CONJUNCTIONS

Conjunctions are words used as joiners.

Different kinds of conjunctions join different kinds of grammatical structures.
A. COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS (FANBOYS)
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Coordinating conjunctions join equals to one another:
words to words, phrases to phrases, clauses to clauses.

Coordinating conjunctions go in between items joined, not at the beginning or end.

A coordinating conjunction joining three or more words, phrases, or subordinate clauses creates a
series and requires commas between the elements.

A coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses creates a compound sentence and
requires a comma before the coordinating conjunction

That is not what I meant to say, nor should you interpret my statement as an admission of guilt.
John plays basketball well, yet his favorite sport is badminton.
The visitors complained loudly about the heat, yet they continued to play golf every day.
B. CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS
either. . .or both. . . and
neither. . . nor not only. . . but also
not . . . but
whether . . . or
as . . . as
She led the team not only in statistics but also by virtue of her enthusiasm.
Polonius said, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be."
Whether you win this race or lose it doesn't matter as long as you do your best.
These pairs of conjunctions require equal (parallel) structures after each one.

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C. CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS
These conjunctions join independent clauses together.
The following are frequently used conjunctive adverbs:
after all in addition next
also incidentally nonetheless
as a result indeed on the contrary
besides in fact on the other hand
consequently in other words otherwise
finally instead still
for example likewise then
furthermore meanwhile therefore
hence moreover thus
however nevertheless

D. SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
These words are commonly used as subordinating conjunctions
after in order (that) unless
although insofar as until
as in that when
as far as lest whenever
as soon as no matter how where
as if now that wherever
as though once whether
because provided (that) while
before since why
even if so that
even though supposing (that)
how than
if that
In as much as though
in case (that) till
Subordinating conjunctions also join two clauses together, but in doing so, they make one clause
dependent (or "subordinate") upon the other.
He took to the stage as though he had been preparing for this moment all his life.
Because he loved acting, he refused to give up his dream of being in the movies.
Unless we act now, all is lost.

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Here are some examples of coordinating conjunctions in English and what they do:
 For - presents rationale ("They do not gamble or smoke, for they are ascetics.")
 And - presents non-contrasting item(s) or idea(s) ("They gamble, and they smoke.")
 Nor - presents a non-contrasting negative idea ("They do not gamble, nor do they smoke.")
 But - presents a contrast or exception ("They gamble, but they don't smoke.")
 Or - presents an alternative item or idea ("Every day they gamble, or they smoke.")
 Yet - presents a contrast or exception ("They gamble, yet they don't smoke.")
 So - presents a consequence ("He gambled well last night, so he smoked a cigar to celebrate.")
Correlative conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to join words and groups of words of equal weight in a
sentence. There are many different pairs of correlative conjunctions:
 either...or
 not only...but (also)
 neither...nor
 both...and
 whether...or
 just as...so
 the...the
 as...as
 as much...as
 no sooner...than
 rather...than
Examples:
 You either do your work or prepare for a trip to the office. (Either do, or prepare)
 He is not only handsome, but also brilliant. (Not only A, but also B)
 Not only is he handsome, but also he is brilliant. (Not only is he A, but also he is B)
 Neither the basketball team nor the football team is doing well.
 Both the cross country team and the swimming team are doing well.
 You must decide whether you stay or you go.
 Just as many Americans love basketball, so many Canadians love ice hockey.
 The more you practice dribbling, the better you will be at it.
 Football is as fast as hockey (is (fast)).
 Football is as much an addiction as it is a sport.
 No sooner did she learn to ski, than the snow began to thaw.
 I would rather swim than surf.

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