Conjunctions

◊ GRAMMAR

A conjunction is a word which links two clauses, groups, or words. There are two kinds of conjunction: coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions.

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◊ coordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions link clauses, groups, or words of the same grammatical type, for example two main clauses or two adjectives.

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The most common coordinating conjunctions are:

and, but, nor, or, then, yet

Anna had to go into town and she wanted to go to Bride Street.

I asked if I could borrow her bicycle but she refused.

Her manner was hurried yet painstakingly courteous.

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`Nor', `then', and `yet' can be used after `and'. `Nor' and `then' can be used after `but'.

Eric moaned something and then lay still.

It is a simple game and yet interesting enough to be played with skill.

Institutions of learning are not taxed but nor are they much respected.

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When coordinating conjunctions are used to link clauses that have the same subject, the subject is not usually repeated in the second clause.

She was born in Budapest and raised in Manhattan.

He didn't yell or scream.

When she saw Morris she went pale, then blushed.

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◊ subordinating conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses. A subordinating conjunction does not have to come between two clauses. It can introduce the first clause in a sentence.

He only kept thinking about it because there was nothing else to think about.

When the jar was full, he turned the water off.

Although she was eighteen, her mother didn't like her to stay out late.

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For information on which conjunctions are used to introduce the various types of subordinate clause, see entry at ↑ Subordinate clauses.

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