Conjunctions/Complex Sentences/Sub-ordinating Conjunctions

Conjunctions:

Subordinating Conjunctions- 

A sub-ordinate Conjunction joins a sub-ordinate clause (dependent clause) to the principal clause (main clause/independent clause). 

• Sub-ordinating conjunctions are used to form Complex sentences.
• In a complex sentence there are at least two clauses known as Principal clause and Sub-ordinating clause.
• There are three types of sub-ordinating clauses:

1. Noun clause
2. Adjective clause
3. Adverb clause

The most common subordinating conjunctions are:

after, although, as, because, before, if, since, that, though (though..... ,  yet), till, until, unless, so that, lest, as soon as, when, whenever, where, why, how, than, whether, while etc.

(some phrases also function as subordinating conjunctions . some of the most common ones are: as if, as far as, as long as, as well as, even if, even though, so that, in order to, in order that etc. )

Sub-ordinating Clauses :

1) Noun clause :

A Noun clause functions as a noun in a sentence. We use who, which, where, why, what, when, that, etc to make a noun clause. Noun clause can be used as five types:

A) Subject to a verb

B) Object to a verb

C) Object to a preposition

D) Complement to a verb

E) Case in apposition to a Noun

A) Subject to a verb:

•   That he is a thief, is known to all.

B) Object to a verb:

• Every teacher knows that he is an intelligent boy.

• Tell me where he is.

C) Object to a preposition:

• You must rely on what I told you yesterday.

• I did not agree to what you said.

• Pay attention to what they are saying.

D) Complement to a verb:

• The reason of his failure in the  examination is that he is careless.  

• My opinion is that you will get good marks.

E) Case in apposition to a Noun:

• The news,  that Gandhiji was shot dead, spread  all over the country like a fire.

2) Adjective Clause :

An adjective clause functions as an adjective in a sentence. To make an adjective clause, we use Relative Pronoun (who, whose, whom, which, that) or Relative adverb ( how, why, when, where).

• I know the boy who came here.

• I have lost the watch that you gave me.

• The time which is lost, is lost for ever.

•  This is the school where I was taught in my childhood.

• Nobody knew the reason why he was weeping. 

• I do not know the time when he will come from Delhi. 

Subordinating Conjunctions are classified according to their meaning :

The most common categories of Subordinating conjunctions (as an adverb clause) are:

1) Time (Adverb clause of Time)

    (when, whenever, while, after, before, as soon as, since, as, till, until, no sooner....than etc.)

• When you come, I shall go there.  (showing time)
          (will/shall will be used only in principal clause)   
Many things have happened since I saw you.    (showing time)
As soon as he heard the news of my success, he informed me.  (showing time)

2) Place  (Adverb clause of Place)

(where, wherever)

• Nehru was welcomed wherever he went.

3) Condition  (Adverb clause of Condition)

    (if, whether, unless)

• If you work too much, You will lose your health. 

• If you help me, I shall help you.

4) Manner  (Adverb clause of Manner)

(as, as if, so far as, as far as)

• He talks as if (or as though) he were mad.   (Showing manner)

I will treat you as you have treated me.    (Showing manner)

5) Cause  (Adverb clause of Cause)

(because, as, since)

• I shall teach him because he is weak.     (showing reason) 

• As he was not there, I spoke to his father.    (showing reason) 

• He cannot walk because he is weak.     (showing reason) 

• I am glad that you like it.    (showing reason) 

 6) Purpose  (Adverb clause of Purpose)

(that, so that, lest, in order that)

• Walk slowly lest you should fall.

• Passengers pushed one another so that they might enter the compartment.

7) Comparison  (Adverb clause of Comparison)

(as....as, so....as, than)

• Mohan is as intelligent as Rohan (is).        
•  You are not so strong as I (am).         
• Mohan is wiser than he (is).              

8) Contrast  (Adverb clause of Contrast)

(although, though, even if, however)

• Although he is poor, he is honest.

9)Effect or Result  (Adverb clause of Effect)

(that) use the adverb 'so' in first clause & start second clause using conjunction 'that'.

• He is so poor that he can not buy this book.

• He was so weak that he could not speak.

Some important point you need to know:

A Clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb. Some clauses are independent and some clauses are dependent. Independent clauses express a complete thought while dependent clauses can't stand alone. There are some important points given that we need to know: 

• An independent clause is a clause that could stand as a complete sentence on its own.
• Independent clauses are often joined via conjunctions, commas or semicolons to form compound sentences.
• Dependent clause (also known as subordinate clause) could not stand alone in a sentence.
• Dependent clauses may function as nouns (noun clauses, adjectives (relative clauses), or adverbs (adverbial clauses)

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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. 

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