There are two types of Conjunctions:
- Co-ordinate Conjunctions
- Subordinate Conjunctions
1) Co-ordinate Conjunctions:
A co-ordinate conjunction joins two clauses or sentences of equal rank or two words of equal grammatical ranks.
Co-ordinate Conjunctions are of 4 kinds:
a) Cumulative Conjunctions: A Conjunction which adds one statement or fact to another is called Cumulative Conjunction
Example: Not only ………. but also
Both …………….. and
as well as
Too, also, moreover etc.
Statements:
(i) The Professor as well as lecturers has accepted to conduct the
examination next week.
(ii) He visited not only Bangalore but also Pune.
b) Alternative Conjunctions: A Conjunction of this type expresses a choice between two alternatives.
Example: either …… or, neither ……. nor, otherwise, else etc.
Statements:
(i) She is good neither at sports nor at academics.
(ii) Work hard otherwise you will not pass.
c) Adversative Conjunctions: An Adversative conjunction expresses a contrast between two facts or statements .
Example: only, however, but, still, yet, whereas, nevertheless etc.
Statements:
(i) She was happy, but she kept quiet.
(ii) She hates me, She hates me, yet I love her.
d) Illative Conjunctions: Such a conjunction shows that a statement or fact is proved or inferred from another.
Example: therefore, hence, so, consequently etc.
Statements:
(i) He is a nice human being, Hence, we trust him
(ii) This is an ecstatic place for camping. So, we have booked our tickets for this location.
2) Subordinate Conjunctions :
These are the conjunctions that connect a clause to another on which it depends for its full meaning.
The chief subordinate conjunctions are – after, before, because, if, through, till etc.
Statements:
(i) The patient had died before the doctor arrived.
(ii) We ate so that we may live.
Exercise:
(i) Either she is innocent, or she fakes it.
(ii) As I was short of cash, so I borrowed from my friend.
(iii) Abid is very intelligent and he seldom works hard.
(iv) He works hard because he may get distinction.
(v) Carry your umbrella, lest you should not get caught in the rain.
Answers:
i) Either she is innocent or she fakes it.
(ii) As I was short of cash, I borrowed from my friend.
(As is not followed by so)
(iii) Abid is very intelligent but he seldom works hard.
(iv) He works hard so that he may get distinction.
(v) Carry your umbrella lest you should get caught in the rain.
(Lest itself conveys a negative meaning, hence it should not be
followed by ‘not’)