Conjunction - 1 - English Grammar Basic - Class 10

Conjunction

Conjunctions are the words that glue the words with words. They can be used to join Subject with Subjects, Part of Sentence with parts of Sentences, Sentences with Sentences and clauses together. They assist in conjoining the speech or parts of a language.

Examples:
As,

• Meenu and Rishi are good friends.
               ↓
         Conjunction
• She must weep or she will die.
                            ↓
                    Conjunction
• God made man and man made inventions.
                             ↓
                    Conjunction
• Our boat is small but the sea is great.
                                ↓
                     Conjunction

Types of Conjunctions

• Co-ordinating: Coordinating conjunctions are words that conjoin sentences with sentences, phrases with phrases, clauses with clauses, subjects with subjects. The examples of correlative conjunctions are: For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
  Examples of Coordinating Conjunctions:
  (i) This batch of mushroom stew is savoury and delicious.
  (ii) We should hate to waste a drop of water, for it is expensive and valuable these days.
  (iii) I will stay outdoors with friends or go home for a while.
• Sub-ordinating: Subordinating conjunctions allow and introduce a subordinating or dependent clause. They glue an independent clause with a dependent clause. Out of all the conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions are the most tricky to follow and identify.

Note: 

• ‘Independent clause’ is a clause that does not need any other clause to complete the sentence. They are independent on their own. ‘She did not study’ is an independent clause. 
• ‘Dependent clause’ is a clause that needs a clause or a sentence to support its completion. ‘Because she did not study’ is a dependent clause. Few examples of Subordinating conjunctions are: Although, though, however, as, as long as, once, since, when, while, if, where.

List of Subordinating Conjunctions 

Use of Conjunctions

• Not only .... but also is used before those words which it stresses.
  As,
  He is not famous in his state but also in his country. — wrong
  He is famous not only in his state but also in his country. — correct
• Neither is followed by nor while either is followed by or
  As,
  She is neither intelligent or labourious. — wrong
  She is neither intelligent nor labourious.  — correct
  But,
  He is neither good at Physics nor at Chemistry. — wrong
  He is good neither at Physics nor at Chemistry. — correct
• Both is followed by and
  As,
  Both Mohan or Ram goes there. — wrong
  Both Mohan and Ram go there. — correct
  Again,
  Both Sohan as well as Prem is good. — wrong
  Both Sohan and Prem are good. — correct
• Though and although are followed by yet
  As,
  Though he is poor but he is honest.  — wrong
  Though he is poor yet he is honest.  — correct
  Although she is beautiful but she is gentle. — wrong
  Although she is beautiful yet she is gentle. — correct
• Even if is followed by but
  As,
  Even if he is hungry yet he cannot beg.  — wrong
  Even if he is hungry but he cannot beg. — correct