From the name, you can guess that conjunctions connect things (con=with, junction=to join). There are a few different kinds of conjunctions—we will discuss Subordinating and Correlative Conjunctions in later posts. For now, let’s look at how Coordinating conjunctions connect ideas that are equal with each other (co=together with, ordinate=put in order). There are seven basic Coordinating Conjunctions in English: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So. You can remember them by their initials: Fanboys. The things that are connected together can be as simple as a single word (noun, verb, etc.), as involved as a phrase, or as complicated as a whole clause (sentence). Why do we want to use conjunctions? To connect ideas, to establish a relationship between them.
Coordinating conjunction examples:
- Words: “Dick and Jane ate the sweet but spicy soup.” In this example, we connect two nouns (the children) as doing the same thing together, but we also connect two adjectives (the flavours of the soup) in a contradictory manner.
- Phrases: “The rabbit had to pick to run into the bush or down the hole, so he could escape.” Here we present two prepositional phrases as alternate options, either of which is valid. We also have a clause added on describing the result of the action.
- Predicates: “The crook ran around the corner yet was caught by the police.” Now we have two predicates detailing the crook’s fate with an unexpected connection.
- Clauses: “A violent gust of wind swept up the street, for it is in London that our scene lies.” Here we tie two full sentences together in an explanatory manner, attaching additional information.
- Clauses: “The commotion did not cease, nor did it decrease in the slightest bit.” This one has two more full sentences connected in a negative sense, similar to ‘or’ but backwards.
One point to remember: if the items that are being connected are clauses (full sentences), then there needs to be a comma just before the conjunction—if not, then no comma should be there.
As you can see, using conjunctions to connect ideas improves the flow, one idea leading into another with a specific relationship.