A Beginners Guide to Grammar - Conjunctions

A Beginners’ Guide to Grammar
_{Information from:
Rose. A & Purkis. R. 1991. English Grammar: A reference book for schools and colleges. Pietermaritzburg: Shuter & Shooter.}

Section #1 – Parts of Speech
Part #7 – The Conjunction

Conjunctions is the name given to that group of words which connect parts of a sentence.
Common Conjunctions Are:
And, because, but, for, however, since, until, yet, etc.

All conjunctions can be divided into four categories.

1: Coordinating
(That is, when the things joined are basically similar)
E.g. and, as, moreover
E.g. Both pointers and spaniels are gun dogs.

2: Contrasting
(That is, when the things joined are basically different and contrasting)
E.g. but, however, yet
E.g. I smoke cigars but my aunt prefers a hookah.

3: Co-Relative
(That is, when the things joined are of the same kind and we wish to emphasise that similarity)
E.g. both – and; either – or; so – as; not only – but also
E.g. Not only Caesar but also Lincoln was assassinated.
Note: The subject here is Lincoln and therefore the verb is singular (Concord)

4: Subordinating
(That is, when the relationship between the two things linked is not equal. One is less important than the other ; especially so with Main and Subordinate Clauses (info to follow at a later date))
E.g. after, because, for, since, till, when, etc.
E.g. He did not dance till the music stopped.
E.g. Although he could play well, he preferred to watch.

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What Can Be Joined?
(Conjunctions join things of the same kind. )
E.g. Frankie and Johnny went dancing. (Noun and Noun)
E.g. He wanted to bat and bowl. (Verb and Verb)
E.g. The machine can operate on land and under water (Phrase and Phrase)
E.g. She plays the piano and drives a bus (Main Clause and Main Clause)
E.g. Co when they ask and not before (Subordinate Clause and Subordinate Clause)

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Unusual Positioning of Conjunctions
Conjunctions usually occur between the things they are joining, but this is not always so. A sentence can begin with a conjunction.
E.g. While in Paris I visited the Louvre.

In the past we were told ‘Don’t begin a sentence with ‘and’ or ‘but’.’ Today we say ‘Begin a sentence with ‘and’ or ‘but’ only when you have good reason to do so, for example, for a particular effect.
E.g. His house was destroyed in the fire. He lost his priceless collection of silver. He lost his library. He lost his Persian carpets. And he lost his temper.

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Connectives
Both prepositions and conjunctions are sometimes referred to as connectives.

Next: Interjections.