english grammar i unit 14: conjunctions. a conjunction is a word that joins two parts of a sentence....

English Grammar IUnit 14: Conjunctions

Unit 14: Conjunctions

A conjunction is a word that joins two parts of a sentence. There are three types of conjunctions: coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions.


14.1 Coordinating conjunctions: Coordinating conjunctions join similar elem

ents. They join similar elements such as subject with subject; sentence with sentence. There are six coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, so, yet, for, nor.


And: and is used to join two similar ideas together.

The food is cheap and delicious. John and his girlfriend are going snorkelin

g next week. She lives in Kaohsiung and she studies at

Cheng Shiu University.


But : but is used to join two opposite ideas together.

The food is delicious but expensive. Sue likes Japanese food but her husband

doesn’t.


Or :or is used to join two alterative ideas together.

Would you like some coffee or iced tea? I can cook or we can order pizza.


So: so is used to show the second idea is the result of the first one.

She was sick so she did not go to work. It is raining so the game is cancelled.


Nor: nor is used to join two negative ideas together.

Neither You nor she has to go. He is neither smart nor diligent.


For: for is used the same as because. Jim has a good chance to get into that company, for his father is the manager there.

Fanny was on clouds nine, for she won the spelling bee contest


Yet: yet is used as but. My son plays volleyball well yet his favorite

sport is basketball. You room is small yet cozy.


14.1-1 Exercise: Use a coordinating conjunction to complete each sentence

1. You can find toothpaste on aisle two __________ aisle three.

2. Bob is short _________ his brother is tall.

3. Sue is learning English ___________ she will be able to get a better job.


4. Mesa was exhausted _______ she went to bed early.

5. Allen is thin; _________ he eats a lot.

6. The steak is delicious ______ expensive.

7. My roommate went to the party alone, ______ I refused to go with her.

8. Sally was cold ______ she put on a sweater.


14-2 Correlative conjunctions Correlative conjunctions always appear in

pairs and are used to connect equivalent words, phrases, and clauses. They are listed as follows: “both…and”, “either… or”, “neither….nor”, “not only…but also”, “whether…or”


both…and Both you and she were born in September. She can speak French and Spanish. either…or She is coming either today or tomorrow. Either your mother or father has to come t

o school tomorrow.


neither… nor I have neither time nor money for vacation. My father neither drinks nor smokes. not only… but also The bank robber not only killed two bank t

ellers but also took the money. Ellen not only ate fried chicken but also a

cheese burger for lunch.


Whether… or: Sue can’t decide whether to go to law sch

ool or medical school. I don’t know whether I should stay or leave.


14.3 Subordinating Conjunctions: Subordinating conjunctions connect a sub

ordinate clause to a main clause. Table 14.1: Subordinating Conjunctions


after as though if so that till

although becausein

order that

that than

as before now that though when

as if even if once until whereas

as long as

even though since unless where


after: I will tell you the truth after he leaves. although: Although it was raining, the game was still

held on time.


though: It was a well paid job, he quitted it though.

＊ though can be used at the end of a sentence, however, “although” is often used at the beginning of a sentence.


as: The word “as” has several different meanings.

1) You should do as what I told you.

2) As she left the room she turned off the light.

3) As the sun rises, the fog will disappear.


as…if (as though): A conditional sentence should be used after “as if”

She spoke to me as if she had known me. She behaved as if nothing had happened.


as long as: As long as you promise you will love me fo

r the rest of your life, I will marry you. I will be here as long as you need me.


because: Lily did not buy any Christmas gift for her

mother because she had no money. Vanessa was late for work because her ca

r broke down again.


before: Look over your paper again before you ha

nd it in. Think before you leap.


Even if: Even if you take the taxi, you will still miss

your train. Even if you don’t like wine, you should try

some.


even though: Even though Karen has a master’s degree

in business, she is unable to find a job. Even though it is hard work, I enjoy it.


if: He is willing to come if he is invited. Your father will be happy if he knows what

you have achieved.


in order that: The teacher explained the problem again i

n order that every student could understand it.

They talk in a low voice in order that they won’t be heard.


now that: You should take a long vacation now that

you have finished the work. Now that you do not like dancing, you do n

ot have to go to the party.


once: Once you start to smoke, you will find it dif

ficult to quit. Physics is easy once you know its rule. since: The word “since” has different mea

nings. We haven’t heard from him since he move

d to France. Since she has an appointment with the de

ntist, Holly won’t go with us.


so that: She left the party early so that she could

catch the last train. Erik saves every penny he makes so that

he can buy a house in the future.


until: The farmer did not go home until the sun

went down. Mrs. Gray did not go to bed until her husba

nd was found.


unless: You won’t stop coughing unless you take s

ome medicine. I won’t forgive you unless you apologize.


when: He was driving more than 70MPH when a

policeman stopped him. I was taking a shower when you called.


while: We visited Louver while we were in Londo

n We should work hard while we are young.


Whereas: Wise men love truth, whereas fools shun it.

The old rules were complex whereas the n

ew ones are simple.


14.3 Exercises: Use an appropriate subordinating conjunction to complete each sentence.

1. Mr. Wang will be in charge of the company _______ the president comes back.

2. Your first question was easy _________ the second one was quite difficult.


3. She didn’t do well in the final ________ she did not study.

4. ____________ you can’t answer my question, I will ask someone else.

5. __________ you start to read the novel, you will like it.

6. __________ I did my best, I lost the game.

7. Mrs. Lee will stay with you ________ your parents pick you up.


8. Students will be happy ______ the test is over.

9. ________ you have decided to do it, you have to do it well.

10. She won’t leave the TV _________ the dinner is on the table.

11. I will go by plane _________ I can save some time.

12. Martin majored in biology ____________ at school.

english grammar i unit 14: conjunctions. a conjunction is a word that joins two parts of a sentence....

Documents

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coordinating conjunctions

subordinating conjunctions

types of conjunctions

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