CONJUNCTIONSFor Grammar and Editing

CONJUNCTIONS

Conjunctions join words, groups of words or ideas (or clauses)

Coordinating ConjunctionsSubordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating ConjunctionsCoordinating Conjunctions

Words Word Groups Clauses

and(addition)

Tea and coffee

In school and in the office

I went to the mall and bought a pair of shoes.

but(contrast)

Slowly but surely

A beautifully designed but rather expensive vase

I tried calling but I couldn’t get through.

or(alternative)

Sweet or sour

For sale or for rent

I can take a bus or drive to work

Yet(contrast)

Beautiful yet deadly

So near yet so far

The boy was sick yet he came to school.

Coordinating Conjunctions Link words, groups of words and clauses

that are equivalentUsing and, but, or, yet, both….and,

either…..or

*although but (contrast)….not only....but also (addition)

Examples of Coordinating Conjunctions

Example Explanation

I bought a notebook and a pen. Both are nouns.

The task was meaningful and challenging

Both are adjectives.

You go or I leave. Speaker giving equal importance to 2 alternatives(You go / I leave).

The girl worked hard but she couldn’t finish on time.

But is used to contrast 2 ideas that are given equal importance.

Both swimming and bowling are my chief interests.

Both are nouns.

Either you go or I leave. Speaker giving equal importance to 2 alternatives.

Exercise (Coordinating Conjunctions)Thank you for your time this morning. I do appreciate your understanding (1)___ help. I would like to explain my position again in writing.I have been asked to make business trips to the Philippines, Australia (2)___New Zealand (3)___ I am willing to go. It is part of my job (4)__ I do have some problems.First, some of my colleagues think that I get all the travel (5)___ they feel jealous. I have explained that this is the same client in each case (6)___ that it is for work (7)___ not pleasure (8)___ they don’t seem to understand.Second, my wife feels that I travel too much _(9)_ wants me to stay at home _(10)__ to take her with me. Again, I have explained that it is work _(11)__ not pleasure _(12)__ I am not sure she understands.Because of these problems, is it possible to send one of my colleagues to the Philippines instead of me? It is not that I want to avoid work __(13)_ I do not want any jealousy in the office that might make it difficult for me to do a good job.

Answers (Coordinating Conjunctions)Thank you for your time this morning. I do appreciate your understanding and help. I would like to explain my position again in writing.I have been asked to make business trips to the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand and I am willing to go. It is part of my job but I do have some problems.First, some of my colleagues think that I get all the travel and they feel jealous. I have explained that this is the same client in each case and that it is for work and not pleasure but they don’t seem to understand.Second, my wife feels that I travel too much and wants me to stay at home or to take her with me. Again, I have explained that it is work and not pleasure but I am not sure she understands.Because of these problems, is it possible to send one of my colleagues to the Philippines instead of me? It is not that I want to avoid work but I do not want any jealousy in the office that might make it difficult for me to do a good job.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Sentence=

Main Idea (main clause)+

Subordinate Idea (subordinate clause)

Subordinating ConjunctionsExample 1:Comes only at the beginning of subordinate ideas or clausesX Because I will be busy all the time so I cannot take her with me.I will be busy all the time (main idea) so I cannot take her with me.Because I will be busy all the time, I cannot take her with me (main idea).

Subordinating ConjunctionsExample 2 (state main idea and subordinate idea):I didn’t even watch television because I was so busy.

Because I was so busy, I didn’t even watch television.

Subordinating ConjunctionsAnswersExample 2 (state main idea and subordinate idea):I didn’t even watch television (main idea) because I was so busy (subordinate idea).

Because I was so busy (subordinate idea), I didn’t even watch television (main idea).

Subordinating Conjunctions

No. How it is used? No. How it is used?

1. Purpose 5. Manner

2. Reason 6. Condition

3. Result 7. Time

4. Concession 8. Place

Subordinating ConjunctionPurpose: so, so that Explanation

I turned up the volume so I could hear it better.

So, so that can be used interchangeably.She is coming to Singapore so that she can

study here and improve her English.

Reason: because, since, as, in case Explanation

I can’t give her a lift home because I don’t have a car.

Because, as, since are used interchangeably to talk about a reason.In case introduces a reason to explain an action, done to avoid / minimise some difficult circumstances that might happen.

I can’t give her a lift home since I don’t‘ have a car.

I can’t give her a lift home as I don’t have a car.

I came back home early in case you needed help with the party.

I will take an umbrella in case it rains.

Subordinating ConjunctionResult: so…..that, such……that, so Explanation

She was so beautiful that she won all the beauty pageants.

So…that is used with adj and adv while such…that is used with nouns.So is used on its own.

He was such an idiot that he did not see the problems he was causing.

He had hurt his ankle so he was not able to play.

Concession: though, even though, although, even if (contrast subordinate idea / main idea)

Explanation

He helped me though he didn’t need to. Though/although are interchangeable as conjunctions.Even if – intro a subordinate idea that seems to go against main idea but does not affect it

He doesn’t speak German well even though he has been studying it for years.

I take lessons in Japanese although I don’t need it in my work.

I will take lessons in Japanese even if I don’t need it in my work.

Subordinating ConjunctionManner: as though, as if Explanation

She looked at me as though I was the one asking her to do the work.

As though and as if are interchangeable.

He walked as if he had hurt his foot.

Conditional: if, unless, provided that Explanation

You can ride on the train with us if you pay the full amount of money.

Unless, if and provided that are used to talk about conditions and circumstances needed for smthg else to take place.

You cannot ride on the train with us unless you pay the full amount of money.

You can come provided that you pay the full fare for the train ride.

Place: where, wherever Explanation

Put the flowers where I can see them. Where-in a place thatWherever-in any place that

I will find you wherever you hide.

Subordinating ConjunctionTime: whenever, until, before, as soon as, once, when, while, as, after

Explanation

I will buy a dress whenever I want to. There are many time conjunctions. Each indicates the time relationship between the main and subordinate ideas – before, during or after

She will have to stay here until she apologises.

Luckily, they had cleaned up the school before the Minister arrived.

She answered the phone as soon as it rang.

I let him go out once he had finished his homework.

Her brother left home when she was very young.

She was talking while I was making my presentation.

He arrived as I was leaving.

The phone rang after they had gone to bed.

Exercise (Subordinating Conjunctions)

My wife is not talking to me _________ I am going to Australia next week on business. She now stops talking ___________ I am at home __________ she wants to go with me __________ she knows I will be busy all the time. I have explained to her ________ my throat is sore. She still wants to go ________ she does not see me ________ she is there in Australia.

Answers (Subordinating Conjunctions)

My wife is not talking to me because I am going to Australia next week on business. She now stops talking whenever I am at home because she wants to go with me even though she knows I will be busy all the time. I have explained to her until my throat is sore. She still wants to go even if she does not see me while she is there in Australia.

The End 4 Editing Exercises focusing on conjunctions