Coordinating Conjunctions

Conjunctions are words that connect sentences or parts of sentences into one sentence. 

In this segment, we will learn about Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions.

Kinds of Conjunctions

The three types of conjunctions are as follows.

1. Coordinating Conjunctions

2. Correlative Conjunctions

3. Subordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunctions join single words or groups of words but they always join the elements of the same kind, i.e., subject and subject, verb phrase and verb phrase or sentence and sentence. 

These words are typically found in the middle part of a sentence with a comma ( , ) just before the conjunction, or at the beginning of the sentence. The coordinating conjunctions are:

For, and, nor, or, yet, so, still, besides, otherwise, or else, nevertheless. 

The above coordinating conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases and clauses or sentences. 

Example:

Truth and honesty is the best policy. (join two words)

He bought a wallet, shoes and a suitcase from the market. (join more than two words)

The bunch of car keys and the two files were left on the table. (two phrases)

Work hard, or else you will fail. (two clauses)

The word And is a Cumulative Coordinative Conjunction that connects non-contrasting objects or ideas. 

Example:

They arrived and hurried to the hotel.

Ramesh and Suresh are the two winners in the competition. 

Note: Other Cumulative Coordinative Conjunctions are: also, as well as, both … and, not only… but also, now, well.

The word But is an Alternative Coordinative Conjunction that connects contrasting objects and ideas. It also means ‘except’. 

Example:

He stumbled, but did not fall.

We live a simple life but not poor.

The word Yet is an Alternative Coordinative Conjunction that connects contrasting situations or exceptions.

Example:

He is rich, yet he is not happy.

I always want to talk to him, yet I never try to do that.

The word Or is an Alternative Coordinative Conjunction that presents an alternate idea or expression.

Example:

What do you want, tea or coffee?

She reads good books, or watches TV on Sundays. 

The word Nor is an Alternative Coordinative Conjunction that indicates something or someone is untrue or unaccepted.

Example:

He never drinks wine, nor does he smoke.

Note: Other Alternative Coordinative Conjunctions are: still, only, however, whereas, nevertheless.

The word So is an Illative Coordinative Conjunction that tells about the result or consequence of some action.

Example:

I was feeling very tired, so I wanted to go to bed early.

He could not sleep last night, so he is sleeping now. 

The word For is an Illative Coordinative Conjunction means because or as a consequence of.

Example:

He was scared, for he saw blood on his knees. 

Note: Other Illative Coordinative Conjunctions are: Therefore, then, so then.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating Conjunctions are used in complex sentences. In other words, they join one independent or main clause with dependent or subordinate clause(s). Examples of subordinating conjunctions are as follows:

after, before, since, as soon as, while, until, as, so long as, if, whether, on condition, in order that, lest, so that, that, because, since, as, provided or provided that, supposing, unless, as, if whether, on condition, so…that, than, no less than, as…as, as much as, as, so far as, according to, as if, though, although, however, notwithstanding, as, even if, whatever, whichever.

Example:

After school, we went to tuition.

They arrived where nobody had set foot before. 

Do it as your teacher showed you.

She speaks as fluently as she writes.

Unless you work hard, you cannot succeed

Use of Some Subordinating Conjunctions

Because/ For/ Since

These three subordinating conjunctions are used to show the cause or reason. Among them because it is most commonly used and has very great force.

Example:

I must apply today because it is the last date.

He could not come to school yesterday since he was ill.

He could not come to school yesterday, for he was ill with fever.

Note: Remember ‘since’ is also used to show point of time.

Example:

I have not seen him since he left the school.

We have never met since we left college.

If/ Unless

Both of these are used in conditional sentences. The if/ unless part is called the subordinate conditional clause and the other part is called the main clause. 

Unless it means ‘if not’. So it turns the main clause into negative.

Example:

You can succeed, if you work hard.

Unless you work hard, you cannot succeed.

If you stop smoking, your health will improve.

Unless you stop eating, you will not lose weight.

