Conjunctions:

A conjunction is a word that "joins". A conjunction joins two parts of a sentence.

Here are some example conjunctions:

Coordinating Conjunctions Subordinating Conjunctions
and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so although, because, since, unless
We can consider conjunctions from three aspects.

Form

Conjunctions have three basic forms:

Single Word
for example: and, but, because, although

Compound (often ending with as or that)
for example: provided that, as long as, in order that

Correlative (surrounding an adverb or adjective)
for example: so...that
Function

Conjunctions have two basic functions or "jobs":

Coordinating conjunctions are used to join two parts of a sentence that are grammatically equal. The two parts may be single words or clauses, for example:
- Jack and Jill went up the hill.
- The water was warm, but I didn't go swimming.

Subordinating conjunctions are used to join a subordinate dependent clause to a main clause, for example:
- I went swimming although it was cold.
Position

Coordinating conjunctions always come between the words or clauses that they join.

Subordinating conjunctions usually come at the beginning of the subordinate clause.
In this lesson we will look in more detail at:

Coordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating Conjunctions