Conjunction

 

🔗 What is a Conjunction?

A conjunction is a word used to connect:

• Words (e.g., Ram and Shyam)

• Phrases (e.g., in the morning or in the evening)

• Clauses (e.g., I was tired, but I finished the work)

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📚 Types of Conjunctions with Examples

1. Coordinating Conjunctions

👉 Used to join words, phrases, or independent clauses that are equal.

📝 FANBOYS – Most common coordinating conjunctions:

Conjunction	Use	Example
For	Shows reason	I stayed home, for it was raining.
And	Adds information	He plays football and cricket.
Nor	Negative addition	She doesn’t sing, nor does she dance.
But	Shows contrast	He is poor but honest.
Or	Shows choice	Tea or coffee?
Yet	Contrast (like "but")	It was raining, yet he went out.
So	Shows result	He was hungry, so he ate.

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2. Subordinating Conjunctions

👉 Used to join dependent (subordinate) clause with an independent clause.

Conjunction	Use/Function	Example
because	reason	He left because he was tired.
although	contrast	Although it rained, we played.
if	condition	I’ll go if it doesn’t rain.
when/while	time	I was sleeping when he called.
since	time/reason	Since morning, he’s been waiting.
unless	condition	You won’t pass unless you study.

3. Correlative Conjunctions

👉 Used in pairs to join equal parts of a sentence.

Pair	Example
both...and	Both Riya and Priya came.
either...or	Either you leave or I will.
neither...nor	Neither Raju nor Ravi was present.
not only...but also	Not only she sang but also danced.
whether...or	I don’t know whether he will come or not.

🧠 Important Rules of Conjunctions

✅ Rule 1: Don't use double conjunctions.

❌ Although he was ill, but he went.
✅ Although he was ill, he went.

✅ Rule 2: Use the same part of speech after both parts of correlative conjunctions.

❌ He likes not only singing but also to dance.
✅ He likes not only singing but also dancing.

✅ Rule 3: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses.

Example: She was tired, but she worked.

✅ Rule 4: Subordinating conjunctions can come at the start or in the middle.

• If at the start: Add a comma. → Although he was late, he joined the class.

• If in the middle: No comma. → He joined the class although he was late.

✍️ Quick Practice

Fill in the blanks with correct conjunctions:

1. He is poor ___ he is honest.

2. You can have tea ___ coffee.

3. She didn’t come ___ she was sick.

4. ___ you try, you will succeed.

5. ___ Jack ___ Jill went up the hill.

👉 (Answers: but, or, because, If, Both...and)