What Are Conjunctions?Conjunctions

What Are Conjunctions?
Conjunctions are used to join words or groups of words together. The most common ones are and, or and but. (There are others – see Conjunctions in the Glossary of Terms.)

Conjunctions can be categorized into one of three groupings:
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions are the ones which tend to spring to mind when people think about conjunctions. They include and, but, or, nor, for, so and yet. They are used to join individual words, phrases and independent clauses.

Coordinating Conjunctions Joining Individual Words:

Jamie, Adam and Lee arranged to meet by The Bull at 7 o'clock.
(conjunction and groups Jamie, Adam + Lee)
It is a small but practical kitchen.
(conjunction but groups small + practical)
Coordinating Conjunctions Joining Individual Phrases:

The finance manager or his new deputy will notify you when the report is ready.
(conjunction or groups manager + deputy)
John or his new deputy from Holland will notify you when the report is ready.
(You can join a mix of words and phrases with a coordinating conjunction. Here, the conjunction or groups the word John + the phrase his new deputy from Holland.)
Coordinating Conjunctions Joining Individual Clauses:

A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal. (Oscar Wilde)
(conjunction and joins two independent clauses)

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. (Oscar Wilde)
(conjunction but joins two independent clauses)
History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it. (Winston Churchill)
(conjunction for joins two independent clauses)
Coordinating means of equal rank. Usually, the elements joined by a coordinating conjunction are of equal rank. Therefore:

Words, phrases, non-independent clauses can be grouped together.
Independent clauses can be grouped together.
It is unusual to see a mix of these groups joined by a coordinating conjunction.
Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions appear in pairs. For example, either...or, neither...nor, whether...or and not only...but also.

This man is either dead or my watch has stopped. (Groucho Marx)
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions include: after, although, as, because, before, if, once, since, than, that, though, till, until, when, where, whether and while.

They are used to show the relationship between the independent clause and the dependent clause.

Keep your hand on the wound until the nurse asks you to take it off.
Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught. Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by. Will Rogers (1879-1935)



Read more at http://www.grammar-monster.com/lessons/conjunctions.htm#jMk6Jzfdl2isMlq5.99