Conjunctions
Join words and clauses with coordinating, subordinating and paired conjunctions.
You already know words that name, describe and show action. This lesson looks at the small words that link them, so your ideas flow instead of standing in separate, choppy sentences.
A conjunction is a word or pair of words that joins words, phrases or clauses and shows how they are related.
Examples
- Kavya packed her bag and left for the station.
- The fan is old, but it still works well.
- We will wait inside until the rain stops.
- Since the lift was broken, we took the stairs.
- You can pay either by card or in cash.
How it works
Coordinating conjunctions
These join two parts of equal rank: two nouns, two verbs or two main clauses. The common ones are and, but, or, nor, so, yet, for.
Rohan was tired, yet he finished the report.
Subordinating conjunctions
These begin a dependent clause that cannot stand alone. They show time, reason, condition or contrast: when, because, if, unless, although, while.
If the bus is late, call me.
Correlative pairs
Some conjunctions work in pairs. Place each half just before the matching parts and never swap partners: neither goes with nor, no sooner with than, and hardly or scarcely with when.
No sooner had I sat down than the phone rang.
One link is enough
Two clauses need only one joining word. Do not pair although with but, or because with so.
Because the road was blocked, we turned back.
Quick reference
| Conjunction | Relation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| and | addition | She cooks and sings. |
| but / yet | contrast | It is cheap but strong. |
| so | result | I was hungry, so I ate early. |
| because / since / as | reason | He stayed home because he felt unwell. |
| although / though | unexpected contrast | Although it was late, she called. |
| unless | condition (if not) | Unless you hurry, you will miss it. |
| when / while / until | time | Wait here until I return. |
| neither … nor | two negatives | Neither Ravi nor Asha agreed. |
Common mistakes
✕Although he was ill, but he came to work.
✓Although he was ill, he came to work.
Although already joins the clauses, so but is extra.
✕Hardly had the match begun than it started to rain.
✓Hardly had the match begun when it started to rain.
Hardly pairs with when; only no sooner takes than.
✕Neither my brother or my sister likes karela.
✓Neither my brother nor my sister likes karela.
Neither always takes nor.
Worked example
Exercise 1
Tap the conjunction.
Meera sings but Arjun dances.
✓but
But joins two equal clauses and shows contrast.
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7 exercises in this lesson
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