Coordinating conjunctions join words or groups of words that have equal grammatical importance in a sentence. Basically, there are only seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, so, nor, for and yet. • Newspapers provide their readers with a lot of important facts. • Newspapers provide their readers with a lot of important statistics. • Newspapers provide their readers with a lot of important facts and statistics. • He sent the journalist two more faxes. • He received no reply. • He sent the journalist two more faxes, but received no reply.
Conjunctions
Conjunctions are words that join single words or groups of words. They can be subdivided into coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions. 1. Coordinating conjunctions
• For it is rainy, he is carrying an umbrella. • ✓He is carrying an umbrella, for it is rainy.
2. Correlative conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions always work in pairs to join balanced words, phrases and clauses.
3. Subordinating conjunctions Subordinating conjunctions join two clauses, or thoughts, in
such a way as to make one grammatically dependent on the other. The two parts are of different importance. The more important one is always a main clause. The other is a subordinate clause.
OK?”
• I waited for your permission patiently, now it finally comes. • ✓I waited for your permission patiently and now it finally comes.
In addition, as coordinating conjunctions join two groups of words, they are essentially placed in the middle of a sentence, rarely as openers.
Be careful of the words then and now; neither is a coordinating conjunction, so don’t use them to join two clauses or sentences.
• He sat down next to me, then said slowly, “Kid, are you OK?” • ✓He sat down next to me and then said slowly, “Kid, are you
• Heavy rain would wash away the soil.
• Heavy rain would cause serious floods as well.
• Heavy rain would not only wash away the soil but also cause serious floods as well.
both … and
either … or neither … nor
not only … but (also) whether … or if … then
no sooner … than hardly … when scarcely … when
would rather … than so … as
• The directors wanted to win recognition for their work.
• The directors wanted to receive recognition for their work.
• The directors wanted both to win and to receive recognition for their work.
College English Grammar:
Grammar and Writing
By Zቤተ መጻሕፍቲ ባይዱu Xiangjun
Unit 6
Modifiers：Conjunctions
• Grammar: Conjunctions • Writing:
Correcting: Antecedent Problems Rewriting: How to combine into compound sentences