English Conjunctions
What is an conjunction?
A conjunction is a word that is used to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences. Conjunctions are used to coordinate or subordinate ideas, to show a relationship between ideas, or to link ideas in a logical way.
Conjunction types
There are two main types of conjunctions in English: coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions.
- Coordinating conjunctions are used to join words, phrases, or clauses that are of equal importance or have the same grammatical structure. The most common coordinating conjunctions in English are and, or, but, nor, for, yet, and so. For example, in the sentence “I like pizza and ice cream,” the conjunction “and” joins two noun phrases of equal importance.
- Subordinating conjunctions are used to connect a subordinate clause to an independent clause, making the subordinate clause dependent on the independent clause. The subordinate clause provides additional information about the main idea expressed in the independent clause. Common subordinating conjunctions include because, since, after, before, although, and while. For example, in the sentence “I will go to the store because I need milk,” the conjunction because connects the subordinate clause because I need milk to the independent clause I will go to the store, showing the reason for the action in the independent clause.
In conclusion, conjunctions are an important part of the English language and play a crucial role in connecting and linking words, phrases, clauses, and sentences. Understanding and using conjunctions accurately and appropriately is essential for effective communication in English.