Use of Conjunctions in English Grammar

First of all, we should know what is Conjunction?

Connect + Junction= Conjunction.Conjunction is a word.It joins two words, two sentences and two clauses.

What’s the use of Conjunctions in English Grammar?

• Conjunction works like a connector.If it is necessary, it can extend the sentence or it can compress the sentence.So these are used to minimize or maximize the language. 

Some of the Conjunctions:

and	for	after	before	while
But	also	if	unless	than
or	still	though	as	since
that	else	although	when	only
for	because	till	where

Eg: 

• Birds fly and fish swim. 
• He is slow but he is sure. 
• Unless you go there ,you don’t know what has happened there. 
• Although she is not beautiful, she wants to be a film star. 
• Is there still raining? 
• The train had left before we reached the railway station. 

Kinds of Conjunction: 

Conjunctions are divided into four kinds, namely:

1. Correlative Conjunctions. 
2. Compound Conjunctions. 
3. Co-ordinating Conjunctions. 
4. Subordinate Conjunctions. 

1. Correlative Conjunctions: 

These are used in pairs.

Eg:

either – or	such – that
Neither – nor	as-as
Both –and	as – so
Though – yet	so—that
Whether – or	hardly – when
Not only –but also	scarcely – when
Such – as	no sooner – than

Eg : 

• Madhavi is either a typist or a teacher.[It means Madhavi is doing two jobs parallely one is Typist andTeacher]. 
• She can speak neither English nor Hindi.[It means she cannot speak English and Hindi]. 
• He is both handsome and clever. 
• Though he tried to convince his boss,[yet] she was not happy with his words. 
• I don’t know whether she will marry him or continue her studies. [Here, whether expresses doubt]. 
• He not only wrote song but also sang it.[Here ,this conjunction denotes he wrote the song and he himself sang the song]. 
• I read such books as Oxford Encyclopedia and Cambrige English Grammar to improve my knowledge. 
• Vijay is as clever as Ajay.[ Here as-as denotes vijay and Ajay are clevers]. 
• As you work, so the result is.[ Here, As-so denotes our capability that is how we work that decides our success]. 
• He went to Agra so that he might see TajMahal. 
• I had hardly reached home when the phone began ringing. [ In this sentence, hardly reveals that by the time he reached home, he is too tired]. 
• She had scarcely returned home when someone knocked at the door. [Here also scarcely gives almost same meaning like hardly that she has just reached home]. 
• we had no sooner started for Hyderabad than our uncle arrived. [In this sentence, no sooner denotes that They are about go to Hyd but by that time their uncle arrived]. 

Compound Conjunctions: 

Group of words which are used as conjunctions are known as Compound Conjunctions.

Eg:

in order that	as though
On condition that	in as much as
Even if	as well as
So that	as soon as
Provided that	as if

Eg: 

• He applied for a job in order that he might help his parents.
• I can lend you the money on condition that you return it in a month.
• Even if she is beautiful, I won’t marry her.
• He saved some money so that he might use it in future.
• She appears as though she were a film star.[ Here, She is not a film star but she appears like that].
• Madhavi, as well as her friend, is beautiful. [ It means both are beautiful].
• As soon as I read the books of Dr.APJ Kalam , I became a big fan of him.[It means very soon I became a fan].

Co-ordinate Conjunctions: 

conjunctions which are used to join together clauses of equal rank are known as Co-ordinate Conjunctions.

Eg:

 and, but,for,nor,or, also etc.

• She spoke impressively at the meeting and won the appreciation of all. 
• I offered to help her but she refused my help. 
• I must try hard for there is heavy competition. 
• He is not my friend nor my relative. 
• You must begin the work today or you will not finish it in time. [Here, or denotes if you don’t start the work, you cannot complete the work]. 

Subordinate Conjunctions: 

Conjunctions which are used to join clauses ofunequal rank are known as Subordinating Cinjunctions.

Eg:

After	although	when
Because	till	where
If	before	while
That	unless	than
Though	as

Eg : 

He came after I had finished my work.

• In this sentence two actions done in past.we should carefully pause the sentence otherwise it changes the meaning. 

This sentence gives two meanings.

1. He came, after I had finished my work. [ It means first I finished my work later he came]. 
2. He came after ,I had finished my work. [ It means first he came later I completed my work]. 

• She was sad because she lost her job. 
• If you permit me, I will come there. 
• We believe that Swami Vivekananda was a genius. 
• Although you are rich, you cannot do everything. 
• Though he is great ,he is humble. 
• Wait there till I call you. 
• Do as I tell you. 
• My brother had got job before he got married. [It means first my brother got job,later he got marriage]. before conjunction not only connects the sentences but also denotes which action is done first ,which is done next. 
• Please stay where you are. 
• She is Watching TV while I am reading. 
• She wrote the exam better than I expected. 

So, these are the types of conjunctions and their usage.Having awareness about these conjunctions we can connect the sentences effectively.