Conjunctions

    A.    Defining a conjunction

    A conjunction is a word used to join words, groups of words or sentences.

1.      The sun was shining and a hot wind was blowing.

2.      There was noise around me but I was not disturbed.

3.      Rice and curry is a popular dish.

In the above sentences, the words in bold letters are all conjunctions.

    B.     Coordinating conjunctions

A conjunction used to join two independent statements or two statements of equal rank or importance is called a coordinating conjunction. (coordinating means of equal rank).

In sentences 1 and 2 above, and and but are coordinating conjunctions.

Coordinating conjunctions are of four types.

1.      Conjunctions that merely add one statement or fact to another.

And, both … and, as well as, no less than, not only … but also are common conjunctions of this type:

And

The weather was fine and the sea was calm.

(The weather was fine. The sea was calm.)

The door was open and things were lying scattered.

(The door was open. My things were lying scattered.)

Both … and

She is both intelligent and hardworking.

(She is intelligent. She is hardworking.)

Neeraj gave me both books and notes.

(Neeraj gave me books. Neeraj gave me notes.)

As well as

He as well as his father is sincere.

(He is sincere. His father is sincere.)

The captain as well as the crew has arrived.

(The captain has arrived. The crew has arrived.)

No less than

He no less than his brother is guilty.

(His brother is guilty. He is equally guilty.)

I am no less grateful to your father than to you.

(I am grateful to you. I am equally grateful to your father.)

Not only … but also

He was given not only a merit certificate but also a handsome scholarship.

(He was given a merit certificate. He was given a handsome scholarship.)

The train was not only late but also fully packed.

2.      Conjunctions that express opposition or contrast between two statements.

But still, yet, nevertheless, whereas, while, only are conjunction of this type.

But

The train was fully packed but we got comfortable seats.

(The train was fully packed. We got comfortable seats.)

The earthquake was quite severe but the temple was not damaged.

Still, yet

Prem Chand is quite rich, still he is not contended.

Prem Chand is quite rich, yet he is not contended.

(Prem Chand is quite rich. He is not contended.)

I was angry, still I did not scold him.

I was angry, yet l I did not scold him.

Nevertheless

We were very tired; nevertheless, we continued the work.

(We were very tired. We continued the work.)

I am hard up; nevertheless, I will give you some money.

Whereas, while

Whereas (or while) wise men prefer virtue, fools prefer beauty.

(Wise men prefer virtue. Fools prefer beauty.)

Rice needs plenty of water whereas (or while) cotton needs black soil.

Only

I am all right, only I am tired.

(I am all right. I am tired.)

I could come, only I am busy.

3.      Conjunctions that express a choice between two alternatives.

Or, otherwise, else, either … or, neither … nor are common conjunctions of this type.

Or

You must apologise, or you will be dismissed.

(You must apologise. You will be dismissed.)

You must be bold, or you will not be able to face the world.

Either … or

Either attend to your lesson or leave the class.

(Attend to your lesson. Leave the class.)

We can either walk down or take a bus.

Neither … nor

He is neither lazy nor careless.

(He is not lazy. He is not careless.)

Kavita neither looks after the house nor takes up a job.

Otherwise, else

Hurry up, otherwise you will be late for the school.

Hurry up, else you will be late for the school.

(Hurry up. You will be late for the school.)

4.      Conjunctions by which one statement or fact is inferred from another.

For, so, therefore are common conjunctions of this type.

For

She will rise in life, for she is sincere and hardworking.

Let me take leave of you, for I am getting late.

So, therefore

He did not report in time, so he was not selected.

He did not report in time, therefore he was not selected.

We missed the bus, so we took a taxi.

We missed the bus, therefore we took a taxi.

    C.    Subordinating conjunctions

A conjunction used to join two statements, one of which is dependent on the other is called a subordinating conjunction.

Look at this sentence:

We continued to work, although we were getting late.

In this sentence, although we were getting late is a subordinate clause, for it cannot stand on its own. Therefore, although is a subordinating conjunction. Subordinating conjunctions may be classified according to their meaning.

1.      Subordinating conjunctions introducing noun clauses

The various kinds of clauses (noun, adjective, adverb) are already discussed. Here, let us understand that there are some subordinating conjunctions that introduce a particular type of subordinate clause.

