English grammar conjunction-180427180905.pdf

Helpful for English grammar

1. Conjunction

2. Aconjunctionisthegluethatholdswords,
phrasesandclauses(bothdependentand
independent)together.
Therearethreedifferentkindsofconjunctions––
coordinating,subordinating,andcorrelative––each
servingitsown,distinctpurpose,butallworking
tobringwordstogether.

3. WhatIsaCoordinatingConjunction?
Coordinatingconjunctionsarewhatcometomost
people’smindswhentheyheartheword
“conjunction.”
Theycanjointogetherwords,phrasesand
independentclauses.Therearesevenofthem,and
they’reeasytorememberifyoucanjustremember
FANBOYS:

4. •For-Explainsreasonorpurpose(justlike“because”)
IgototheparkeverySunday,forIlovetowatchtheducks
onthelake.
•And-Addsonethingtoanother.Igotothepark
everySundaytowatchtheducksonthelakeandthe
shirtlessmenplayingsoccer.
•

5. •But-Shows contrast.The soccer in the park is
entertaining in the winter, but it’s better in the heat of summer.
•Or-Presents an alternative or a choice.The men play on
teams: shirts or skins.
•

6. Nor-Usedtopresentanalternativenegativeideatoanalready
statednegativeidea.Idon’tgoforthefreshairnorreallyforthe
ducks.Honestly,Ijustlikethesoccer

7. Yet-Introduces a contrasting idea that follows the preceding idea
logically (similar to “but”).
I always take a book to read, yet I never seem to turn a single page.
• So-Indicates effect, result or consequence.
I’ve started dating one of the soccer players, so now I have an
excuse to watch the game each week.

8. What Is a Subordinating Conjunction?
A subordinating conjunction always introduces a
dependent clause, tying it to an independent clause.
In contrast to coordinating conjunctions, a
subordinate conjunction can often come first in a
sentence. This is due simply to the nature of the
relationship between the dependent and the
independent clause.

9. In English, there are lots of subordinating
conjunctions, but the most common ones are "after,"
"although," "as," "because," "before," "how," "if,"
"once," "since," "than," "that," "though," "until,"
"when," "where," "whether," and "while." Here are a
few examples of how subordinating conjunctions are
used

10. • “Because of you, I never stray too far from the sidewalk”
(Kelly Clarkson).
• “If you leave me now, you’ll take away the biggest part of
me” (Peter Cetera/Chicago).
“I guess I’ll never be the same since I fell for you” (B.B.
King).
• “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take
a look at my life and realize there’s nothing left” (Coolio).

11. WhatAreCorrelativeConjunctions?
Correlativeconjunctionsaresortofliketag-team
conjunctions.Theycomeinpairs,andyouhaveto
usebothofthemindifferentplacesinasentenceto
makethemwork.
Theyincludepairslike“both/and,”“whether/or,”
“either/or,”“neither/nor,”“not/but”and“not
only/butalso.”

12. •I either want the cheesecake or the frozen
hot chocolate.
•I’ll have both the cheesecake and the frozen
hot chocolate.
•I didn’t know whether you’d want the
cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate, so I got
you both.
•

13. Oh,youwantneitherthecheesecakenorthe
frozenhotchocolate?Noproblem.
•I’lleatthemboth-notonlythe
cheesecakebutalsothefrozenhotchocolate.
•Iseeyou’reinthemoodnotfordessert
butappetizers.I’llhelpyouwiththosetoo.

14. Conjunctions linking by subordination:
A Subordinating Conjunction (they are also
called a dependent word or subordinator) is a
conjunction that introduces a dependent clause
to a main independent clause.

15. Simonwentcyclingalthoughitwasrainingveryhard
Althoughitwasrainingheavily,Johnstillwent
swimming.
Becauseitlookedlikeitwasgoingtorain,wehavean
umbrella.
Iwillcomehomestraightawayifitstartssnowing

16. List of Subordinating Conjunction and what they can be
used for
place
where, wherever
time
when, whenever, while, after, before, since, till,
until, once, now, as soon as, as long as

17. reason
because, as, since, for, although, though, to, in
order to, so as to
similarity and contrast
as, than, whereas, while
condition
if, unless, provided

19. Correlative conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that enable
you, the writer, to combine sentence phrases into larger
sentence units.
The most common correlative conjunctions are:
both…and either…and
neither…nor not…but
not only…but also whether…or

20. Incorrect: Either you must accept the terms
or withdraw from the race.
Correct: You must either accept the terms
or withdraw from the race.
What is wrong with the first sentence?

