The Conjunction

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This article was first published on the 1st of July, 2017 by Patrick Carpen.

Last updated: April 14, 2021 at 16:29 pm

The conjunction is one of the eight basic parts of speech of the English Language. The conjunction is a word or a word team which joins two words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence.

There are two types of conjunctions in the English Language:

1. Coordinate conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. (FANBOYS)

2. Subordinate conjunctions, examples: when, if, before, which, when.

How Conjunctions Work

A clause is a group of words which contain both a subject and a verb. The principal clause makes sense by itself, but the subordinate clause depends on the principal clause to complete its meaning.

Here’s an example of a sentence with a principal clause and a subordinate clause:

I will go if they invite me.

Principal clause: I will go.

Subordinate clause: if they invite me.

Conjunction: if.

Subordinate Conjunctions

A conjunction which joins a principal clause to a subordinate clause is called a “subordinate conjunction.”

Here is a list of subordinate conjunctions: after, since, when, although, so that, whenever, as, supposing, where, because, than, whereas, before, that, wherever, but that, though, whether, if, though, which, in order that, till, while, let, lest, unless, who, no matter, until, why, how, what, even though.

Note: The list above may not include ALL subordinate conjunctions in the English Language.

Coordinate conjunctions may also be called “coordinating conjunctions,” and subordinate conjunctions may also be called “subordinating conjunctions.”

Coordinate Conjunctions

A conjunction which joins two principal clauses in a sentence is called a “coordinate conjunction.” Here is an example of a sentence with two principal clauses joined with a coordinate conjunction:

The rain is falling, and the plants are smiling.

First Principal Clause: The rain is falling.

Second Principal Clause: And the plants are smiling.

Coordinate conjunction: and.

In the English Language, there are seven coordinating conjunctions.

For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

A good mnemonic expression for remembering the seven coordinate conjunctions is “FANBOYS.” That is, the take the first letter of each of the seven coordinate conjunctions and make it into a word.

Conjunctive Adverbs

There are some words which play the role of a coordinate conjunction, but they are not coordinate conjunctions. They are called “conjunctive adverbs.” Here are some examples:


accordingly
in fact
again
instead
also
likewise
besides
moreover
consequently
namely
finally
nevertheless
for example
otherwise
further
still
furthermore
that is
hence
then
however
therefore
indeed

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