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Conjunctions
are joining words and their main function is to link together two
different parts of a sentence.
And / but / or (coordinating conjunctions)
And, but and or are the three main coordinating conjunctions.
They join two clauses which are grammatically independent of each
other and would make sense if they stood alone. Compare the following:
- She's already had two holidays this year and now she
wants another one.
She's already had two holidays this year. Now she wants another
one.
- I had a terrible cold last week, but I still went
to work.
I had a terrible cold last week. I still went to work.
- You can sit at the front, or you can stand at the
back. I don't mind.
You can sit at the front. You can stand at the back. I
don't mind.
But note they way in which conjunctions help to add meaning to
the sentence. And indicates that we are listing items or
ideas, or means that we are discussing alternatives and
but means that we are contrasting facts or ideas.
Note also that in the second of the two coordinating clauses,
the subject words and modal auxiliaries can often be left out:
- She's already had two holidays this year and now wants
another one.
- I had a terrible cold last week, but still went to
work.
- You can sit at the front or stand at the back. I don't
mind.
This is not normally possible in subordinate clauses. Compare the
following:
- She was anxious and unhappy and didn't know
where her husband was.
- She was anxious and unhappy because she didn't
know where her husband was.
(NOT: She was anxious and unhappy because didn't know where her
husband was.)
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If
/ when / because / since / even though / etc (subordinating conjunctions)
Words like if, when, because, since, although, etc, are
subordinating conjunctions which introduce subordinate clauses.
Subordinate clauses are dependent on the main clause in some way
and do not normally stand alone.
Note the way in which subordinating conjunctions also give meaning
to the sentence:
* if suggests a condition
* when / whenever indicate time
* while suggests time or contrast of surprising facts
* because points to reason
* since suggests reason or time
* as suggests reason or time
* although / though / even though all indicate a contrast
of surprising facts
Compare the following examples of use and note the way the same
conjunction (e.g. while, since, as) can be used for different
purposes. Subordinating clauses of this kind can normally go first
or last in the sentence, depending on what you want to emphasize:
- If you feel thirsty or hungry, help yourself to anything
at all in the fridge or freezer.
Help yourself to anything at all in the fridge or freezer, if
you feel hungry or thirsty.
- While they were away, I helped myself to an ice-cold
beer and a pizza from the freezer.
I helped myself to an ice-cold beer and a pizza from the freezer
while they were away.
- Whenever I babysit at their house, I am always very
well looked after.
I am always very well looked after whenever I babysit at their
house.
- When I babysat for the Robinsons last month, I was
given nothing to eat or drink.
I was given nothing to eat or drink when I babysat for the
Robinsons last month.
- While I am fond of their children, I think the parents
are very mean.
(BUT NOT: I think the parents are very mean while I am fond of
their children)
- Since I started working full-time, I don't have so
much time now for babysitting.
I don't have so much time now for babysitting since I started
working full-time.
- Because / since / as I work six days a week, I can't
even find time to see my friends.
I can't even find time to see my friends as I work six days
a week.
- As I was leaving work the other day, I bumped into
an old friend.
I bumped into an old friend as I was leaving work the other
day.
- Although I am happy with my life, I think I
should try and get out more.
I think I should try and get out more, even though I
am happy with my life.
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