Conjunctions How to identify conjunctions and their functions

Conjunctions How to identify conjunctions and their functions

Conjunctions Join words, phrases, or clauses Indicate the relation between the elements joined Four types of conjunctions: o Coordinating conjunctions o Correlative conjunctions o Subordinating conjunctions o Conjunctive adverbs

Coordinating Conjunctions Function: connect grammatically equal elements The 7 coordinating conjunctions are: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet Example: o My favorite summer activities are swimming and running. • And is connecting two grammatically equal elements that are in the form of gerunds

Correlative Conjunctions Function: pairs of conjunctions that connect grammatically equal elements Five pairs of correlative conjunctions: either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also, whether…or, both…and Example: o Neither Katie nor Bobby were interested in eating out on Friday night. • Katie and Bobby are both nouns which are grammatically equal

Subordinating Conjunction Function: introduce subordinate clauses and indicate their relation to the rest of the sentence Subordinating conjunctions: after, although, as if, because, before, even though, if, in order that, rather than, since, so that, than, though, unless, until, when, where, whether, while Example: o Whether it rains or shines, we will go to the concert. • Whether indicates that the clause is subordinate and dependent on the remainder of the sentence

Conjunctive Adverbs Function: indicate relation between independent clauses Preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma Some conjunctive adverbs: accordingly, also, anyway, certainly, consequently, finally, furthermore, however, instead, likewise, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, therefore, thus, then Example: o Ryan felt very highly of the teenager who applied for the job; however, he was fully staffed and couldn’t offer him a job. • however indicates a relationship between the two independent clauses which are separated by a semicolon.