Once you know how to form sentences in English, the next step is to combine subjects, phrases, and clauses! Conjunctions in English help you extend your sentences and form connections between ideas in speaking and writing. Learn how to use the three types of conjunctions with examples.
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What is a conjunction in English?
A conjunction is a part of speech in English that connects other words, phrases, and clauses (short sentences). They’re also known as linking words because they link two ideas together.
- Joe and Melanie walked to school.
- The conjunction and connects Joe and Melanie.
- We’ll visit France or Italy.
- The conjunction or connects France and Italy.
- I invited Tom because he loves parties.
- The conjunction because connects I invited Tom and he loves parties.
Conjunctions are among the most common words used in English conversation and writing.
Coordinating conjunctions connect two complete sentences
Coordinating conjunctions join words or ideas that have equal value. They can connect two complete sentences, or independent clauses, to make a compound sentence.
A trick to remember these: The first letter of each coordinating conjunction in English spells out the acronym (an abbreviation that is said as one word) FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so).
Some of these conjunctions are more common than others. And, but, or, and so are words that you might use all the time. For, nor, and yet are more formal conjunctions, so you’re less likely to hear them in everyday conversation and writing.
| Coordinating Conjunction | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| for | because | We went to school, for we want to learn. |
| and | adding another idea or action | Tony and Alex are my friends. |
| nor | showing a second negative | I’m not sick, nor is Charlie. |
| but | showing an opposite action or fact | Sheila lives in Russia, but she doesn’t speak Russian. |
| or | connection between opposing ideas | We can make cookies or cupcakes. |
| yet | although | I left early, yet I still arrived late. |
| so | as a result | Nora loves dogs, so she adopted a puppy. |
How to use punctuation with coordinating conjunctions
You use a comma before the coordinating conjunction when you’re joining two independent clauses (a phrase that is a complete sentence on its own).
- Joey wants to eat hamburgers, but I want to eat tacos.
- We needed a ride to school, so we called Gabriela.
A semicolon (;) can also connect two ideas the way coordinating conjunctions can. Both of these examples are correct:
- Lila enjoys dancing, and she practices every day.
- Lila enjoys dancing; she practices every day.
Subordinating conjunctions connect clauses that can’t stand alone to ones that can
Subordinating conjunctions show different types of relationships between ideas. They connect subordinating clauses (ideas that can’t stand alone as a full sentence) to independent clauses (ideas that can stand alone as a full sentence).
| Subordinating Conjunction | Meaning | Sentence |
| after | later in time | I’ll make dinner after the movie is over. |
| although | contrasting two ideas | Although Sue has a phone, she doesn’t text much. |
| as | comparing two things or at the same time | Paul is as tall as Kyle. |
| because | for the reason that | I passed the test because I studied. |
| before | earlier in time | Before you come in, ring the doorbell. |
| if | in case that | You can borrow my car if you give it back. |
| like | in the same way | Brad cooks like his father does. |
| once | at a certain time | We will eat once Tyler arrives. |
| since | for a reason or after a certain time | Since it was raining, Jill stayed home. |
| than | comparing unequal things | Joe ate more than Sam ate. |
| though | contrasting two ideas | I passed English class, though it was difficult. |
| unless | true except under a certain condition | Unless you have a ticket, you can’t ride the bus. |
| until | up to a certain time | The game won’t start until the team arrives. |
| when | at a certain time | Let’s eat the cookies when they’re cool. |
| whenever | at any time | We can leave whenever you’re ready. |
| where | in a location | I forgot where I put my purse. |
| wherever | in any location | Park your car wherever you can. |
| while | during another action | The boys waited while their mom bought food. |
You might see subordinating conjunctions like if, because, or when at the beginning of a sentence. In that case, you’ll probably see an independent clause followed by a comma later in that same sentence.
- If you see my brother, tell him to call me.
Using punctuation with subordinating conjunctions
You use a comma after the dependent clause that follows a subordinating conjunction (if it comes first in the sentence).
- When you get home, call me. (comma after the dependent clause starting with when)
- Call me when you get home. (no comma because the dependent clause comes last)
Correlative conjunctions present two options
Correlative conjunctions are word pairs that present two options. These options can be positive (either/or) or negative (neither/nor), but each one has equal importance. You’re more likely to see correlative conjunctions in formal writing and conversation.
| Correlative Conjunction | Meaning | Sentence |
| either/or | one option or another option | I’ll ask either Lucy or Hannah to the dance. |
| neither/nor | not one option or another option | We like neither this car nor this truck. |
Using commas with correlative conjunctions
Only use a comma before a correlative conjunction if the sentence has two independent clauses.
- He will either study for the test, or he will fail it. (comma before or and the independent clause)
- I play neither the saxophone nor the tuba. (no comma needed)
Common mistakes with conjunctions in English
To improve your English fluency, explore these common conjunction mistakes and how to correct them.
Using too many conjunctions
Sentences that have too many conjunctions are known as run-on sentences. These sentences use coordinating conjunctions to join more than two independent clauses.
- Incorrect: I drove to school but no one was there and I realized it was Saturday so I went home.
- This sentence has four independent clauses and three coordinating conjunctions!
- Correct: I drove to school, but no one was there. I realized it was Saturday, so I went home.
- Remove and so that each conjunction only joins two independent clauses.
- Also correct: I drove to school; no one was there. When I realized it was Saturday, I went home.
- Use a semicolon (;) instead of a conjunction, and add a subordinating conjunction (when) to change the sentence structure.
Not using enough conjunctions
It’s also possible to need more conjunctions in your sentence. For example, if run-on sentences include no conjunctions, that’s a grammar mistake.
- Incorrect: Miguel’s dog is barking he doesn’t know why he checked the door his friend Frieda was there.
- This sentence is hard to read because the independent clauses aren’t connected with conjunctions.
- Correct: Miguel’s dog is barking, but he doesn’t know why. He checked the door, and his friend Frieda was there.
- When you add the conjunctions but and and, it’s easier to read the sentence.
Some people use commas instead of conjunctions. This grammar mistake is called a comma splice, and can be fixed by adding the right conjunctions.
- Incorrect: Miguel’s dog is barking, he doesn’t know why, he checked the door, his friend Frieda was there.
- These comma splices turn this sentence into a run-on sentence.
- Correct: Miguel’s dog is barking, but he doesn’t know why. He checked the door, and his friend Frieda was there.
- Keep the commas, but add the conjunctions but and and.
Mixing up ‘and’ and ‘but’
Some English learners mix up the conjunctions and and but, even though they have opposite roles in a sentence.
- Incorrect: My brother is sick, and he’s getting better.
- Being sick and getting better are opposite ideas, so and isn’t the right word to use.
- Correct: My brother is sick, but he’s getting better.
- The conjunction but shows the opposing ideas.
- Incorrect: Our family traveled to South America, but we really enjoyed Argentina.
- Traveling to South America and enjoying Argentina aren’t opposite ideas.
- Correct: Our family traveled to South America, and we really enjoyed Argentina.
- The conjunction and shows that these similar ideas are connected to each other.
Confusing ‘then’ and ‘than’
The English words then and than look very similar, but they have different functions in English grammar. Than is a conjunction, while then is an English adverb.
- Incorrect: My dog knows more tricks then my cat does.
- Then refers to time, not comparing two things (my dog and my cat).
- Correct: My dog knows more tricks than my cat does.
- Than is the correct conjunction to connect these two ideas.
Connect your ideas when you’re learning English
Once you know how to connect words and sentences with conjunctions in English, you’ll be on your way to becoming a fluent English speaker. Next, discover how to build proper sentences with a guide to English verb conjugation.
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