A conjunction joins words, phrases or clauses. There are three kinds. This builds on Prepositions and Adverbs.
| Kind | What it does | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| coordinating | joins equal parts | for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS) |
| subordinating | starts a dependent clause and ties it to the rest | after, although, as, because, before, if, since, though, unless, until, when, while |
| correlative | works in pairs | both … and, either … or, neither … nor, not only … but also, whether … or |
Key idea
Coordinating conjunctions join equals. Subordinating conjunctions make the clause they start lean on another clause: “because it rained” can’t stand alone.
Why it works
Conjunctions show how ideas relate: and adds, but contrasts, so gives a result, because gives a reason, although admits something. Choosing the right one makes your thinking clear to the reader.
Worked example: Preposition or conjunction?
What is after in “We left after the game” and in “We left after the game ended”?
- In the first, only a noun follows (the game): after is a preposition.
- In the second, a clause follows, with its own subject and verb (the game ended): after is a subordinating conjunction.
Answer: preposition, then subordinating conjunction
Common mistake
Treating because and although like and and but. They are not the same: a clause that starts with because is dependent and can’t be a sentence by itself (“Because it rained.” is a fragment). Also watch after, before, since and until: look at what follows them.