Conjunctions help to connect thoughts, ideas, actions as well as nouns, clauses or other parts of speech together.

There are two main types:

Coordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions (also called coordinates) join two equally important elements of a sentence (two nouns, two phrases, two clauses).

Coordinating conjunction joining two elements.

There are seven coordinating conjunctions:

for: a formal way of saying “because” to explain a reason

and: to add one element to another

nor: to add another negative idea

but: to add a contrasting idea

or: to add another possibility or choice

yet: to add emphasis to a contrasting idea

so: to link a cause and effect between ideas

for

and

nor

Nor is used to add negative information to the already expressed negative information.

but

But is used to express contrast to what was just said.

or

Or is used to express an alternative, that is, another option, another choice.

yet

Yet can be used to express contrast, like “but”.

so

So is used to express the reason that and with the result that.

Tip

A good way to remember conjunctions is the acronym FANBOYS.

It is formed with the first letter of each coordinating conjunction.

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Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions (also called subordinates) in a complex sentence, link one dependent clause to an independent clause.

In other words, one part of the sentence is more important than the other. The least important part would not mean the same alone, it needs the other part to have complete context.

Subordinating conjunction joining an independent and dependent clause.

Subordinating conjunctions can give context to:

Time	Condition	Comparison & Concession	Place	Cause & Reason
before after until as soon as when while	if unless even if in case provided that assuming that	than whether though although even though rather than	where wherever everywhere	because since as so that in order to

Here are some examples of subordinating conjunctions used in different contexts:

Time Context

Using the subordinating conjunction “before”.

Condition Context

Using the subordinating conjunction “even if”.

Comparison Context

Place Context

Using the subordinating conjunction “where”.

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Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions (also called paired conjunctions) link two independent clauses.

In other words, both parts of the sentence are equally important.

either/or	Bjarke could choose either the cool colour scheme or the warm colour scheme.
neither/nor	For his new building, he wanted neither help nor assistance.
not only/but also	Not only was that a mistake but it also created problems.
both/and	Both his friends and family told Bjarke to watch out.
whether/or	The outcome wouldn’t change whether he went for it or not.

Conjunctions