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You can spend your life writing or speaking short sentences, but (and that's a
conjunction) if you want your English to flow a bit more naturally you need to
learn how to join sentences together and (another conjunction) you need
some linking words to do this.
Basically a conjunction connects two words, sentences or clauses together:
although, and, because, but, if, or, so, unless, when, while ...
There are two types of conjunction: coordinating conjunctions and
subordinating conjunctions.
You can also use conjunctions in pairs, these are called correlatives.
Coordinating Conjunctions
A coordinating conjunction, also called a coordinator, links parts of a sentence.
This could be two independent (main) clauses, two noun phrases, adjectives,
adverbials etc of equal importance.
They include: for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so,
There's a mnemonic for remembering them: FANBOYS.
For example:It was cold. I wore a coat.
Both sentences are valid on their own, but they can be written so that they're
obviously linked; "It was cold, so I wore a coat."
The three most used coordinating conjunctions are and, or, and but.
The coordinating conjunction and usually expresses addition or combination.
For example:I attended the meeting. + My friend attended the meeting. = My friend and I
attended the meeting.
The coordinating conjunction but expresses a contrast.
We were tired. + We were happy. = We were tired but happy.
The coordinating conjunction or expresses choice.
For example:Would you like tea? + Would you like coffee? = Would you like tea or coffee?
There are two negative coordinating conjunctions: neither and nor.
For example:She spoke neither German nor French. ("nor" must always be part of the
"neither ... nor" construction).
Correlatives
Some conjunctions are used in pairs, they are called correlative conjunctions.
They are used to show the relationship between ideas expressed in different
parts of a sentence.
Most are coordinating correlatives.