Conjunction comes from a Latin word meaning joined. A conjunction joins words, phrases or sentences together.
Types of Conjunctions
- Coordinating Conjunction
These are conjunctions that link words, phrases or two simple sentences together. They are called co-coordinators. There are three major co-ordinators. They are: ‘and’, ‘but’, and, ‘or’.
Examples:
Mary is a student and her mother is a nurse
Argentina won the match but the opponents played better.
The red car or the blue one belong to the girl.
I went there and got what I wanted.
Come inside but don’t sit down.
- Subordinating Conjunctions
These are used to join subordinating clauses with main clauses in complex sentences. Subordinating conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses like adverbial clauses.
Examples:
before, since, because, yet, as, if, when, that, now, even, while, in order to, as soon as, unless, etc.
He worked hard because he was paid well.
They had finished before we realized we had made a mistake.
The students stood up as soon as the teacher entered.
They left the site while it was day.
Mrs. Adams arrived when her children were crying.
- Correlative Conjunctions
These are conjunctions that are used in pairs; one goes with the other. Examples of correlative conjunctions are: either…or, neither…nor, hardly…when, no sooner…than, such…that, so…as, not only…but also, although…yet, scarcely…when, other…than, etc.
Examples:
Neither Olu nor Ope is around.
Either John or Peter will attend the meeting.
Scarcely had we settled down when the rain started.
- Compound Conjunctions
These are group of words which are used as conjunctions.eg. in order that, even if, so that, provided that, in as much as, as though, as soon as, as if.
Examples:
He applied for job in order that he might help his father.
Bukola as well as her friend is beautiful.
Features of Conjunctions
Conjunctions join words, phrases, clauses or sentences together. Words, phrases, clauses or a sentence joined by a subordinator is dependent on the other.
Position of Conjunctions
Conjunctions occur between the items that they link.
They split between other words in the construction.
They join words, phrases, clauses and sentences of equal status.
A subordinator can come at the beginning of a sentence.
Functions of Conjunctions
They act as coordinators
They act as subordinators
They act as correlatives
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