CONJUNCTIONS/CONNECTORS

Conjunction/Connector

Conjunction is word that is used to join or to connect clauses in order to form sentences that are both grammatical and logical. There are three groups of conjunctions such as coordinating conjunction, sentence connector, and subordinator. The first two groups are used to join independent clauses to form compound sentence. The last group is used to introduce dependent clauses that are joined with independent clauses to form complex sentence.

A. Coordinating Conjunction

Coordinating conjunction is used to join two or more independent clauses in compound sentence. There are seven coordinating conjunction such as and, but, yet, nor, or, for, and so. Each clause in a compound sentence must have a subject and a verb, and can stand alone. Punctuate the sentence by putting a comma (,) before the coordinating conjunction.

¤ And shows addition.

- Grace is Steven's wife, and she is very beautiful.

¤ But and Yet show contrast.

- I love her, but she doesn't love me.

- I love her, yet she doesn't love me.

¤ Or and Nor show alternation or choice.

- I will tell her, or you will tell her yourself that you do love her.

- She doesn't care about me, nor does she love me.

¤ For and So show reason.

- She doesn't love me, for she has a rich boy friend.

- I am just a poor man, so she never loves me.

B. Sentence Connector

The independent clauses of compound sentence can also be joined by a sentence connector. Sentence connectors are used frequently in formal writing to connect long clauses. Punctuate the sentence by placing a semicolon (;) after the first clause and a comma (,) after the sentence connector. They are as follows:

¤ Furthermore, beside in addition,and moreover show additional idea.

- She doesn't love me; furthermore, now she hates me.

- Grace cares about him; besides, she loves him very much.

- She ignored me; in addition, She broke my heart.

- Grace is beautiful; moreover, she drives men crazy.

¤ However and nevertheless show contrast.

- I really love her; however, she doesn't.

- Andy is very rich; nevertheless, I'm so poor.

¤ Otherwise shows alteration or choice of two possibilities.

- You may stop thinking about her; otherwise you can find a new love to make your heart relief.

¤ Therefore, hence, thus, and consequently show result.

- Frank has found new love; therefore, now he is so happy.

- Frank now is so happy; hence, he has found his soulmate.

- Frank could forget his past memories; thus, he is happy now.

- Frank can solve his problems; consequently, he feels happy now.

C. Subordinator

Subordinator is used to introduce dependent clauses, that are joined with independent clauses to form complex sentence. In complex sentence of two related ideas, one idea is generally more important than the other one. The more important idea is placed in the independent clause, the less important idea is in the dependent clause. The dependent clause is introduced with a subordinator. The followings are frequently use subordinator conjunctions: when, while, where, because, so that, as, since, although, even though, who, if, etc.

examples

---

- I like writing because it's so interesting

- I want to be a teacher as it's a honor job.

- although I don't have a wing, I belive I can fly.
Etc...

Posted in: English, Grammar