Conjunction, << kuhn JUHNGK shuhn, >> is a word used to connect words, phrases, clauses, and sentences. The term comes from two Latin words that mean joined with. There are two kinds of conjunctions, coordinating and subordinating.
Coordinating conjunctions
connect grammatically equal words, phrases, clauses, or sentences as in the following examples. Words—”He ate bread and butter.” Phrases—”In red coats and with loud drums, the soldiers came marching.” Clauses or sentences—”He reads well, but his sister reads better.”
The principal coordinating conjunctions are:
Expressing addition: and, also, both, as well as, further, likewise.
Expressing separation or choice: either, or, neither, nor, else, whether, otherwise.
Expressing opposition: but, yet, still, only, whereas.
Conjunctions in pairs,
as in the following examples, are called correlative conjunctions.
Both … and: Both John and Mary attend school.
Not only … but also: He not only reads but also writes.
Either … or: Either I must go now or I can never go.
Neither … nor: Neither the child nor the man went.
Whether … or: Whether it rains or shines, I will go.
Subordinating conjunctions
join a subordinate clause to the principal clause of a sentence—elements that are not grammatically equal. “He can read better than I can.” Than is a subordinating conjunction connecting the subordinate clause I can (read is understood) with the principal clause.
The commonest subordinating conjunctions are:
Expressing time and place: when, as, since, while, before, ere, after, until, where.
Expressing cause or reason: because, since, as, whereas, inasmuch as, for.
Expressing condition or supposition: if, unless, though, although, provided, in case, even if.
Expressing purpose or result: that, so that, lest, in order that, so … as.
Expressing comparison: than (after comparative), as … as, so … as.
