Conjunction
What’s your function?
Aim: What is a conjunction?
Objectives:
Properly identifying conjunctions
Determine the various classifications of a conjunction
Coordinating Conjunctions
A coordinating conjunction joins a word or word groups
that are used in the same way.
And, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet—these are the seven
coordinating conjunctions.
F = for
A = and
N = nor
B = but
O = or
Y = yet
S = so
Examples of Coordinating
Conjunctions
We found a bat and a glove. (The conjunction and
connects two words)
They may be hiding in the attic or in the basement.
(The conjunction or connects two phrases)
Will Rodgers once claimed “My forefathers didn’t
come over on the Mayflower, but they met the boat.”
(The conjunction but connects the two clauses)
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, and clauses. Look at
the examples that follow:
The bowl of squid eyeball stew is hot and delicious.
The squid eyeball stew is so thick that you can eat it with a fork or spoon.
Rocky, my orange tomcat, loves having his head scratched but hates getting
his claws trimmed.
Rocky terrorizes the poodles next door yet adores the German shepherd
across the street.
Rocky refuses to eat dry cat food, nor will he touch a saucer of squid eyeball
stew.
I hate to waste a single drop of squid eyeball stew, for it is expensive and
time-consuming to make.
Even though I added cream to the squid eyeball stew, Rocky ignored his
serving, so I got a spoon and ate it myself.
The bowl of squid eyeball stew is hot and delicious.
The squid eyeball stew is so thick that you can eat it with a fork or
spoon.
Rocky, my orange tomcat, loves having his head scratched but hates
getting his claws trimmed.
Rocky terrorizes the poodles next door yet adores the German
shepherd across the street.
Rocky refuses to eat dry cat food, nor will he touch a saucer of squid
eyeball stew.
I hate to waste a single drop of squid eyeball stew, for it is expensive
and time-consuming to make.
Even though I added cream to the squid eyeball stew, Rocky ignored
his serving, so I got a spoon and ate it myself.
Subordinating Conjunctions
A subordinating conjunction begins a
subordinate clause and connects to an
independent clause.
Some sentences are complex. Such
sentences have two clauses, one main [or
independent] and one subordinate [or
dependent].
The essential ingredient in a complex
sentence is the subordinate conjunction:
after
although
as
because
before
even if
even though
if
in order that
once
provided that
rather than
since
so that
than
that
though
unless
until
when
whenever
where
whereas
wherever
whether
while
why
The subordinate conjunction has two jobs. First, it
provides a necessary transition between the two
ideas in the sentence. This transition will indicate a
time, place, or cause and effect relationship. Here are
some examples:
Louisa will wash the sink full of her dirty dishes
once her roommate Shane cleans his stubble and
globs of shaving cream from the bathroom sink.
We looked on top of the refrigerator, where Jenny
will often hide a bag of chocolate chip cookies.
Because her teeth were chattering in fear, Lynda
clenched her jaw muscle while waiting for her turn
to audition.
The second job of the subordinate conjunction is to reduce the
importance of one clause so that a reader understands which of the
two ideas is more important. The more important idea belongs in the
main clause, the less important in the clause introduced by a
subordinate conjunction.
Read these examples:
As Samson blew out the birthday candles atop the cake, he burned the
tip of his nose on a stubborn flame.
Burning his nose > blowing out candles.
Ronnie begins to sneeze violently whenever he opens the door to greet
a fresh spring day.
Sneezing violently > opening the door.
Even though Dana persevered at the calculus exam, she was only
adding another F beside her name in Dr. Armour's grade book.
Adding another F > persevering at the exam.
Coordination vs.
Subordination
Understand the difference between coordination and
subordination.
A coordinating conjunction can join two main clauses
that a writer wants to emphasize equally. The pattern
for coordination looks like this:
main Clause + , + coordinating conjunction + main
Clause.
Subordination, however, emphasizes the idea in the
main clause more than the one in the subordinate
clause.
Coordinate or Subordinate?
Read the pairs of sentences that follow. The first version coordinates
the two ideas. The second version subordinates one idea to emphasize
the other.
To survive the fetal pig dissection, Rinalda agreed to make all of the
incisions, and Frances promised to remove and label the organs.
To survive the fetal pig dissection, Rinalda agreed to make all of the
incisions if Frances would promise to remove and label the organs.
Diana stared dreamily at the handsome Mr. McKenzie, but Olivia,
who hated economics, furiously jiggled her foot, impatient to escape
the boring class.
While Diana was staring dreamily at the handsome Mr. McKenzie,
Olivia furiously jiggled her foot, impatient to escape the boring
economics class that she hated.
At a red light, Maria jumped out of Gino's car and slammed
the door, for she could not tolerate one more minute of the
heavy metal music that Gino insisted on blasting from the
stereo.
At a red light, Maria jumped out of Gino's car and slammed
the door because she could not tolerate one more minute of
the heavy metal music that Gino insisted on blasting from
the stereo.
Making an A in Anatomy and Physiology has not helped
Sima choose a career. She might decide to make her parents
happy and go to medical school, or she might use her
knowledge of the human body to become a sculptor.
Making an A in Anatomy and Physiology has not helped
Sima choose a career. Although she might decide to make
her parents happy and go to medical school, she might also
use her knowledge of the human body to become a sculptor.
Kyle refused to eat the salad served with the meal, nor
would he touch any green vegetable put on his plate.
After Kyle refused the salad served with the meal, he
then would not touch the green vegetables put on his
plate.
Joe spent seven hours studying calculus at the Mexican
diner, so now he can set his math book on fire with his
salsa breath.
Since Joe spent seven hours studying calculus at Taco
Bell, he can now set his math book on fire with his salsa
breath.
After the Basketball game, we celebrated.
After we won the Basketball game, we celebrated.
Because she gets seasick, Danielle is dreading the
spring break cruise, yet she might enjoy herself once
she realizes how many cute guys in skimpy bathing suits
parade the decks.
Even though Danielle is dreading getting seasick on the
spring break cruise, she will probably enjoy herself
once she realizes how many cute guys in skimpy
bathing suits parade the decks.
Correlative Conjunctions
A Correlative conjunction are pairs of conjunctions
that join words or word groups that are used in the
same way.
Correlative Conjunctions
Both… and
not only… but (also)
Either… or
whether… or
Neither…nor
Correlative Conjunctions
Both athletes and singers must train for long hours
(connects two words)
We searched not only behind the garage but also
under the pecan tree. (connects two phrases)
Either your fuel line is clogged, or your carburetor
needs adjusting (connects two clauses)