Conjunctions
A conjunction is a word used to connect words or groups of words.
We can use conjunctions to join phrases together. A phrase is a group of words that does not make a complete sentence. It doesn’t have a subject or a predicate, and it does not make a complete thought.
Soupy the orange tabby and Stella the gray Manx are my cats.
Conjunctions can also join clauses together. What is a clause? There are two kinds :
1. Independent Clauses. These are similar to phrases with one exception. An independent clause does have a subject and a predicate. It makes a complete thought and could stand alone as a sentence.
EXAMPLE: Soupy plays with his catnip mouse.
2. Dependent Clauses. These clauses do not make a complete thought. They cannot stand alone as a sentence. It is dependent on the independent clause to make sense.
EXAMPLE: Whenever he’s bored.
This is a dependent clause. It could not stand alone as a sentence. The word whenever is a conjunction. Let’s join this clause to an independent clause to make a sentence.
EXAMPLE: Soupy plays with his catnip mouse, whenever he’s bored.
There are three types of conjunctions: coordinating, correlative, and subordinating.
********A Coordinating Conjunction is a word that joins words, phrases or clauses in a sentence. Use the acronym FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So**************
EXAMPLE: Sonia and her friends watched the new music video.
EXAMPLE: The action started out on a beach, but the scene changed quickly.
Correlative Conjunctions work in pairs to join words and phrases of equal importance.
both . . . and
just as . . . so
not only . . . but also
either . . . or
neither . . . nor
whether . . . or
EXAMPLE: You will not only hear your favorite song but also see the performer.
EXAMPLE:Either the music or the visual images will grab your attention.
Subordinating conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses (clauses that cannot stand alone) and join them to independent clauses. They are: after, although, as, as if, as though, because, before, even though, if, in order that, provided, since, so that, than, unless, until, when, where, whereas, while.
EXAMPLE: The band waited while the director checked the lighting.
EXAMPLE:Although the music videos are short, they are expensive to produce.
Conjunctive adverbs are adverbs that function somewhat like conjunctions. They are used to express relationships between independent clauses. They are: accordingly, also, besides, consequently, finally, furthermore, hence, however, instead, nevertheless, otherwise, similarly, still, therefore, thus.
EXAMPLE: The invention of the transistor radio contributed to the rise of rock and roll; similarly, the introduction of cable television helped launch music videos.
Practice
The face of the music industry changed when cable television came along and began running music videos twenty-four hours a day.
At first, many people predicted that the idea would fail.
Either an all-video station would not attract enough viewers, or the producers would never find enough programming to fill all the airtime, they said.
These predictions seemed unreasonable, but the skeptics turned out to be wrong.
Singers and bands began to make more and more videos; consequently, viewers tuned in to watch.
Later, while music videos became a major form of entertainment, some critics began to find fault with them.
According to critics, performers were creating works that were not only visually but also musically insubstantial.
There’s some truth to the criticism that many videos are slick and unimaginative; however, there are plenty that are truly striking and innovative.
It’s been roughly twenty years since videos first appeared.
Whether you give them a thumbs up or a thumbs down, you must admit that they are here to stay.
I've studied both French and Spanish in school.
Sally will be late for the party because she must work until nine.
Jim is not only class president, but he is also captain of the football team.
It has turned cool, although it's still very sunny.
Please tell me if you will be late for dinner.
Either Laura or Sue will have the lead in the play.
We played tennis until it was too dark to see the ball.
Since Mr. Hays has just moved into the state, he can't vote in the election today.
Neither radio nor television offered any good programs last night.
After we went to the movie, we stopped for some pizza.
Practice Answers
The face of the music industry changed when (Subordinating conjunction) cable television came along and (coordinating conjunction) began running music videos twenty-four hours a day.
At first, many people predicted that (Subordinating conjunction) the idea would fail.
Either an all-video station would not attract enough viewers or (correlative conjunctions) the producers would never find enough programming to fill all the airtime, they said.
These predictions seemed unreasonable, but (coordinating conjunction) the skeptics turned out to be wrong.
Singers and(coordinating conjunction) bands began to make more and(coordinating conjunction) more videos; consequently (Conjunctive adverb), viewers tuned in to watch.
Later, while(Subordinating conjunction) music videos became a major form of entertainment, some critics began to find fault with them.
According to critics, performers were creating works that were not only visually but also(correlative conjunctions) musically insubstantial.
There’s some truth to the criticism that many videos are slick and (coordinating conjunction) unimaginative; however(Conjunctive adverb), there are plenty that are truly striking and (coordinating conjunction) innovative.
It’s been roughly twenty years since(Subordinating conjunction) videos first appeared.
Whether you give them a thumbs up or(correlative conjunctions) a thumbs down, you must admit that they are here to stay.
I've studied both French and Spanish in school. (Corr, Coord.)
Sally will be late for the party because she must work until nine. (Sub.)
Jim is not only class president, but he is also captain of the football team. (Corr.)
It has turned cool, although it's still very sunny. (Sub., Conj. Adv)
Please tell me if you will be late for dinner. (Sub)
Either Laura or Sue will have the lead in the play. (Corr)
We played tennis until it was too dark to see the ball. (Sub)
Since Mr. Hays has just moved into the state, he can't vote in the election today. (Sub)
Neither radio nor television offered any good programs last night. (Corr)
After we went to the movie, we stopped for some pizza. (Sub)
Activity A: Let’s Review Conjunctions
1. Conjunctions are ______words.
2. There are ______main types of conjunctions.
3. The three main types of conjunctions are: ______,
______and ______.
4. A fourth type of conjunction is known as the ______conjunction.
5. An ______clause makes a complete thought
and could stand alone as a sentence.
6. A ______clause could not stand alone and
does not make a complete thought.
7. What are the three most common conjunctions? A)______b) ______c) ______
Activity B: Write T if the statement is true. Write F if the statement is False.
1. ______A phrase is the same as a clause.
2. ______A subordinating conjunction joins two equal clauses.
3. ______Coordinating conjunctions join equal parts in a sentence.
4. ______The word ‘and’ is a conjunction.
5. ______When using an adverbial conjunction, the semicolon comes before the conjunction.
6. ______There are six types of conjunctions.
7. ______A conjunction is a part of speech.
Classwork:
Write 2 sentences w/a coordinating conjunction. Combine words (n’s, pn’s, etc.)
Write 3 sentences including correlative conjunctions combining phrases.
Write 3 sentences using subordinate conjunctions. You should have an independent clause and a dependent clause. Underline the dependent clause.
Write 2 sentences using conjunctive adverbs
Answer Key
Activity A
1. Conjunctions are joining words.
2. There are three main types of conjunctions.
3. The three main types of conjunctions are coordinating, subordinating, and correlative.
4. A fourth type of conjunction is known as the adverbial conjunction.
5. An independent clause makes a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.
6. A dependent clause cannot stand alone and does not make a complete thought.
7. What are the three most common conjunctions? and, but andor.
Activity B
1. F A phrase is the same as a clause.
2. F A subordinating conjunction joins two equal clauses.
3. T Coordinating conjunctions join equal parts in a sentence.
4. T The word ‘and’ is a conjunction.
5. T When using an adverbial conjunction, the semicolon comes before the conjunction.
6. F There are six types of conjunctions.
7. T Conjunctions are a part of speech