Conjunctions in English Grammar - Types, Rules and Examples

What are Conjunctions in English Grammar?

A conjunction is a word that joins two words, phrases, clauses, or sentences and shows relation between them. Common conjunctions are and, but, or, nor, yet, so, for, because, since, as, although, though, if, unless, until, till, while, when, where, that, so that, in order that, lest, whether, either-or, neither-nor, both-and, not only-but also. Conjunctions are crucial for SSC CGL, CHSL, CPO, Railway, Banking, CTET because error spotting, sentence improvement, and cloze tests heavily test correct pair of conjunctions, correlative conjunctions balance, and subordinating conjunction rules. Without conjunctions, complex sentences cannot be formed and relation of time, cause, condition, purpose, contrast cannot be shown clearly.

Types of Conjunctions

Subordinating and Correlative Conjunctions

Subordinating Conjunctions join subordinate clause to main clause and show time, cause, condition, purpose, contrast, place, manner. Time: when, while, before, after, till, until, since, as soon as, as long as. Cause: because, since, as, for. Condition: if, unless, provided, supposing. Purpose: so that, in order that, lest. Contrast: although, though, even though, whereas, while. Result: so that, such that. Manner: as, as if, as though. Example: He came when I was sleeping (time), He failed because he did not work hard (cause), If you work hard, you will pass (condition), We eat so that we may live (purpose), Although he is poor, he is honest (contrast). Correlative Conjunctions are used in pairs and both parts must be parallel: either-or (Either Ram or Shyam will come), neither-nor (Neither Ram nor Shyam came), both-and (Both Ram and Shyam are honest), not only-but also (Not only Ram but also Shyam came), whether-or, as-as, so-as, such-as.

Conjunctions of Purpose, Contrast and Common Pair Errors

Conjunctions of Purpose show aim: so that, in order that, lest. Lest means to avoid, it always takes should or subjunctive and not after: Work hard lest you should fail. So that and in order that show positive purpose: He works hard so that he may pass. Conjunctions of Contrast show opposition: although, though, even though, whereas, while, but, yet, however, nevertheless, on the other hand. Although he is rich, he is unhappy. Conjunctions of Condition: if, unless, provided, suppose. Unless means if not: Unless you work hard, you will fail means If you do not work hard, you will fail. Common Pair Errors: Use although with yet or comma, not with but - Although he is poor, he is honest or Although he is poor, yet he is honest is okay but Although he is poor but he is honest is wrong. Use not only with but also: Not only Ram but also Shyam. Use no sooner with than: No sooner had he come than it rained. Use hardly/scarcely with when: Hardly had he come when it rained. Use both with and: Both Ram and Shyam. Use either with or, neither with nor, whether with or.

Common Conjunction Errors for SSC Exams

SSC exams trap students with wrong pair usage: Use neither with nor, not with or - Neither Ram nor Shyam, not Neither Ram or Shyam. Either with or - Either Ram or Shyam. Both with and - Both Ram and Shyam, not Both Ram as well as Shyam. Not only with but also - Not only Ram but also Shyam, verb agrees with second subject. No sooner with than - No sooner had he come than it started raining, not No sooner had he come when it rained. Hardly/scarcely with when - Hardly had he come when it rained, not Hardly had he come than. Although/though with yet or comma, not with but - Although he is poor yet he is honest or Although he is poor, he is honest, not Although he is poor but he is honest. Because, since, as should not be followed by reason that, cause that, due to - Because he was ill, he did not come, not Because he was ill due to fever. Lest should be followed by should and not - Lest you should fail, not Lest you may fail or Lest you should not fail because lest already negative. Until and unless are negative, do not use not with them - Wait until I come, not Wait until I do not come; Unless you work hard, you will fail, not Unless you do not work hard. So that for positive purpose, lest for negative purpose to avoid.