That

She said that she was confident of her success.

Are you sure that you have the right address?

I am afraid that I will not be able to come.

It appears that Mrs. Rana is in a bad mood.

If/weather

She asked me if I had sufficient woolens for the winter.

They wanted to know whether I could accept the proposal.

2.      Subordinating conjunctions introducing adverb clauses

Time: when, whenever, before, after, till, since, as soon as, while as

We felt thrilled when our football team won the zonals.

I will give him your message whenever I see him.

Celebrations had begun before the results were formally declared.

The gates were locked after the guests had left.

Father asked me to stay at home till he returned.

She has not written to me since she left.

Turn off the gas as soon as water starts boiling.

He checked the accounts while I took a cup of tea.

I came across an old friend as I was walking to the school.

Place: where, wherever

She found her bag where she had left it in the shop.

Wherever he goes, he wins respect.

Cause or reason: because, since, as

I prefer to live in Shimla because the climate of the hills suits me.

Water supply to his house was disconnected since he had not paid the bill.

We did not call him for an interview as we had not received his application in time.

Result or consequence: so … that, such … that

He spoke so fast that I could not take down any notes.

There was such a loud noise that I could not have even a wink of sleep.

Purpose: so that, that, lest

I stayed back home so that my grandfather might not feel lonely.

We eat that we may live.

He is wearing a woolen coat lest he should catch cold.

Condition: if, unless

You will be given a permanent job if your work is satisfactory.

You will not be allowed to enter unless you have an invitation card.

Concession or contrast: though, although, although … yet, even if, even though

She is humble though she is rich.

Although he lost heavily yet he did not lose heart.

I shall not betray my country even if I have to sacrifice my life for it.

Comparison: as … as, than

He is as clever as his brother (is).

Anu is cleverer than her sister (is).

Manner: as, as if

They acted as they had been advised.

He behaved as if he were angry.

    D.    Conjunctions used in pairs

Some conjunctions convey their full sense only when they are used in pairs.

Either … or

Either you should return the book or pay its price.

We could watch the movie either on the video or in the hall.

Neither … nor

I am neither a fool nor a rogue.

They neither pay the rent nor vacate the house.

Although (though) … yet

Although India has rich resources yet it is poor.

Although she belongs to a rich family yet she is miserly.

These days it is preferred to use either although or yet instead of using the two of them together.

Although India has rich resources, it is poor.

Both … and

She is both intelligent and hard working.

The thief was both fined and imprisoned.

Such … as

Such land as is described here does not exist anywhere.

He is not such a man as you would like to marry.

Such … that

Such was his love for her that he gave up the throne in order to marry her.

Such was the intensity of her grief that she could not even weep.

So … as, as … as

He is not so brave as you think.

He is as brave as a lion (is).

As … so

As you sow, so shall you reap.

As the child is, so is the man.

So … that

She sang so sweetly that the whole hall resounded with cheers.

The speech was so moving that all eyes became wet.

Scarcely (hardly) … when

Scarcely (hardly) had we stepped out when we got drenched.

She had hardly recovered from malaria when she met with an accident.

Not only … but also

She can speak not only French but German also.

The room was not only cold but damp also.

No sooner … than

No sooner did I begin my homework than the telephone bell rang.

No sooner do the clouds appear in the sky than the peacocks begin to dance.

    E.     Joining sentences with the help of conjunctions

We can join short sentences with conjunctions. But we should be careful in the choice of the conjunction to be used. A wrong conjunction would either make the sentence look absurd or convey a meaning different from the one we wanted to convey.

Let us take some examples

1.      Daniel was very wise. The king did not trust him.

There is a contrast between these two statements. A wise man should have been trusted. But the king did not trust Daniel. So we should use some conjunction suggesting contrast: but, yet, still, although, etc.:

Daniel was very wise, yet the king did not trust him.

Although Daniel was very wise, the king did not trust him.

2.      We took a taxi for the stadium. We did not want to get late for the game.

Here the second statement expresses the purpose of the action mentioned in the first statement. So we should use a conjunction suggesting purpose: so that, lest. etc.:

We took a taxi for the stadium so that we might not get late for the game.

We took a taxi for the stadium lest we should get late for the game.

Note that we have to make suitable changes while framing our sentence.