Conjunctions Prepositions Interjections

USING CONJUNCTIONS, PREPOSITIONS, AND INTERJECTIONS
In this module, you will learn to identify and know the functions of
the following:
Conjunctions
Prepositions
Interjections
Co-ordinate ideas
Subordinate ideas.

Introduction
We are going to look at conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections, learn how to identify
them, and examine their functions. While we look at conjunctions, we will need to become
familiar with co-ordinate and subordinate ideas.

Conjunctions
In writing, we must learn to connect ideas (elements). That is, we need to join words,
phrases, and clauses. The most widely used method of joining ideas involves the
CONJUNCTION. The word "conjunction" means a joining. We will look first at co-
ordinating conjunctions, words joining co-ordinate elements--ideas of equal value. Then
we will look at subordinating conjunctions, words that create and join unco-ordinate
elements--ideas of unequal value.

Co-ordinating Conjunctions
The following examples will illustrate what we mean by co-ordinate elements.

Examples of Equal Ideas
"Faith and charity are desirable virtues."

In this sentence, "and," a co-ordinating conjunction, joins two nouns of equal value--"faith"
and "charity."

"To have faith and to be charitable are desirable virtues."

Here, "and" joins two phrases (noun phrases) of equal value--"to have faith" and "to be
charitable."

"We should have faith, and we should be charitable."

Here, "and" joins two clauses of equal value--"We should have faith" and " we should be
charitable."

Below is a list of the seven co-ordinating conjunctions; all join ideas of equal value.

List:
"And, but, for, or, nor, yet," and "so."

Subordinating Conjunctions
The following example will illustrate what we mean by subordinate (unequal) elements.

Example of Unequal Ideas
Let's look at the two clauses we used previously and join them with a subordinating
conjunction, a joining word that not only creates unequal elements but also joins them.

"We should have faith although we may be charitable."

We can see that the first clause, "We should have faith," is a complete thought. But the
second clause, "although we may be charitable," is an incomplete thought. So the two
clauses are not of equal value.

The word "although" is a subordinating conjunction, making the two clauses no longer
equal.

So subordinating conjunctions are joining words that create unequal ideas and join them to
other ideas.

Here is a list of the more common subordinating conjunctions.

List:
After, all of which, although, as, as if, as long as, at which, because, before, even, even if,
even though, ever since;

how, if, in order that, since, so as, so that, than, that, though, till, unless, until;

what, whatever, when, whenever, where, wherever, whether, which, whichever, while,
who, whoever, whom, whomever, whose, whosoever, why.

NOTE: Words such as "who," "whoever," "whom," and "whomever" can be either
pronouns or conjunctions.

For the time being, if a verb follows these "wh" words, the "wh" words are conjunctions; if
a verb does not follow, the "wh" words are pronouns.

Prepositions
A PREPOSITION is a word that shows a relationship between nouns, between pronouns,
or between nouns and pronouns.

The relationships that can be shown by prepositions are numerous. Some of the more
common are time, space, movement, direction, content, origin, subject, omission, and
cause. Let's explore the first one, time, in a bit of detail.

The relationship of someone or something to someone or something else can be one of
time:

Joe arrived IN time.
Alicia waited FOR an hour.
The class waited UNTIL noon.
She arrived BEFORE 10 a.m.
The team arrived AFTER lunch.
He handed in his assignment PAST the deadline.

All the prepositions (CAPS) show a relationship of time between someone/something and
some set time.

Here is a list of the more common prepositions. Don't worry that some of the phrases
contain more than one preposition--that's another story.
List:
About, above, abreast, across, after, against, along, alongside, among, amongst, around,
as, at;

before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, but, by, down, during, except,
for, from, in, in back of;

in front of, inside, into, like, near, next, next to, of, off, on, onto, opposite, out, out of,
outside, over, past, round;

since, than*, through, throughout, till, to, toward, towards, under, underneath, until, up,
upon, with, within, without.

*Than, a subordinating conjunction, is often used as a preposition. Such usage is
acceptable. Here's an example.

"Trying harder is better than complaining."

NOTE: In "to plus an action" phrases (to run), to is never a preposition. If a noun or
pronoun follows "to," then "to" is a preposition.

Now let's look at interjections.

Interjections
Interjections are words, groups of words, or sentences that express great emotion.

In the sentence, "Wow! did you see that?", "Wow" is a single-word interjection. "Wow! Did
you see that?" is also acceptable.

In the sentence, "Get out of the way!", the entire sentence is an interjection.

All interjections in this module are followed by exclamation marks.

Exercises
Select the answer that describes the function of each word within parentheses (brackets).
Work from left to right as the words appear in the sentence. The answers appear after the
last question

1. The heat (from) the fire was somewhat comforting to him, (but) Hebba knew she was
(in) extreme pain.
A. Conjunction, conjunction, conjunction
B. Conjunction, conjunction, preposition
C. Preposition, preposition, preposition
D. Preposition, preposition, conjunction
E. Preposition, conjunction, preposition
F. Conjunction, preposition, conjunction

2. Neither the telephones (nor) the elevators will work (if) a fire breaks out (in) the power
room.
E. Preposition, conjunction, conjunction

3. (As) the sun sank (in) the west, we walked faster (even though) we were exhausted.

4. We felt we could arrive (by) Friday (although) we were not sure (of) the route.
A. Preposition, conjunction, preposition

5. (Whenever) we see a rainbow, we should marvel (at) the way nature works (in)
harmony with people.
D. Conjunction, preposition, preposition

6. We wandered (toward) the river (which) was (to) the north of camp.
C. Preposition, conjunction, preposition

7. (If) they take food (and) water, they could survive for five (or) six weeks.

8. (Without) life vests (or) floatation devices, canoeing (at) any time can be dangerous.
E. Preposition, conjunction, preposition

9. (Hurry!) (or) the waves (and) wind will capsize the boat.
B. Interjection, conjunction, preposition
D. Interjection, preposition, conjunction
E. Interjection, conjunction, conjunction

10. The wind (from) the mountains blew (like) a demon (during) the storm.

11. (Since) we're all packed, let's pause (for) a minute (and) think up a plan.

12. The day dawned, (and) we felt better (because) we could make out the camp (across)
the bay.

Answers
1, E. 2, B. 3, F. 4, A. 5, D. 6, C. 7, A. 8, E. 9, E. 10, C. 11, F. 12, B.

Conjunctions Prepositions Interjections

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