CONJUNCTION

MUST KNOW RULES

                   

Conjunctions are words used to connect other words, phrases, and clauses. There are three types of conjunctions: coordinating, correlative, and subordinating.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions are used to connect two or more words, phrases, or clauses that are equal or parallel. The seven coordinating conjunctions are – ‘And’, ‘but’, ‘for’, ‘nor’, ‘or’, ‘so’, and ‘yet’.

These seven coordinating conjunctions can be remembered using the code – ‘FANBOYS’

Example-  i)  I like cookies and milk.

                    ii) Neither the yoga nor the running made my back feel any better.

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are used to connect parallel words, phrases, and clauses. Correlative conjunctions come in pairs. These are ‘both-and’, ‘not only-but also’, ‘either-or’, ‘neither-nor’, ‘whether-or’.

Example- i) Both Jim and Jack are busy with their assignments.

            ii) Either Jim or Jack has stolen the golden watch.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions are used to connect clauses. Subordinating conjunctions join dependent clauses to independent clauses. They , provide a transition between two ideas in the same sentence. Some of the subordinating conjunctions are- ‘as’, ‘when’, ‘whenever’, ‘because’, ‘since’, ‘Although’...........etc

Example- i) When the doorbell rang, my dog barked loudly.

            ii) I do not want to go to the movies because I am not well.

RULES FOR USING CONJUNCTIONS

       1.     The co-relative conjunction ‘Both’ must be followed by ‘and’.  And, not by ‘as well as’ or ‘else’. 

Example-  i) Both jack as well as Jill may come today. (Incorrect)

            Both jack and Jill may come today.

       2.      ‘Though’ is followed by ‘yet’ and not by ‘but’.

Example- i)  Though he is poor but he is honest. (Incorrect)

            Though he is poor  yet he is honest. (Correct).

       3.     The subordinating conjunction ‘Lest’,  must be followed by auxiliary ‘should’.

       Example- i) Read daily lest you will fail. (Incorrect)

                   Read daily lest you should fail. (Correct)

       4.     With conjunctions ‘ As well as’, ‘besides’, ‘more than’, ‘together with’, ‘in addition to’ ............etc, the verb should be used respective to the first subject.

Example- i) He more than his parents are responsible for the blunder. (Incorrect)

            He more than his parents is responsible for the blunder.(Correct)

       5.     When two subjects are joined by ‘Either-Or’, ‘Neither-Nor’, the verb agrees with the subject that is closer to it.

Example- i) Either Jim or his friends has robbed the bank.(Incorrect)

            Either Jim or his friends have robbed the bank. (Correct)

       6.  Subordinating conjunction ‘Whether’ must be followed by ‘or’. You should not use ‘that’ or ‘if’ when co-coordinating conjunction ‘or’ is used.

Example- i) I don’t know that he will participate in function or not (Incorrect)

            I don’t know if  he will participate in function or not. (Incorrect)

            I don’t know  whether  he will participate in function or not. (Correct)

       7.     The conjunction pair  ‘So…..as’ is used in Negative sentences

and ‘As…..as’ is used in both Positive and negative sentences to compare between two persons or two things.

Example- i) Jim does not  run so fast as Jack. (Negative Sentence)

b) Jim runs as fast as Jack. (Affirmative sentence)

c) Jim does not run as fast as Jack (Negative sentence)

8. The words ‘Not’  and ‘Never’ must be followed by coordinating conjunction ‘or’.

Example- i) She has never advised him nor suggested to him. (Incorrect)

            She has never advised him or  suggested to him. (Correct)

9.   The adverbs ‘Hardly or Scarcely’ must be followed by subordinating ‘when’.

Example- i) Hardly had the rain stopped, then the sun came out. (Incorrect)

            Hardly had the rain stopped, when the sun came out. (Correct)

10. The word “Until” is used in the context of ‘time’ and it means ‘up to the time’. Whereas, , ‘Unless’ is used to refer to ‘condition’.

Note- Both ‘Until’ and ‘Unless’ are negative in form , hence you should not use ‘Not’.

Example- i) Jim will not come to me unless I call him. (Condition)

                   ii) Until she completes the question paper, I will not let her go out. (Time)

FOR EXERCISE click hereconjunction exercise