What Are Conjunctions? Examples & Grammar Rules Explained

Try writing without words like ‘and’ or ‘but’—suddenly, your sentences become a bunch of awkward pauses. You’d be stuck saying things like, ‘I wanted to go to the shop. It was closed.’ Not great, right?

Conjunctions are the glue that holds your sentences together. They help your writing flow smoothly and make your thoughts easier to follow. Let’s explore how these little words make a big impact on your English writing, their grammar rules and how to use them in your writing.  

What Is a Conjunction?

A conjunction is a word that links two words, phrases, or clauses together to form a single, flowing sentence. They are often referred to as joining words because that’s exactly what their definition —they join together parts of a sentence.

For example: and, but, or

These are some of the most common conjunctions, but they’re far from the only ones! Conjunctions can link similar ideas, create contrast, or present alternatives.

Types of Conjunctions

There are three main types of conjunctions: coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, and correlative conjunctions. Each type serves a slightly different purpose, but they all work toward the same goal: making your writing clearer and more cohesive.

1. Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions are the most common type, and they’re used to link two words, phrases, or independent clauses of equal importance.

These are the classic FANBOYS conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

• I love coffee, but I also drink tea.

• You can have pizza, or you can have pasta.

Tip: When you’re linking independent clauses, remember to use a comma before the coordinating conjunction.

2. Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions connect a dependent clause (also known as a subordinate clause) to an independent clause. The dependent clause adds extra information to the main clause, but it can’t stand alone as a complete sentence.

Some common subordinating conjunctions include because, although, if, when, whether, unless and since.

• Because it was raining, we cancelled the picnic.

• She’s happy when she’s reading a good book.

Tip: When the subordinating conjunction starts the sentence, place a comma between the dependent and independent clause. If the independent clause comes first, no comma is needed.

3. Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions come in pairs and work together to connect two ideas. They include words like both/and, either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also.

• Both Sarah and Tom are coming to the party.

• She will either buy the dress or the shoes, but not both.

Tip: Be careful with subject-verb agreement when using these. The verb must agree with the subject closest to it.

Correct: Neither the students nor the teacher is attending the event. (The verb ‘is’ agrees with ‘teacher’, the subject closest to it.)

Incorrect: Neither the students nor the teacher are attending the event.

In the incorrect sentence, the verb ‘are’ incorrectly agrees with the plural ‘students’ rather than the singular ‘teacher’, which is closest to the verb.

FAQs

1. Is ‘then’ a conjunction?

Technically, ‘then’ is not a conjunction—it is an adverb. However, it is often used in a way that links ideas or actions in a sequence, so it functions like a conjunction in certain contexts. For example, in the sentence “We went to dinner, and then we saw a movie,” ‘then’ indicates the order in which events happen. While it behaves similarly to conjunctions in these cases, it’s important to note that it is classified as an adverb.

2. Are ‘however’ or ‘therefore’ conjunctions?

No, ‘however’ and ‘therefore’ are not conjunctions; they are conjunctive adverbs. While they link ideas between sentences or clauses, they function differently than traditional conjunctions like ‘and’ or ‘but’. When using ‘however’ or ‘therefore’, you typically need a semicolon or full stop before them.

• Correct: I wanted to go for a run; however, it started raining.

• Correct: She forgot her keys; therefore, she couldn’t enter the house.

In both examples, ‘however’ and ‘therefore’ connect separate ideas but require punctuation like a semicolon, unlike true conjunctions.