ENG 101 2.
0 Compulsory English (Scientific Communication)
Module 5
Conjunctions
"People think that education is what someone gains from school/university, but it is not so.
Education is something that we get every minute of our lives for every experience changes us,
every event teaches us a lesson. We learn the difference between good/bad and we learn about how
we should act in society. These lessons maybe the most important lessons we learn in life, for this
knowledge is crucial if we want to live a successful life. When we come to school, we gather
knowledge about particular subjects. We make friends with others and we have fun. We must
obey rules in school or we will be punished, so we learn discipline. Most of us remember school as
a strict place yet we also remember it with a lot of love. No matter how hard the work, how strict
the discipline, school has not harmed us nor has it made us lesser human beings."
The bold-typed words in the above text are used to bring some ideas together. When two or more
ideas of equal importance are brought together or connected by a word; it is a conjunction.
What is a conjunction?
A conjunction is a part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, clauses or
sentences.
Kinds of Conjunctions
There are three kinds of conjunctions:
Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)
Subordinating Conjunctions
Co - relative Conjunctions
Coordinating Conjunctions
They are used to join grammatical units of the same class or pattern.
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Mary studied hard. Mary failed in her exams.
Mary studied hard but she failed in her exams.
Mary studied hard yet she failed in her exams.
Common list of coordinating conjunctions are as follows;
And - to join similar ideas together
Ex: Mrs. Jones is an excellent orator.
Mrs. Jones is a very effective teacher as well.
Mrs. Jones is an excellent orator and a very effective teacher.
Vivek plays table tennis. Gauri plays table tennis.
Vivek and Gauri play table tennis.
My brother and I play together.
But - to join two contrasting ideas.
Ex: The teacher is strict.
He is completely impartial.
The teacher is strict but he is completely impartial.
Peter wanted to buy a beautiful bouquet of roses. It was very expensive.
Peter wanted to buy a beautiful bouquet of roses but it was very expensive.
Or - to join ideas that express a choice.
Ex: We can walk to the library.
We can take a bus.
We can walk to the library or take a bus.
Your sister will have to clean the room. You will have to clean the room.
Your sister or you will have to clean the room.
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So - to join ideas which express cause/effect/result
Ex: It was hot.
I had a glass of lemonade.
It was hot so I had a glass of lemonade.
He was tired. He went to bed early.
He was tired so he went to bed early.
Yet - to join contrasting ideas.
Ex: People know alcohol is harmful.
Some drink it anyway.
People know alcohol is harmful yet some drink it anyway.
He is a cricketer. His favourite sport is soccer.
He is a cricketer yet his favourite sport is soccer.
For - to give a reason for an action.
Ex: The visitors are resting.
They have travelled a long distance.
The visitors are resting for they have travelled a long distance.
He must be ill. He didn't come today.
He must be ill for he didn't come today.
Nor - to join two negative ideas.
Ex: She didn't telephone me.
She didn't come to see me.
She did not telephone me nor did she come to see me.
He is not a friend of mine. He is not an enemy of mine.
He is not a friend nor is he an enemy of mine.
Task 1
Make sentences on your own using "Coordinating Conjunctions." - (FANBOYS)
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Task 2
Use the most appropriate conjunction in the following blanks.
Chaya........................her brother Shiv were riding their bicycles.
Imran forgot his book at school......................he couldn't complete his homework.
Everyone contributed generously....................it was a worthy cause.
The children weren't polite......................were they well-behaved.
Which shall we do first, the science...........the English assignment?
The man jumped from the fourth floor..................he escaped unhurt.
She didn't take my calls.....................did she respond to my messages.
I got good grades in all subjects.........................art.
Ann wants a part-time job.............................she can pay her course fees.
Grandma gave me 500 rupees.................................a book for my birthday.
Task 3
Use an appropriate coordinating conjunction to join each pair of sentences.
I like chicken. I don't like fish.
My mother bakes well. She often gets orders to bake birthday cakes.
Our neighbours are moving to Germany. They are selling off their furniture.
My father doesn't enjoy loud music. My mother doesn't like it either.
They cannot afford to buy a fancy car. They bought one anyway.
These items are on sale at the store. They are not available online.
