Conjunctions
In summary
Conjunctions are words that introduce a clause or “glue” two clauses together in a
sentence.
Coordinating conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions are words that join two or more (main) clauses together.
The simplest example of this is the word and, but there are some more that you
should know.
Examples
and
but
for
nor
or
so
yet
Compound sentences
You might already know that a complex sentence is one that contains at least one
main clause and one subordinate clause. A compound sentence contains two or
more main clauses, glued together using coordinating conjunctions like the ones
listed above.
You can tell if a sentence is a compound sentence by taking away the coordinating
conjunction and putting a full stop. If both sentences would make sense on their own,
you’ve got yourself a compound sentence.
Subordinating conjunctions
A subordinating conjunction begins a subordinate clause, e.g. The dog ate the cake
since he was hungry.
In these examples, notice which type of clause makes sense on its own, and which
one does not. Which one contains the subordinating conjunction?
Relative subordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions might also begin a subordinate clause in order to add
more information about a subject, e.g. The woman whose dog ate the cake,
Examples
that
which
who
whom
whichever
whoever
whomever
whose
In the following examples, notice the commas that separate the different clauses.
