Lesson 76

Parts of Speech - Conjunctions

A conjunction is a word that joins other words, phrases (groups of words), or clauses (groups of words with a subjectThe subject tells who or what about the verb.  Source: Lesson 91 and verbVerbs show action or state of being. Most verbs are action words, but a few verbs indicate state of being or existence.
Source: Lesson 1).

Co-ordinate conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses of equal rank. There are two kinds: simple and correlative. Subordinate conjunctions join dependent clausesA clause is a group of words having a subject and a verb. A dependent clause is always used as some part of speech. It can be an adjective, adverb, or noun. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Source: Lesson 246 to independent clausesA clause is a group of words having a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence.
Source: Lesson 246. I will refer to them simply as co-ordinate, correlative, and subordinate.

 
 
 

The co-ordinate conjunctions are the following: and, but, or, nor, for, and yet. (For and yet can only join clauses.)

The correlative conjunctions are always in pairs. They are either-or, neither-nor, both-and, not only-but also, and whether-or.

Some common subordinate conjunctions are after, although, as, as if, because, before, if, since, so that, than, unless, until, when, where, and while.

The co-ordinate and correlative conjunctions should be memorized since they are common and few in number.

 
 
 

Instructions: Find the co-ordinate conjunctions which are joining words in the following sentences and the words that are joined.

1. Jeff and I mowed all the lawns.

2. Grandpa is a slow but strong person.

3. Our guest will be Jeanne or Barbara.

4. I did not like nor appreciate your actions.

5. You or I must do the dishes.