,
if,
in order that,
so that, unless,
until,
whenever,
whether,
and while.
Some commonly used subordinating conjunctions are
after,
although,
because,
before,
how,
if,
in order that,
so that, unless,
until,
whenever,
whether,
and while.
EXAMPLES
- We left early because the weather was bad. [Because begins the subordinate clause because the weather was bad and connects it to the independent clause.]
- If the weather is bad, we’ll leave early. [If introduces the subordinate clause If the weather is bad. The subordinate clause is connected to the independent clause.]
Subordinating Conjunctions Quizizz Quiz
Directions: Read each sentence. Determine which one of your answer choices is used as a subordinating conjunction.
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Conjunctions Quiz
Choose what type is the bold conjunction.
Conclusion
Ready to make your grammar lessons more engaging and fun? Don't miss out on our interactive resources and games designed to teach conjunctions effectively. Visit our articles to discover:
- Get Connected: Teaching Correlative Conjunctions with a Fun Match-Up Game: Link
- Coordinating Conjunctions Made Fun: A Game-Based Approach to Teaching Grammar: Link
- Make Learning Subordinating Conjunctions Fun with a Scavenger Hunt Game: Link
- Mastering Correlative Conjunctions: A Free Grammar Presentation: Link
- Conjunctive Adverbs and Transitional Expressions: Link
Take your teaching to the next level by integrating these exciting activities into your curriculum today!
FAQs
Q: What is a conjunction?
A: A conjunction is a word that joins words, phrases, clauses, or sentences together. Common conjunctions include and, but, or, yet, so, because, although, since, etc.
Q: What are the types of conjunctions?
A: The main types of conjunctions are coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or), correlative conjunctions (either/or, neither/nor), and subordinating conjunctions (because, although, since).
Q: Where do conjunctions go in a sentence?
A: Conjunctions like and, but, and or go between the words, phrases, or clauses they connect. Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses and go at the start of the clause.
Resources
- The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition, University of Chicago Press, 2017.
- Garner's Modern English Usage, 4th Edition by Bryan A. Garner, Oxford University Press, 2016.
- The Penguin Guide to Punctuation by R.L. Trask, Penguin Books, 1997.
- The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation, 11th Edition by Jane Straus, Jossey-Bass, 2014.
- Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer, Random House, 2019.