CINJUNCTION
DEFINITION
In grammar, a conjunction (abbreviated CONJ or CNJ)
is a part of speech that connects two words, sentences, phrases or clauses. A
discourse connective is a conjunction joining sentences. This definition may overlap
with that of other parts of speech, so what constitutes a
"conjunction" must be defined for each language. In general, a
conjunction is an invariable grammatical particle, and it may or may not stand
between the items it conjoins.
The definition may also be extended to idiomatic
phrases that behave as a unit with the same function, for example as well as,
provided that.
Many students are taught that certain conjunctions
(such as "and", "but", "because", and
"so") should not begin sentences. But authorities such as the Chicago
Manual of Style state that this teaching has "no historical or grammatical
foundation."
A simple
literary example of a conjunction:
"the
truth of nature, and the power of giving interest"
A.
Coordinating
conjunctions, also called coordinators,
Here are some examples of coordinating conjunctions
in English;
for ; ("He
is gambling with his health, for he has been smoking far too long.")
and ; ("They
gamble and they smoke.")
nor ;
("They do not gamble nor do they smoke.")
but ; ("They
gamble, but they don't smoke.")
("Every day they gamble or they
smoke.")
yet ; ("They
gamble, yet they don't smoke.")
so ; ("He
gambled well last night so he smoked a cigar to celebrate.")
B.
Correlative
conjunctions
Correlative
conjunctions work in pairs to join words and groups of words of equal
weight in a sentence. There are six different pairs of correlative
conjunctions:
- either...or
- not only...but (also)
- neither...nor (or increasingly neither...or)
- both...and
- whether...or
- just as...so
Examples:
- You either do your work or prepare for a trip to the office.
- Not only is he handsome, but he is also brilliant.
- Neither the basketball team nor the football team is doing well.
- Both the cross country team and the swimming team are doing well.
- Whether you stay or you go, it's your decision.
- Just as many Australians love cricket, so many Canadians love ice hockey.
C.
Subordinating Conjunction
The most common subordinating
conjunctions in the English language include after, although, as, as far as, as
if, as long as, as soon as, as though, because, before, if, in order that,
since, so, so that, than, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where,
whereas, wherever, and while
