Conjunctions - Class 8 English Revision Notes

• Coordinating Conjunctions
• Subordinating Conjunctions
• Correlative Conjunctions

A conjunction is a word that connects words or groups of words. Like prepositions, conjunctions show a relationship between the words they connect. But, unlike prepositions, conjunctions do not have objects.
There are 3 main categories of conjunctions;

1. Coordinating conjunctions
2. Subordinating conjunctions
3. Correlative conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions connect related words, groups of words, or sentences. There are three coordinating conjunctions: and, but and or. And is used to join words, groups of words, or sentences together. But shows contrast while or shows choice.
Examples:

• The bull and the cart are inseparable. (connects two subjects).
• The cart carries the farmer and his tools. (connects two direct objects).
• The food was hard and tasteless. (connects two predicate adjectives).
• Each night, the dancers danced in a circle or in several other patterns. (connects two prepositional phrases).
• Some people died in the fracas, but most managed to escape, alive. (connects two sentences).

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions connect two or more clauses to form complex sentences. Subordinating conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses. They include because, since, if, as, whether, and for.
Examples:

• If I go home, my dog will follow me.
  The subordinating conjunction if connects the subordinate clause I go home with the main clause my dog will follow me.
• The stayed inside the church because it was raining.
• He was always rude since he was a child.
• The rain fell as they entered the building.
• The pastor asked the congregation whether they were happy.
• The man rejoiced for he had won a prize.

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are conjunctions that are used in pairs to connect sentence parts. These include either ….. or, neither ….. nor, not only……. but also, whether ……. or and both …… and.
Examples:

• Both boys and girls attended the conference.
• People brought not only food but also clothes for the victims of the floods.
• The students ride either on bicycles or motorbikes.
• The sailor had to decide whether to sail on or head back when the weather changed.
• Neither John nor James was moved by the shocking news.