21. Each term of a pair of correlative conjunctions
governs a specific verb. In the incorrect
sentence, ‘Either’ is too far from the verb it
governs, ‘accept’.
This has been rectified in the correct version,
so that it is clear that a choice is being offered
between accepting or withdrawing.

22. Rule of thumb: keep the correlative conjunction
term close to the verb it governs in the sentence.

23. ALISTOFCONJUNCTIVEADVERBS
ConjunctiveAdverbs(theseareonlyafew):
AccordinglyAlsoAnywayBesidesConsequently
FinallyForExampleForInstanceFurther
FurthermoreHenceHoweverIncidentallyIndeedIn
FactInsteadLikewiseMeanwhileMoreoverNamely
Now

24. Of Course On the
Contrary
On the Other
Hand
Otherwise
Nevertheless Next Nonetheless Similarly So Far
Until Now
Still Then Therefore Thus

25. Someadverbsareusedastransitionsbetween
sentences.Thesearecalledconjunctive
adverbs,buttheyarenotconjunctionsand
cannotbeusedtojointwosentences.These
wordsandphrasesareoftenusefultoshowthe
logicaltransitionsbetweenparagraphs.

26. EXAMPLES:
You are a fool, moreover, you dress badly. (comma
splice)
You are a fool. Moreover, you dress badly. (corrected)
You are a fool; moreover, you dress badly. (corrected)
We ate our meal then, we had dessert. (run-on)
We ate our meal, and then we had dessert. (corrected)

27. We ate our meal; then we had dessert. (corrected)
We ate our meal. Then we had dessert. (corrected)
Bessie always sleeps on the subway, however, she has
never been robbed. (comma splice)
Bessie always sleeps on the subway. However, she has
never been robbed. (corrected)
Bessie always sleeps on the subway; however, she has
never been robbed. (corrected)

28. Notice that often conjunctive adverbs, unlike
conjunctions, often can move almost
anywhere in a sentence.
EXAMPLES:
I like frozen pizza pockets. Also, I like bouillabaisse.
I like frozen pizza pockets. I also like bouillabaisse.
I like frozen pizza pockets. I like bouillabaisse also.

29. CONJUNCTIONRULES:

30. Rule 1
Correlative conjunctions—Inclusive
both…and
Remember that both…and are correlative
conjunctions. They are used together to include
two parallel structures (two nouns, adjectives,
verbs and adverbs).

31. Incorrect: She speaks both English as well as
Spanish at home.
Incorrect: She speaks both English and Spanish
at home.

32. Correlative conjunctions—Inclusive both…and…as
well as
These are correlative conjunctions. They must be used
in sequence to include two or three parallel structures
(two nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs).
e.g.
He isboth intelligent and artistic as well as athletic.
He isboth intelligent as well as athletic.

33. Correlative conjunctions—Exclusives not…but
These are used together to exclude the structure
that follows not (two nouns, adjectives, verbs
and adverbs) and include the structure that
follows but.
Avoid using only instead of but.

34. Incorrect: To judge your friends, you should
not listen to what they say only observe
what they do.
Correct: To judge your friends, you should
not listen to what they say but observe what
they do.

35. AffirmativeAgreement–soandtoo
Rememberthatso,too,andalsohavethe
samemeaning,butsoisusedbefore
auxiliaryverbsandtooandalsoareused
afterauxiliaryverbs.
Avoidusingalsoinstatedofso.

36. Incorrect: We are going to the concert, and so do they.
Correct: We are going to the concert, and so are they.
Or
Correct: We are going to the concert, and they are too.
Or
Correct: We are going to the concert, and they are also.

37. NegativeAgreement—NeitherandEither
Rememberthatneitherandeitherhavethe
samemeaning,butneitherisusedbefore
auxiliaryverbsandeitherisusedafterauxiliary
verbsandnot.

38. Incorrect: She hasn’t finished the assignment
yet, and neither I have.
Correct: She hasn’t finished the assignment
yet, and neither have I.
Or
Correct: She hasn’t finished the assignment
yet, and I haven’t either.

