Conjunction/Compound Sentences/Co-ordinating Clauses

 Conjunction- 

A Conjunction is a word or set of words that joins two or more  words, phrases, & clauses in a sentence.

The most common conjunctions in English are and, but, yet, because, so, or, otherwise etc.

Examples :

• Give me a pen and a paper.   (connecting words)

• He worked in a village or in a town.   (connecting phrases)

• You are tired so you should take rest.     (connecting clauses)

• I called him but he didn't answer.     (connecting clauses)

There are so many words in English which can function as many parts of speech as 'before'.

Now let's form some sentences using this word:

I have seen this man before.         (Adverb) 

He lived here before the war.      (Preposition) 

The rain fell before we reached home. (Conjunction) 

In these sentence the word 'BEFORE' is used as an adverb, preposition, & conjunction. In first sentence it is used to describe a verb so it is an adverb, in second sentence the word 'before' is used before a noun to connect that particular noun with the rest part of the sentence so it is used as a preposition & in third sentence the word 'before' is used to connect two clauses so it is used as a conjunction.

Kinds of Conjunction :

The two main types of Conjunction are :

1) Coordinating Conjunctions 

2) Subordinating Conjunctions                            

There is one more type of conjunction that is known as Correlative Conjunction. This type of conjunctions are always used in pairs that works together. They are actually adverbs that are used as conjunctions. But today, we are going to define all the conjunctions in two categories. We will put correlative conjunctions in the category of coordinating conjunctions. By using these conjunctions we will form two types of clauses : Co-ordinating conjunctions & Sub-ordinating conjunctions.

Now let's focus on Co-ordinating Conjunctions:

1) Co-ordinating Conjunctions - 

 Coordinating Conjunctions join similar words, phrases or clauses.

The conjunction that connects two words, two independent phrases or clauses is known as a Coordinating Conjunction. Coordinating Conjunctions join words, phrases or clauses of equal rank.

• Co-ordinating Conjunctions are used to form Compound sentences.
• In compound sentences there are at least two independent clauses, the first clause is known as Principal clause and second one is Co-ordinate clause.

Co-ordinating conjunctions are:

For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so, otherwise, else, still, as well as, not only....but also, either....or, neither.....nor, Both....and etc.

 Co-ordinating Conjunctions:

1)Cumulative/Copulative Conjunctions (जोड़ बताने वाले संयोजक)

These conjunctions connects one statement to another; as

And, as well as, both.... and, not only.... but also.

• He came here and read a book. 
• He as well as his sister is intelligent.
• Both he and his friend went there.  (used only in positive sense, to show negative sense use neither...nor)

           neither he nor his friend went there.

• His brother is not only punished but also fined. 
• Nehru was not only a politician, but also a writer.

2) Alternative / Disjunctive Conjunctions (वैकल्पिक संयोजक)

These conjunctions express a choice between two alternatives.

Either.... or, neither.... nor,  otherwise etc.

• Come in or go out. (OR) Either come in or go out. 
• Either Mohan or his brother has taken your book.
• Neither the teacher nor the students were present.
• Go quickly otherwise you will be late. 

3) Adversative Conjunctions (विरोध बताने वाले संयोजक)

These conjunctions express opposition or contrast between two statements; as 

(we use comma before these conjunctions)

But, yet, still, however etc.

• We invited him to the party, but he did not come. 
• He is poor, yet he is honest.
• He is rich,  yet (still) he is not satisfied. 

4) Illative Conjunctions (परिणाम बताने वाले संयोजक)

These conjunctions express an inference.

So, therefore, for etc.

He is poor, so (therefore)  he cannot pay the fee.

I cannot see for it is very dark.