____________________________________ESL PROGRAM____________________________
__________________________ Conjunctions & Cohesive Devices__________________
Conjunctions
Conjunctions are parts of speech used to connect words, and clauses. There are three
types of conjunctions: Coordinating Conjunctions, Subordinating Conjunctions, and
Correlative Conjunctions
Coordinating Conjunctions
A coordinating conjunction is a word that joins two elements of equal grammatical rank
and syntactic importance. They can join two verbs, two nouns, two adjectives, two
phrases, or two independent clauses. The seven coordinating conjunctions are for, and,
nor, but, or, yet, and so.
For example:
I love candy bars. I know they are not good for me.
Coordinating conjunctions
I love candy bars, yet I know they are not good for me. should not be used to start
a sentence.
My doctor has told me this. I don’t want to listen.
My doctor has told me this, but I don’t want to listen.
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions join independent and dependent clauses. They can signal a
cause-and-effect relationship, a contrast, or some other kind of relationship between the
clauses. Common subordinating conjunctions are because, since, as, although,
though, while, and whereas. Sometimes an adverb, such as until, after, or before can
function as a conjunction.
For example:
I drank a glass of water. I was thirsty. When using Subordinating
I drank a glass of water because I was thirsty. conjunctions to start a sentence,
do not forget to put a comma “,”
I was thirsty. I drank a glass of water. after first clause.
Because I was thirsty, I drank a glass of water.
1
____________________________________ESL PROGRAM____________________________
__________________________ Conjunctions & Cohesive Devices__________________
Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative Conjunctions are pairs of words that work together to connect two parts of a
sentence that hold an equal value, or correlate with one another. Some examples are:
both/and, either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also, whether/or
For example:
Both the father and the mother of the boy were present during his graduation.
Yesterday’s presentation was really challenging. Not only did I encounter technical
difficulty but also did I have to repeat the first part of it because some of the
attendees were late.
Cohesive Devices
Cohesive Devices are words used to sentences and paragraphs. They are used to add
information, contradict statements, give examples, show results, make comparison,
provide conclusion, etc. Here are some examples:
to add information
again equally in fact
also further(more) moreover
and in addition (to) too
and then indeed what is more
besides next finally
to give examples
as (evidence of) such as
for example to show what (I mean)
for instance specifically
thus let us (take the case of)
to illustrate
to make comparison
compared with similarly again
in comparison with likewise also
in the same way/manner
2
____________________________________ESL PROGRAM____________________________
__________________________ Conjunctions & Cohesive Devices__________________
to contrast
besides naturally still
but nevertheless whereas
however of course while
in contrast on the contrary yet
instead on the other hand although
conversely regardless despite
it may be the case that granted it is true that
certainly like notwithstanding
also different from
likewise Alternatively
to provide conclusion
in all in short on the whole
in brief in conclusion to sum up
to summarise therefore basically
in summary In a nutshell
to state time and sequence
after (a while) before (that time) since (then)
afterwards finally so far
at first in the end then
at last meanwhile (up to) (then)
at (the same time) next later
while immediately somewhat earlier
first , second, third... next shortly
thereafter firstly , secondly, thirdly... over the next (2 days)
concurrently in the future as long as
soon subsequently last
as soon as at that time
to give result
accordingly for that reason in consequence
as a result hence then
consequently thus therefore
since if...then the (consequence) of that is
as a consequence of result(s) in lead to
caused contribute to
3
____________________________________ESL PROGRAM____________________________
__________________________ Conjunctions & Cohesive Devices__________________
Activity 1. Choose the correct conjunction
1. She was aware of the fact that she was not responsible for her parents' state of mind,
_______ was she responsible for the state of their marriage.
A) either
B) nor
C) and
D) but
2. I wanted to go to the rock concert ________ all the tickets were already sold out.
A) but
B) so
C) and
3. I wanted to eat sushi for dinner, ________ I went to a Japanese restaurant.
A) but
B) or
C) so
4. I’ll send you the signed document _______ I have read the fine print
A) although
B) once
C) while
5. ___________ I have salad for dinner, ________ I can have ice cream for dessert.
A) if / then
B) when / than
C) whether / or
6. __________ I’m feeling happy ________ sad, I try to keep a positive attitude
A) Either/ or
B) Whether / or
C) When / I’m
4
____________________________________ESL PROGRAM____________________________
__________________________ Conjunctions & Cohesive Devices__________________
Activity 2. Arrange the cohesive device to connect the sentences in these paragraphs
1. [Therefore, because, whether, and, that]
The methods of reading usually differ in accordance with the contents of books __________
all books should be read with equal seriousness. Amusement is not the main objective of
reading a good book, __________ it is a novel or a biography or a drama, always deals with
some aspect of knowledge __________ helps us to know life better. It is __________ said
__________ books are the best teachers.
2. [For instance, and, when, however]
When we are young, we are naturally creative ________ we let our minds run free. ________
as we are taught to follow rules, our thinking narrows in many areas of our lives, creativity
can be a matter of survival. ________, with more and more women opting for careers and
independence, couples have to be more creative about their relationships to avoid conflicts.
Creativity is not all that mysterious. An important creative trait was well defined by a
scientist ________ he said, “Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and
thinking what nobody has thought.”
3. [Though, therefore, but, because, however, so that]
Many people will come to the meeting _________ the speaker is well-known. _________ we
need a bigger hall _________ at least two hundred persons can be seated. We wanted to
book the Lenin Bhavan, _________ it is already booked for that day. _________ we are trying
to reserve the town hall _________ it does not have an air-conditioner.
4. [Since, also, because, and, but, however, meanwhile, and]
Sikta’s sister is an air- hostess for a famous international airlines _________ Sikta wants to
become one too. _________ she is still too young. The minimum age for an air- hostess is
twenty, _________ Sikta is just over sixteen. _________ she has taken up a job in an office
_________ she attends evening classes _________ she wants to improve her French and
Japanese, ________foreign languages are an essential qualification for an air- hostess.