Solved Questions

1. Change the Wrong Words in the Following Sentences:

1. He neither touched dinner or (nor) water.

2. The old man not only lost (lost not only) his watch, but also his mobile phone.

3. No sooner had Mita come when (than) she was off again.

4. Scarcely had Ramesh gone than (when) a delivery man knocked at his door.

5. Do like (as) I do.

6. You must act like (as) I tell you.

7. I cannot go to Misha’s house unless she invites (does not invite) me.

8. Though he is a trust-worthy person, (yet) nobody trusts him.

9. Suraj worked tirelessly as long as (until) it grew dark.

10. Unless you respect (do not respect) the elders I shall not speak with you.

Solution

1. He touched neither food nor water.

2. The old man lost not only his watch, but also his mobile phone.

3. No sooner had Mita come than she was off again.

4. Barely had Ramesh gone when a delivery man knocked at his door.

5. Do as I do.

6. You must act as I tell you.

7. I cannot go to Misha’s house unless she does not invite me.

8. Though he is a trust-worthy person yet nobody trusts him.

9. Suraj worked tirelessly as long until it grew dark.

10. Unless you do not respect the elders I shall not speak with you. 

2. Write the Suitable Conjunctions in the Blanks.

1. You can go by train ___________ bus from here. (and / but/ nor/ or)

2. Rice needs plenty of water _____________ cotton needs black soil. (as/ whereas/ since/ for)

3. The stranger neither looked at anyone _____________ uttered a word. ( either/ as well as/ nevertheless/ nor)

4. Swati worked hard ____________ obtained a higher first class. (or/ and/ yet/ as)

5. Tanya had not prepared herself for the exams, _________ she sat for it. (therefore/ otherwise/ nevertheless/ and)

6. The players withdrew from the game, _________ they weren’t sufficiently paid. (but/ because/ otherwise/ nonetheless)

7. Either you sit here silently __________ leave the place. (nor/ since/ but/ or)

8. _____________ he is poor, he is honest. (if/ unless/ provided/ though)

9. ________ Manas__________ his sister can speak English. (either….or/ whether….. or/ both…. and/ none of these)

10. I never lived in that part of the city  ______ even went there before. (and/ or/ nor/ but) 

Solutions

1. You can go by train or bus from here.

2. Rice needs plenty of water whereas cotton needs black soil.

3. The stranger neither looked at anyone nor uttered a word.

4. Swati worked hard and obtained a higher class.

5. Tanya had not prepared herself for the exams nevertheless she sat for it.

6. The players withdrew from the game because they weren’t sufficiently paid.

7. Either you sit here silently or leave the place.

8. Though he is poor, he is honest.

9. Both Manas and his sister can speak English.

10. I never lived in that part of the city or even went there before.

Points to Remember

• A conjunction is a word that helps in connecting two or more words, phrases or clauses.

• Conjunction is divided into two categories or classes  -

• Co - ordinate conjunction 

• Sub - ordinate conjunction

• A coordinate conjunction helps to join the clauses of equal ranks.

• Subordinate conjunction helps to join the clauses in which one is dependent on the other. 

• Students should learn how to use the coordinate conjunction to combine the sentences to make the sentence flow. 

• There are an acronym FANBOYS for words of coordinating conjunction which can be remembered easily -

• F – for

• A – and

• N – nor

• B – but

• O – or

• Y – yet

• S – so

• Subordinate conjunction is a little bit hard to remember in comparison to the coordinating conjunction because it contains some prepositions in it.

• The words of the subordinating conjunctions have different purposes in a sentence, it makes one clause less important than the other in a sentence.

Tips to Learn Conjunction and English Easily

• Clear the Concept - Students should clear the concept of conjunction in order to know how to use them in a sentence and make the sentence flow. 

• Know the Difference between Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunction - They should know the difference of the types of conjunctions because they serve a different purpose in the sentence. 

• Learn to Construct a Sentence - The first step in English grammar is to construct a sentence with no grammatical mistakes. This will help them to form a sentence easily.

• Read Books - Reading different kinds of books can make a student know how to use the words correctly and they can get to know new words which will help them to increase their vocabulary.

• Write - Only reading a book does not help anyone to improve in English, they need to have a practice on writing this will make them write English fluently. Writing practice is also important for students because they make notes and they need to speed their handwriting too so that they can make notes in classes.

• Watch Movies - Students are recommended to watch English movies. They can start by watching the movies with subtitles. This will make them understand the accent of different countries. After they get a hold of understanding the language they can turn off the subtitles and watch it without them. Sometimes new words can be known and they can be searched by students in this process they are introduced to new words in English.

• Dictionary- Dictionary is important for students, previously students used to carry a dictionary with them in case they needed to search a word’s meaning but nowadays they have access to the internet where they can search the meaning of a word at their fingertips. Dictionaries help everyone to learn and know the meaning of words. Students are recommended to have the latest version of the dictionary because new words are often added.

• Conversation - Students should try to keep in practice to converse in English with their friends this will help them to increase their vocabulary. This will also help them to be co confident while speaking in English.

• Learn new Words every Day - students should keep practicing learning some new words every day in the morning and try to use them while making a sentence. This will develop a habit of learning new things every day.

• Read articles or Newspapers - Students should keep a practice of reading a newspaper or article every morning. This way they will have knowledge of current affairs and can practice English too.

• Solve the Grammar Questions - Students should try to solve the grammar questions given in their books in order to have clear knowledge on how to use the words in the sentences.

• Practice- Always practice writing, reading, and speaking in English every day. This trick has helped many to improve in English. This will make them practice English on a daily basis.

• Read a Book before Going to Bed - Students should keep practicing reading a book or novel before going to bed. This will make the students a habit to read, and will also help them to be more creative in their minds. This will encourage them to learn more about the literature and they can write stories in a creative way.

• Students can Refer to the Study Materials for English from Vedantu’s Website: Everything is covered in thy notes which will be easy for the students to have the solutions to the questions. Students can even download it from their mobile or laptop to access the notes. Vedantu also offers English learning and speaking classes for kids in order to make the kids fluent in English.