CONJUNCTIONS

 

Conjunction is a word used to connect clauses or sentences or words together. In other words, conjunctions are those words which connect a word with another, a phrase with another or a clause with another.

KINDS OF CONJUNCTIONS

Conjunctions have two kinds:-

(1) Co-ordinating Conjunctions:- These are those conjunctions which connect words, phrases or clauses of the same status. These can be classified into four categories:-

i. Cumulative Conjunctions:- These simply connect a statement with another; as:- and, now, also, not only…but also, too, as well as, etc.

ii. Adversative Conjunctions:- These express contrast between two statements; as:-however, whereas, nevertheless, yet, but, still, etc.

iii. Alternative Conjunctions:- These denote a choice between two alternatives; as:-neither…nor, either…or, otherwise, else, etc.

iv. Illative Conjunctions:- They indicate an inference; as:-so, for, then, therefore, etc.

(2) Subordinating Conjunctions:- These are those conjunctions which connect a subordinate clause with the main/principal clause. These are further classified into the following categories:-

i.     Time: They denote time; as:-when, whenever, while, till, until, after, before, etc.

ii.    Cause/Reason: They refer to cause/reason; as:-as, because, since, etc.

iii. Condition: They designate condition; as:-if, unless, in case, whether, provided, as if, until, till, etc.

iv.   Result/Consequence: They signify outcome; as:-that, so that, as, etc.

v.    Place: They represent place; as:-where, whence, whither, wherever, etc.

vi.   Comparison: They mean comparison; as:-than, as if, so... as, as... as, etc.

vii. Manner: They stand for manner; as:-how, as if, as though, though…yet, although, how-so-ever, etc.

viii. Purpose: They indicate purpose; as:-that, so that, in order that, lest, etc.

ix.   Degree: They denote degree; as:-as far as, as much as, as soon as, as long as, etc.

CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

     Some conjunctions are used in pairs, these are known as correlative conjunctions; as:-either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but also, though…yet, although…yet, scarcely…when, hardly…when, such…as, so…that, so…as, whether…or, as...as, etc.

SENTENCE LINKERS/CONNECTORS

     There are some words which join a sentence with another or an idea with another, these are called sentence linkers; as:- therefore, otherwise, however, so, yet, too, equally, further, moreover, as well, in any case, on the contrary, on the other hand, apart from it, in addition to it, generally, etc.