Types of Conjunctions

A conjunction is a part of speech used to establish logical relationships between two or more words, phrases, or clauses. Conjunctions are also known as linking, joining or connective words. Their primary role is to connect words, phrases, and clauses. Linking words are highly effective and essential in constructing sentences since they create a smooth transition from one thought to another.

Conjunctions help you bring coherence to your writing by joining units between or within sentences, as well as from one paragraph with the next one to make logical connections.

Conjunctions are divided into four distinct types: coordinating, subordinating, correlative conjunctions, and conjunctive adverbs.

Example:

✔️ I like sketching and painting, but I do not like cleaning up the mess afterward. Marie is clearly in a bad mood, yet she offers me her help.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions link words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence that have the same grammatical category. The meaning of the linked words is independent of one another. And, or, and but are the most common coordinating conjunctions.

There are seven main coordinating conjunctions in the English language, and the easiest way for you to remember all of them is by the simple acronym FANBOYS:

• F: for: The students were frustrated, for the teacher had not warned them of the upcoming test.
• A: and: Yesterday, I bought a pack of blueberries, raspberries and strawberries at Trader Joe’s.
• N: nor: My brother is not in the sports section, nor is he a member of the book club.
• B: but: This book is very old, but I still like to bring it everywhere with me.
• O: or: The teacher said we had to write an essay or take a test.
• Y: yet: My grandma is seventy-five, yet she still leads a very active and healthy lifestyle.
• S: so: I was hungry after work, so I could not help myself and ate the whole cake.

When joining two sentences with a conjunction, remember to include a comma before the conjunction. A stylistic device that employs many coordinate conjunctions is called polysyndeton.

Example:

✔️ When my mom was in Italy, she bought me a scarf and a headband and a designer bag and shoes.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions link an independent clause to a subordinate (or dependent) clause, forming a specific semantic relationship. Subordinating conjunctions connect two clauses by making one dependent (or ‘subordinate’) on the other.

A dependent clause is a clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence. If you read only ‘When I looked at the sun,’ it would be a sentence fragment (an unfinished thought). Hence, it is dependent on the sentence's main part, the independent clause, which might stand alone: ‘It was so bright that I shut my eyes closed right away.’

There are various subordinating clauses, but we can categorize the most common ones based on their relevance to time, causality, opposition, or condition.

Time	Causality	Opposition	Condition
until	so	although	if
while	since	though	unless
when	as	even though	even if
before	now that	while	whether or not
since	in order that	whereas	only if
after	so		in case (that)

A subordinating conjunction can be used in two ways to form a sentence:

1. Main clause + Subordinate clause

• ✔️ Joe went swimming after applying some sunscreen.
• ✔️ I must clean the dishes first if I want to rest later.
• ✔️ I will simply have to read this book whether or not I like it.

2. Subordinate clause +, + main clause

• ✔️ After applying some sunscreen, Joe went swimming.
• ✔️ If I want to rest later, I must clean the dishes first.
• ✔️ Whether or not I like this book, I will simply have to read it.

Notice that when the dependent clause comes after the independent clause, there is usually no need for a comma. And if the dependent clause comes first, use a comma before the independent clause.

• ✔️ I did not go to the party even though I was free that night.
• ❌ I did not go to the party, even though I was free that night.
• ✔️ Because I was thirsty, I went for a walk.
• ❌ Because I could not sleep I went for a walk.

The subordinating conjunction that connects a subordinate clause to a preceding verb. It is known as the ‘expletive that’ in this construction. As a matter of fact, the word is frequently omitted. We can easily omit the word that (or keep it, if the sentence sounds fine as it is) in the following sentences:

• ✔️ Harry knew (that) he had made a huge mistake.
• ✔️ Drew definitely felt (that) his friends supported him and believed in him.
• ✔️ I hope (that) I will feel better about the whole thing tomorrow.
• ✔️ Remember (that) you will have to finish this essay by the end of the upcoming week.

From the last sentence, we can see that omitting the word that can sometimes cause a break in the flow of a sentence, which can be easily restored by using a coma.

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases, or sentences that are equivalent, and they must always be used in pairs. They are used to link units that are similar.

Correlative conjunctions appear in pairs and link equal elements the same way that coordinating conjunctions do. The most common correlative conjunctions are either... or..., neither... nor..., not only... but also..., whether... or..., and both... and...

Example:

✔️ Either Madelyn or Sarah will write the film review. The movie was both directed and written by Jacques Demy. Not only did the movie have a positive reception among the critics, but it also had massive commercial success.

Conjunctive Adverbs

Some adverbs also can act like conjunctions. Such adverbs can be very useful in creating a smooth transition from one complete thought to another in your writing. Conjunctive adverbs are transition words or phrases that can act like conjunctions. They can link two or more independent clauses or sentences that contain ideas with similar subjects and emphases.

Conjunctive adverbs are much like regular conjunctions, but they are punctuated differently. Following a semicolon, conjunctive adverbs are typically inserted between two independent clauses (both have a subject and a verb) and are followed by a comma. Conjunctive adverbs are generally separated from the body of the sentence by commas when they appear elsewhere in the sentence. A conjunctive adverb may occasionally precede a sentence, in which case it will be followed by a comma.

Conjunctive Adverbs

accordingly	however	nonetheless
also	indeed	otherwise
besides	instead	similarly
consequently	now	subsequently
conversely	moreover	then
finally	next	therefore
furthermore	nevertheless	thus
hence	likewise

Two main clauses can be joined with a conjunctive adverb. In this case, the conjunctive adverb functions as a coordinating conjunction, linking two independent ideas. In such a case, you must use a semicolon rather than a comma to connect the two clauses:

Example:

✔️ Cathie's parents would never allow her to get a puppy; otherwise, she would have asked for a cute miniature poodle.

A conjunctive adverb can also begin, end, or interrupt a subjunctive clause. Commas are usually used to divide the conjunctive adverb from the body of the sentence in such a case.

Example:

✔️ Lisa was supposed to be preparing for her French midterm all day. Instead, she was playing video games and eating cake with her sister.

Note that however is both a conjunctive adverb and an interrupter and is punctuated differently depending on its use:

• conjunctive adverb:
  ✔️ ‘I think; however, I am a bit anxious about that idea.’
• interrupter:
  ✔️ ‘I think, however, this idea is not, and it can have dangerous outcomes.’

How do you spot it? If the following however, make up a main (independent) clause, then it is a conjunctive adverb and requires a semicolon and comma.