39. Incorrect:Sheisnotinagreement,and
neitherdoI.
Correct:Sheisnotinagreement,andneither
amI.
Or
Correct:Sheisnotinagreement,andI’mnot
either.

40. PlannedResult—Sothat
Avoidsuingsoinsteadofsothatasapurposeconnectorin
writtenEnglish.
Note:InspokenEnglish,soinsteadofsothatisoftenused.
InwrittenEnglish,sothatispreferred.
e.g.
Incorrect: He borrowed money so he could finish his
education.
Correct: He borrowed money so that he could finish his
education.

41. Indirect Questions
Remember that question words can be used as
conjunctions. Question words introduce a clause of
indirect question.
Question words include the following:
Who why what how
What time how long when How many
where how much

42. Avoidusingdo,doesordidafterthequestion
word.Avoidusingtheverbbeforethesubject
afterthequestionword.
Incorrect:Ididn’tunderstandwhatdidhesay.
Correct:Ididn’tunderstandwhathesaid.

43. Incorrect: Do you know how much do they
cost?
Correct: Do you know how much they cost?
Incorrect: I wonder when is her birthday.
Correct: I wonder when her birthday is.

44. Question Words with –ever
Remember that -ever means any. Whoever and
whomever means anyone
Whatever means anything
Wherever means anywhere
Whenever means anytime
However means anyway
The –ever words may be used as conjunctions to
introduce clauses.

45. Incorrect:WecanleaveeverwhenAhmadis
ready.
Correct:WecanleavewheneverwhenAhmadis
ready.
Incorrect:Orderanywhatyoulike.
Correct:Orderwhateveryoulike.

46. Incorrect:Therepresentativewillvoteforwhom
themembershipsupports.
Correct:Therepresentativewillvotefor
whomeverthemembershipsupports.

47. Rule 2
The conjunction so....as / as....as is used to
make comparison between two persons and
things.
so as is used in negative sentences.
E.g. He is not so good as you.

48. But as....as is used in both affirmative and
negative sentences
E.g. He is as good as you.
He is not as good as you.

49. Rule 3
Although/ Though is followed by yet or a comma(,)
E.g. Though he worked hard, he failed.
Although these books are costly yet the
students buy them because these are useful.

50. Rule 4
Always use the correct pair
No sooner........than
Hardly.... when or before
Scarcely.... when or before
Barely.... when or before

51. E.g.Nosoonerhadhesolvedtheriddlethanhe
wasapplauded.
HardlyhadIcomeoutoftheroom
beforeIsawhimdying.
Scarcelyhadheaskedthequestion
whenAgnesslappedhim.
Barelyhadheboughtthecarbeforeitwas
stolen.

52. Hardly, scarcely, andbarely are negative
words.
Do not use not, no, never with the clause
containing these words.
If a sentences starts with a negative word,
use inversion form i.e. helping verb before
the subject.

53. Rule 5
Lest is followed by should or first from of verb. Lest
is a negative word. Do not use not, never, no with
lest.
E.g. Walk carefully lest he should fall.
Walk carefully lest he fall.

54. Rule 6
Until is time oriented andunless is action oriented.
Until and unless are negative words.
Do not use not, never , no, with the clause
containing these words.
E.g. Wait here until I return.
Unless you work hard, you will not pass.

55. Rule 7
In affirmative sentences doubt and doubtful are
followed by if/ whether.
In negative or interrogative sentences doubt and
doubtful are followed by that.
E.g. I doubt if he will come.
I do not doubt that he will come.

56. Rule 8
Always use the correct pair not only....but also.
E.g. He cheated not only his friends but also
his parents.

57. Rule 9
Betweenis followed by and
Fromis followed by to.
E.g. You will have to choose between good and
bad.
She keeps singing from morning to evening.

58. Rule 10
Neither of means none of the two. when more than two
person or things are present none of is used.
Either of means one of the two. when more than two
person or things are present one of is used.
E.g. None of his friends helped him.
One of the students of your class is responsible for
this loss.

60. Rule 11
Do not use seldomorever in place of seldom
or never.
E.g. The national network seldom or never
telecasts good programmers.

61. Rule 12
After rather /other, the subordinating conjunction
thanshould be used.
E.g. He has no other object than to get a handsome
job.
I would rather buy a scooter than a cycle.