Conjunctions in English Grammar: Types, Rules and Examples
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What Are Conjunctions in English Grammar?
The word "conjunction" comes from "junction" — the place where a train or road connects one city to another. Conjunctions do the same job in a sentence: they connect one sentence, phrase, or word to another, which is why they are also called connectors or joining words.
A conjunction works like a bridge, linking point A to point B in a sentence. Grammatically, conjunctions are words used to join words, phrases, clauses, and sentences to form a new sentence with a new meaning.
Take this example: "Please give me some juice and toast to eat." Here, "and" connects two separate ideas — juice and toast — into one sentence. In "He goes to the library a lot because he loves to read books," the word "because" links the two clauses together. Both "and" and "because" are conjunctions doing the same basic job: joining.
The Three Types of Conjunctions
Conjunctions can be categorised into three types:
- Coordinating conjunctions — the simplest type, joining words or clauses of equal rank.
- Correlative conjunctions — pairs of words that join two equally weighted ideas.
- Subordinating conjunctions — words that connect a less important, dependent clause to a main clause.
Each type follows a different rule for how the two connected parts relate to each other. The sections below cover all three in detail, along with the specific words that belong to each category.
Coordinating Conjunctions and the FANBOYS Rule
"Coordinate" means to come together or join as equals. Coordinating conjunctions are used to join two or more words, phrases, or clauses of equal rank — meaning both sides give equal or similar sense. For example, "Sita and Rahul are classmates" works because both Sita and Rahul share the same status: they're both classmates.
There are seven coordinating conjunctions, remembered using the acronym FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.
| Conjunction | Meaning | Used When | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| And | additionally | combining similar facts or statements | Monica likes to play badminton and chess. |
| But | however | connecting opposite or contrasting ideas | You can go for camping, but you are not allowed to go river rafting. |
| Or | as an alternative | offering a choice between two things | You can have tea or coffee. |
| For | because | giving a reason for the previous statement | I cannot attend the meeting, for I am unwell. |
| Nor | and not/neither | continuing a negative statement (always negative) | He doesn't eat cake, nor does he eat biscuits. |
| Yet | still/nevertheless | showing an unexpected or contradictory result | He is 72 years old, yet he still swims, runs, and plays football. |
| So | as a result | showing the outcome or consequence of something | There was heavy rain, so I came late. |
💡 Grammar Tip: "Nor" is already a negative word, so a sentence using "nor" should never also use "not" in the second part. Write "He doesn't eat cake, nor does he eat biscuits" — not "He doesn't eat cake, nor doesn't he eat biscuits."
A few of these deserve a closer look. But is used specifically when the second statement gives a contrary reason or answer to the first — for instance, "You can eat pizza, but you have to score good marks in your test." So is used to express an outcome or consequence: "Everyone was busy with work, so I brought all the items myself." Yet expresses a contradictory or unexpected idea against something already stated: "He cannot see properly, yet he reads a book every day."
Correlative Conjunctions
Unlike coordinating conjunctions, which use a single word at a time, correlative conjunctions are pairs of words used together to connect two ideas, words, phrases, or clauses that carry equal sense or meaning. For example, "The company produces both shampoo and bath soaps" — shampoo and bath soaps represent the same kind of idea, so "both...and" connects them.
| Correlative Pair | Used to Show | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Either...or | a choice between two things | Either Max or James has taken the pen. |
| Neither...nor | a negative choice — "not this, not that" | She is neither rich nor generous. |
| Both...and | combining two similar ideas | My brother is both smart and intelligent. |
| Whether...or | doubt or a choice between two things | Tell me whether you will do it or not. |
| Not only...but also | including more than one thing about someone | She is not only a dancer but also a singer. |
Notice that "both" is always paired with "and" — this pairing never changes. "Neither...nor" is the negative counterpart of "either...or," used when both parts of the sentence need to carry a negative sense, as in "She is neither rich nor generous."
Subordinating Conjunctions
"Subordinating" means less important, or dependent. A subordinating conjunction joins a subordinate (dependent) clause to a main (independent) clause.
Consider "Because I was ill" on its own — it doesn't give a complete sense; the reader is left waiting for more information. Add an independent clause: "I stayed at home because I was ill," and now the sentence is complete. "I stayed at home" is the independent clause carrying complete meaning on its own, while "because I was ill" is the dependent clause that relies on it.
The transcript covers fourteen subordinating conjunctions:
| Conjunction | Meaning | Used to Show | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| After | following that | the sequence of two things happening | You could go and play after you have done the dishes. |
| If | on the condition that | a condition in the clause | If you work hard, you will pass. |
| Though / Although / Even though | despite the fact that | a contrast between two clauses | Although he is poor, he is honest. |
| If only | only if | a specific condition | If only I would be a Prime Minister, I would change the whole system. |
| Till | up to the time that (positive) | connecting an action to a point in time | Let's wait here till the rain stops. |
| Until | up to the time that (negative) | connecting an action to a point in time | I want to leave until the movie finishes. |
| As | just when / because | time, cause, or reason | As I left home, I found a purse. |
| Unless | if not | negativity within a condition | You will not pass unless you study. |
| When | at the time that | when an action takes place | When my sister called me, I was coming back home. |
| Rather than | in preference to | preference or choice | She would die rather than beg. |
| Because | for the reason that | giving a reason | I will eat pizza because I am hungry. |
| Since | given that | giving a reason for something | Since she was ill, we all postponed the party. |
| Before | earlier than | the second event happening soon after the first | I brush my teeth before I sleep. |
| Whereas | while on the other hand | a contrast between two actions or statements | She is intelligent, whereas her brother is not. |
| While | during the time that | two actions happening at the same time | I was doing my homework while listening to the songs. |
💡 Grammar Tip: "Till" is used in a positive sense, while "until" is used in a negative sense — both roughly mean "up to the time that." "As" means "just as" or "as soon as," and it's used to show time, cause, or reason together in one clause.
💡 Punctuation Tip: When "before" starts a sentence, put a comma between the two clauses. When "before" appears in the middle of the sentence, no comma is needed — as in "I brush my teeth before I sleep."
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions.
What is a conjunction in English grammar?
A conjunction is a joining word, also called a connector, used to link words, phrases, clauses, or sentences to form a new sentence. It works like a bridge between two parts of a sentence, and the word itself comes from "junction," the place that connects two paths.
What are the three types of conjunctions in English grammar?
The three types are coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions. Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions use single words, while correlative conjunctions always use a pair of words together, such as "both...and" or "either...or."
What does FANBOYS stand for in grammar?
FANBOYS is a memory trick for the seven coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So. Each of these joins words, phrases, or clauses of equal rank, such as "Monica likes to play badminton and chess."
What is the difference between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions?
Coordinating conjunctions join two equal, independent ideas, like "Sita and Rahul are classmates." Subordinating conjunctions join a dependent clause, which cannot stand alone, to an independent main clause, as in "I stayed at home because I was ill."
What is the difference between till and until?
Both words mean roughly the same thing — up to a point in time — but "till" is used in a positive sense and "until" is used in a negative sense. Both connect an action in the main clause to a specific event or point in time, such as "Let's wait here till the rain stops."