Understanding Conjunctions in Grammar
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Conjunctions in grammar are a class of invariant words that serve to connect clauses.
establishing between them a relationship of dependency or simple coordination. The conjunctions can be
of two main types: coordinating conjunctions or subordinating conjunctions.
Coordinating Conjunctions: Coordinating conjunctions are the grammatical words that establish
relationships between two terms or two independent sentences that have the same functions
grammatical. Coordinating conjunctions can be of the following types:
Additive Coordinating Conjunctions: Additive coordinating conjunctions serve the function of
add one term to another of the same grammatical function, or even add one clause to another of the same.
grammatical function. They establish a relationship of sum, addition of ideas. They are: and, nor (= also not), but
also (usually preceded by not only).
Examples:
Everyone here is happy and carefree.
João dismounted and greeted everyone.
The event was neither good nor bad.
Adversative Coordinating Conjunctions: Adversative coordinating conjunctions have the
function of establishing a contrast between the meanings of two terms or two sentences of the same
grammatical function. They are: but, however, nonetheless, yet, on the other hand, in the meantime.
Example: The car crashed, but no one was hurt.
Alternative Coordinating Conjunctions: Alternative coordinating conjunctions are the conjunctions
coordinate phrases that connect independent clauses, indicating a succession of facts that negate each other or also
indicating that, with the occurrence of one of the facts of a sentence, the exclusion of the fact from the other sentence.
They establish a relationship of alternation, option, choice. They are: either...or, now...now, whether...or, already...already,
be...be.
For him, everything was about winning or losing.
Conclusive Coordinating Conjunctions: Conclusive coordinating conjunctions are used
to connect an earlier sentence with another sentence that expresses conclusion or consequence. They are: therefore,
["therefore","for this reason","consequently","thus","then","finally","since (after the verb)"]
Examples: Studied a lot, therefore will do well on the exam.
Explanatory Coordinating Conjunctions: Explanatory coordinating conjunctions are those that
Join two sentences, one of which is the explanation, justification of what is expressed in the other. They are:
that, because, since (before the verb), in fact, moreover, in addition...
Examples: Let's have lunch, I'm starving.
Subordinating Conjunctions: Subordinating conjunctions connect a clause of lower syntactic level.
(subordinate clause) to one of a higher syntactic level (main clause). Since a clause is a
syntactic member of another, this clause can perform various functions, corresponding to a specific type of
conjunction for each of them. A sentence formed by subordinate conjunctions that does not contain them.
conjunctions are called: main clause.
Integrative Subordinating Conjunctions: Introduce a clause (called a noun clause) that can
function as subject, direct object, predicate, appositive, agent of the passive, indirect object, complement
nominal (in the last three cases there may be a preposition placed before the conjunction) of another clause.
They are: that and if. Note: One way to identify if and that as integrative conjunctions is
replace them with 'this', 'that' or 'those'.
Example:
I affirm that I am intelligent. (I affirm this.)
I don't know if it exists or if it hurts. (I don't know this.)
I hope you don't take too long. (I hope so.)
Causal Subordinating Conjunctions: It starts a subordinate clause indicating cause. They are:
["because","since","as","seeing that","in view of the fact that","given that","once","considering that","as","that"]
among others.
Mrs. Luísa went there because she was alone.
Comparative Subordinating Conjunctions: They begin a clause that contains the second member of
a comparison. Indicates comparison between two members.
They are: that, (more/less/bigger/smaller/better/worse) than, (such) as, (as) much as, how, like this
as, just like, as if, like (depending on the sentence, it can express similarity or degree of)
superiority.
She was taller than short.
Concessive Subordinating Conjunctions: Starts a subordinate clause in which a fact is accepted.
contrary to the action proposed by the main clause, but unable to prevent it. They are: although, although,
even though, even if, as long as, well that, as long as, despite that, nor that, in which, that, and, etc.
Examples:
• I took little time, although there were many favors.
• It's all grace, although the legs don't help.
Conditional Subordinate Conjunctions: They start a subordinate clause in which a
hypothesis or a necessary condition for the main fact to take place or not. They are: if, case,
["when","as long as","unless","without","given that","as long as","unless","except if","etc."]
Examples:
I would be more of a poet if I were less of a politician.
She consulted, fearful of revealing her emotion if she stood up.
Conjunctive Subordinating Conformative: It begins a subordinate clause in which it is expressed
the conformity of a thought with that of the main clause. They are: according to, as, according to,
consonant.
Examples:
Christ was born for everyone, each as they deserve.
Such was the conclusion of Aires, as stated in the Memorial. (Machado de Assis)
Subordinating Conjunctions of Consequence: They begin a sentence in which the consequence is indicated.
They are: that (combined with one of the words such, so much, so, or size, present or latent in the sentence
previously), so that, in such a way that, in such a manner that, in such a way that.
Examples:
• I heard that she had such a strong emotion that God almost took her away.
• He talked so much in the meeting that he became hoarse.
Final Subordinating Conjunctions: They start a subordinate clause that indicates the purpose of the clause.
They are: for what, in order to, because [for what], that.
Examples:
Here is the book for you to read.
I signaled him to be quiet.
Proportional Subordinating Conjunctions: They initiate a subordinate clause in which it is mentioned
a fact that has been completed or to be completed simultaneously with that of the main clause. They are: as...as,
["as rather as","in proportion to","while","the more... (more)","the more (so much more)","the more"]
but... (less), the more... (so much less), the less... (less), the less... (so much less)
the less... (the more), the less... (the more so).
Examples:
As we ascended, the day was also rising in the sky.
I am writing all of this as we enter the New Year.
Subordinate Temporal Conjunctions: They initiate a subordinate clause indicating circumstances
["when","before","after","until","as soon as","whenever","as soon as","since"]
["that","while","every time that","each time that","only","barely","that [= since]"]
Examples:
Costs to come and, when you come, don't take long.
He picked on me as soon as he saw me.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS:
A conjunction is mostly preceded or followed by acomma, is very rarely
followed by a dot (".")
In general, each category has a typical conjunction. Thus, to classify a conjunction or phrase
conjunction, it is necessary that it is replaceable, without changing the meaning of the sentence, by the typical conjunction. By
For example, the "that" will only be an additive coordinating conjunction if it can be replaced by the typical conjunction "and".
See the example:
Tell me who you associate with, and I will tell you who you are.
Tell me who you walk with, and I will tell you who you are.
The alternatives are characterized by repetition, except for 'or', whose first element can remain implicit.
Adversative conjunctions, except for 'but', can appear dislocated. In this case, the substitution for the type (conjunction
Typical) is only possible if they are returned to the beginning of the sentence.
The difference between explanatory coordinating conjunctions and causal subordinating conjunctions is the verb: if this
If it is in the imperative, the conjunction will be an explanatory coordinating conjunction: "Close the window, because it is cold."
The "what" and the "if" will be integrative if the sentence they start answers the question "What is the thing?
what...?
I don't know if one dies of love. (What is the thing I don't know? If one dies of love.)
The use of the conjunction 'for' can be classified into:
Explanatory, when the conjunction is before the verb;
•Conclusive, when the conjunction is after the verb;
Causal, when the conjunction can be replaced by 'since'.