• The conjunction is a word to connect or join:
  • singular words: James and John
  • phrase: The criminal hurried into an empty building and escaped through the window
  • clause: John was defeated but not humiliated
• They are otherwise known as ‘joiner-words’. Such words include: since, while, whether, because, if, yet, unless, even though, therefore, moreover, neither, either, hence, although, and, but, etc.
• Each of these performs a linking function, but, we must however note that not every word that performs a linking function is termed conjunction
• Some other parts of speech can also be used to join different words or parts of a sentence together. They include:
  • Relative Pronoun: Whom, who, which, that, those, whose. For example:
    • This is the child who lost her hat.
    • Grace is the girl whom I helped over the bridge
  • Adverb: because, when, where, if, unless, so, that, although, after, before, as, how, why, etc. For example:
    • The teacher punishes the boy because he is lazy
    • He knows where he was born

Types of Conjunction

• In the English language, conjunctions are of various categories. They are:

1. Coordinating Conjunction: These are used to join sentence elements of the same grammatical rank, i.e. noun with noun, verb with verb, adjective with adjective, phrase with phrase, clause with clause.
   They include:
   1. Copulative – Used to denote addition, close similarity or relationship. E.g. both, also, and, too, further, etc.
   2. Disjunctive – Used to denote choice. E.g. either, neither, nor, or, else, otherwise, etc.
   3. Adversative – Used to denote contrast. E.g. but, still, yet, notwithstanding, etc.
   4. Illative – Used to denote inference or sequence, i.e. they show results of actions. E.g. therefore, consequently, then, hence, so, etc.
2. Subordinating Conjunctions: This joins a subordinate clause to the main clause. It is used to:
   1. denote cause and purpose. E.g. that, so, lest, in order that, etc.
   2. denote condition. E.g. if, except, unless, etc.
   3. denote time. E.g. as, while, until, since, before, after, etc.
   4. show reason/cause of action. E.g. whereas, because, as, for, etc.
   5. denote comparison/degree/manner. E.g. as, as far as, so, etc.
3. Correlative Conjunction: These are two related conjunctions used together to join minor or major elements of a sentence. They are used to express choice. For example:
   1. Either – or,
   2. Neither – nor,
   3. Both – and,
   4. Not only – but also,
   5. Although – yet,
   6. Whether – or,
   7. Rather – than,
   8. Scarcely – when,
   9. No sooner – than,
   10. Not – but,
   11. Hardly – when,
   12. Between – and, etc.

    

   • Note: Correlative conjunctions must be placed immediately before the sentence elements which they are to join.
     • Wrong: John was advised either to see the provost or the registrar
     • Right: John was advised to see either the provost or the registrar.