Conjunctions
Learn the three types of conjunctions in English (coordinating, subordinating and correlative) with full lists, clear examples and common mistakes.
In this lesson
Conjunctions are words that join words, phrases and clauses together, such as and, but, because and although. English has three types: coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions and correlative conjunctions. For example: She was ill, but she went to school. They help you connect ideas and write longer, smoother sentences.
Key point
Coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) join parts of equal importance. Subordinating conjunctions (because, when, although) join a dependent clause to a main clause. Correlative conjunctions work in pairs (either … or).
What are coordinating conjunctions?
Coordinating conjunctions can join verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, phrases and clauses. There are seven of them.
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| For | Reason (formal) | She drank water, for she was thirsty. |
| And | Adds information | Kate’s favourite colours are red and blue. |
| Nor | Adds a second negative idea | She does not need to follow the English course, nor does she want to get a job. |
| But | Contrast | He studied well for the exam, but he failed it. |
| Or | Choice | Can I have tea or coffee? |
| Yet | Surprising contrast | She woke up early in the morning, yet she was late. |
| So | Result | I was very hungry, so I prepared dinner quickly. |
Tip
Remember the seven coordinating conjunctions with the word FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.
What can coordinating conjunctions join?
Examples
- Two or more verbs: She danced and sang well. / My mother swept and cleaned the room.
- Two or more nouns: I like the colours red and blue. / Kate always eats apples and oranges.
- Two adverbs: She wrote the letter nicely and accurately. / The little boy cried loudly and angrily.
- Two phrases: Do you prefer to read novels or to watch TV series? / My sister ran around the playground and along the road.
- Two clauses: She was ill, yet she went to school. / Today is Tuesday, and tomorrow is his birthday.
Note
After nor, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject: nor does she want, not nor she does want. When you join two full clauses, put a comma before the conjunction.
What are subordinating conjunctions?
A subordinating conjunction connects an independent clause (it can stand alone) to a dependent clause (it cannot stand alone). The conjunction starts the dependent clause. This table groups the most useful ones by meaning.
| Meaning | Conjunctions |
|---|---|
| Time | after, as, as soon as, before, just as, once, since, till, until, when, whenever, while |
| Reason | as, because, now that, since |
| Condition | as long as, even if, if, if only, in case, unless |
| Contrast | although, even though, though, whereas, while |
| Purpose | so that |
| Comparison, manner and extent | as far as, as if, as much as, rather than, than |
| Place | where, wherever |
| Other | except (that), that, whether |
| Wh- words that start a clause | how, which, who, whoever, why |
The words in the last row are also question words. Learn how they work in questions in our lesson on wh- questions and question words. If and unless are covered in detail in our lesson on conditional sentences.
Examples
- After John woke up, he quickly got ready to go to the office.
- She did not go to school because she was not well.
- If I were the president of the country, I would develop it.
- Since I was ill, I didn’t go to school yesterday.
- Though she knew the truth, she pretended that she didn’t know anything.
Common mistake
Although she was ill, but she went to school. → Although she was ill, she went to school. Use only one conjunction to join two clauses. Choose although or but, not both.
Common mistake
Because I was tired. → I went to bed early because I was tired. A dependent clause cannot be a sentence on its own. It needs a main clause.
What are correlative conjunctions?
Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to join words or phrases. We use them when each item in the pair has equal importance in the sentence, for example either … or, such … that and not only … but also.
| Pair | Example |
|---|---|
| Both … and | Both Tom and Anna like music. |
| Either … or | You can either go or stay with me. |
| Neither … nor | Neither Alexandra nor her husband helps people. |
| Not only … but also | She speaks not only English but also French. |
| Whether … or | I do not know whether he likes tea or coffee. |
| As … as | She is as tall as her brother. |
| So … as | He is not so tall as his father. |
| Such … that | It was such a hot day that we stayed inside. |
| So … that | The tea was so hot that I could not drink it. |
| Rather … than | I would rather walk than take the bus. |
| The more … the more | The more you read, the more you learn. |
| If … then | If you are tired, then you should rest. |
| No sooner … than | No sooner had we arrived than it started to rain. |
| Hardly … when | Hardly had I sat down when the phone rang. |
| Scarcely … when | Scarcely had the film started when the lights went out. |
Examples
- You can either go or stay with me.
- Neither Alexandra nor her husband helps people.
- Not only reading books but also reading newspapers helps you to improve your vocabulary.
- I do not know whether he likes tea or coffee.
- He helps her not for money, but for his own happiness.
Note
With neither … nor and either … or, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it: Neither the teacher nor the students were late. Our lesson on singular and plural verbs explains this rule. After no sooner, hardly and scarcely at the start of a sentence, the word order changes: No sooner had we arrived …
For more detail and examples, see the Cambridge Dictionary grammar guide to conjunctions.
Summary
- Conjunctions join words, phrases and clauses.
- Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) join parts of equal importance.
- Subordinating conjunctions such as because, when and although start a dependent clause.
- Correlative conjunctions work in pairs, such as either … or and both … and.
- Use one conjunction to join two clauses: never although … but.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three types of conjunctions?
They are coordinating conjunctions (and, but, so), subordinating conjunctions (because, although, when) and correlative conjunctions (either … or, neither … nor).
Can I start a sentence with and or but?
Yes, in everyday and informal writing, many good writers do this. In formal essays and exams, it is safer to join the ideas in one sentence or to use however.
Do I need a comma before and or but?
Use a comma when the conjunction joins two full clauses: She was ill, but she went to school. Do not use one when it joins two words: red and blue.
Is because a coordinating or a subordinating conjunction?
Because is a subordinating conjunction. It starts a dependent clause that gives a reason, so the clause needs a main clause: I stayed at home because it was raining.
