Conjunctions and

Interjections!

Conjunction-junction, what’s your function?

• Hookin’ up words and phrases and clauses!• Just like we learned in the clause lecture,

they’re connectors that hook things together! (the chains)

• Sometimes referred to as “transition words.”

• There are four types of conjunctions.– Just like pronouns, you don’t have to

memorize the types; you just have to understand them.

1) Coordinating Conjunctions

• Connect things of equal importance

• Examples: FANBOYS

for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Examples of Coordinating Conjunctions

Sonia and her friends watched the new music video.

Sonia and her friends watched the new music video.

Let’s try to figure out all the words in that sentence!

Noun:

Person Pronoun

:

Possess

ive

Noun:

people

Verb:

To

watch

Adj:

article

Adj:

What

kind of

video?Adj:

What

kind of

video?

Noun:

Thing

(the

video)

Examples ofCoodrinating Conjunctions

The action started out on a beach, but the scene changed quickly.

The action started out on a beach, but the scene changed quickly.

• What part of speech is “quickly”?Adverb (LOLLY LOLLY LOLLY!)

• What part of speech is “a”?Adjective (It’s an article!)

• What part of speech is “action”?Noun (the action)

• What part of speech is “started”?Verb (to start)

2) Correlative Conjunctions• Conjunctions that come in pairs

• Are often in different parts of the sentence

• Examples:

both…and, either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also,

whether…or

Examples of Correlative

ConjunctionsYou will not only hear your favorite song, but also see the performer.

You will not only hear your favorite song, but also see the performer.

Either the music or the visual images will grab your attention.

Either the music or the visual images will grab your attention.

3) Subordinating Conjunctions

• Begin subordinating clauses and connect them to independent ones (hooking up the trains!)

• Examples:

after, although, as, as if, as though, because, before, even though, if, in order that, provided, since, so that, than, unless, until, when,

where, whereas, while

Examples of Subordinating ConjunctionsThe band waited while the director checked

the lighting.The band waited while the director checked

the lighting.• What is the subject of the sentence?

band• What are the two verbs of the sentence?

waited (to wait), checked (to check)Although music videos are short, they are

expensive to produce.Although music videos are short, they are

expensive to produce.

4) Conjunctive Adverbs• Express relationships between

independent clauses• DON’T hook sentences together; instead,

often start a new sentence• Examples:

Accordingly, Also, Besides, Consequently, Finally,

Furthermore, Hence, However, Instead, Nevertheless, Otherwise,

Similarly, Still, Therefore, Thus

Examples of Conjunctive Adverbs

• The invention of the transistor radio contributed to the rise of rock and roll. Similarly, the introduction of cable television helped music videos.

• The invention of the transistor radio contributed to the rise of rock and roll. Similarly, the introduction of cable television helped music videos.

• The test was on Thursday. However, I started studying on Monday.

• The test was on Thursday. However, I started studying on Monday.

Let’s Go Conjunction Huntin’!• The face of the music industry changed when cable

television came along and began running music videos.

• The face of the music industry changed when cable television came along and began running music videos.

• At first, many people predicted that the idea would fail.• At first, many people predicted that the idea would fail.• Either an all-video station would not attract viewers, or

the producers wouldn’t find enough programming.• Either an all-video station would not attract viewers, or

the producers wouldn’t find enough programming.• These predictions seemed reasonable, but the skeptics

turned out to be wrong.• These predictions seemed reasonable, but the skeptics

turned out to be wrong.

Singers and bands began to make more and more videos; consequently, viewers turned in to watch.Singers and bands began to make more and more videos; consequently, viewers turned in to watch.According to critics, performers were creating works that were not only visually but also musically insubstantial.According to critics, performers were creating works that were not only visually but also musically insubstantial.There’s some truth to the criticism that many videos aren’t creative; however, there are plenty that are truly innovative.It’s been roughly twenty years since videos first appeared. It’s been roughly twenty years since videos first appeared.

Conjunction Huntin’ Cont’d

Who CARES about conjunctions anyway?

• Conjunctions matter in writing in two ways:1) Show relationships between ideas2) Allow ideas to be combined to form

complex sentences• For example:

Hugh was a stinky dog. His owner also didn’t smell so fresh. (The conjunction shows these two ideas are similar)

Hugh was a stinky dog, and his owner didn’t smell so fresh either.

Interjections

• A word or phrase used to express emotion

• Often offset by a comma (not as much emphasis) or an exclamation point (lots of emphasis)

• Examples:Wow, gee, hey, ouch, aha, boy,

imagine, unbelievable, rats, darn, oh, goodness, and many, many more…

Examples of Interjections

• Oh my! You lost a tooth, Jimmy!• Ouch! Don’t bite, Tommy!• Well, I don’t plan on serving snack until

later.• Wow, someone did a very good job on her

art project.• Yikes, it looks like someone spilled the glue.• Wonderful! You picked up the toys without

being asked!

Why Use Interjections?• Can add emotion and enthusiasm to

your writing• Choose which interjection fits the

scenario best:– (Great!/Oh no!) We’re almost finished

with our presentation.– (Wow,/Well,) we still have to choose the

music.– (Here,/Ouch,) listen to this.– (Alas!/Wow!) I think that’s perfect.

The End!…or is it?