You should go to bed now. You will feel tired tomorrow.
The bank robbers were wearing masks. No one seems to be able to describe them.
Wear warm clothes in winter. You might catch a cold.
Janith was very hardworking. He passed his exam with flying colours.
A dictionary has the meaning of many words. It has the words synonyms and
antonyms as well.
His wife scolds him often. He loves her.
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Subordinating Conjunctions
When the conjunction joins two statements, one of which depends on the other for its
complete meaning. Such conjunctions can be named as subordinating conjunctions.
The child continues to cry until his mother gives him an ice-cream.
The child continues to cry - Main Clause (Independent Clause)
Until his mother gives him an ice-cream - Subordinate Clause (Dependent Clause)
"Until" is the subordinating conjunction.
Some common subordinating conjunctions are as follows;
Reason - as/because/since
Time - when/until/till/after/before/while
Place - where/wherever
Manner - as if/as though
Result or Consequence - so that/such that
Contrast - however/though/although/even though/even if
Purpose -that
Comparison - as.............as/as much as
Example:
When we reached the town, most of the shops were closed.
Subordinator Subordinate clause/Dependent clause Main clause/Independent clause
Since there was a huge traffic on the road, I got late to come.
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I got late to come since there was a huge traffic on the road.
Task 4
Make sentences on your own using "Subordinating Conjunctions".
Task 5
Divide the main clause and subordinate clause of the following sentences.
She spoke rudely as if I had done something wrong.
Mary's dog followed her wherever she went.
She cannot come back because she is ill.
The appearance of food is such that one does not feel like eating it.
Since there was a huge traffic on the road, I couldn't attend the meeting on time.
Although she is very good at studies, she doesn't pay much attention in the class.
Task 6
Combine the following sentences with the linker given in parenthesis.
The book is short. It is very interesting. (although)
The weather was gorgeous outside! Some students skipped studying. (because)
I'm not very good at it. I really enjoy playing football. (although)
He studied hard. He could enter the medical school. (since)
We decided to cancel our trip. It was raining. (since)
Polls show that Tony Blair is the most popular Prime Minister this century. There are
members of his own party who are uneasy with his approach. (however)
I want to know your opinion. I am asking you. (because)
I was late. The others were all on time. (however)
We could see our way. The moon was bright. (as)
She spent all her money. She could not buy the red shoes. (as)
Task 7
Complete the following sentences.
Smoking should be prohibited everywhere in the world
because.......................................
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Since she spent all her money...................................................
Although I like to go camping...................................................
The teachers at this school are very intelligent because.................
He was once elected as the president of our youth association. However..........................
As................................................, the principal didn't punish us.
Co-relative Conjunctions
Pairs of conjunctions can be used together if necessary. They are called Co-relative
Conjunctions.
These conjunctions are used either to join words together or clauses together.
Either.........................or
This is used when one or the other of the two clauses can be true/can happen, but not both.
Ex: Either my father or my mother will come to school.
The student will study. She will fail the exam.
You wear warm clothes. You will catch a cold.
Take the medicine. You will become worse.
Moneesha will help me. Her mother will help me.
Be quiet. Leave the classroom.
Neither............................nor
When both clauses convey a negative meaning.
Ex: Neither my mother will come nor will my father.
Neither my mother nor my father will come.
The student is not clever. She is not hardworking.
You don't tell me the truth. You do not trust me.
Phillip is not lazy. He is not cunning.
Don't talk. Don't get up.
You don't help me. You don't defend me.
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Both...........................and
These conjunctions are used when either the clauses (or words) are 'true'.
Ex: The student is clever. She is hardworking.
The student is both clever and hardworking.
You help me. You defend me.
Mary will come. Her brother will come.
Have tea. Have coffee.
Philip is lazy. He is cunning.
Not only.......................................but also
This is used when both clauses are true and you want to emphasize that both are true.
Ex: Not only my father but also my mother will come.
"Not only" inverts the subject and the verb in its clause.
Ex: Not only is he untrustworthy but he is also cunning.
The student is clever. She is hardworking.
You help me. You defend me.
Mary is shrewd. She is selfish.
My sister will come. My brother will come.
You can have tea. You can have coffee.
-THE END-
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