Expressive parts of speech can say so much about the world, but they don't work well in isolation. Imagine a sentence like a body: nouns are like a skeleton (the most elemental and basic part), verbs are organs (diverse yet needed), and modifiers are as musculature (some bodies have more developed ones than others). Yet these parts are all just useless meaty and bony lumps without nerves and connective tissue making these parts work together. Conjunctions act as this connective tissue, a language glue that allows speech to function. Conjunctions join words, phrases, clauses, and occasionally sentences. Just as different types of tissue connect different systems, different types of conjunctions connect different types of speech.
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Coordinating conjunctions join items that are equal to one another, like two nouns, two predicate phrases, and two independent clauses. There are only seven coordinating conjunctions, which are known by the acronym FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. These seven words are not interchangeable and create different relationships between what they join:
FOR: gives a reason (I missed the bus, for I had an emergency meeting after school.)
AND: builds on previous idea (I want to climb a fourteener, fight a bear, and act in a movie before I die.)
NOR: shows two non-options (I don't care about the environment, nor do I care about education policy.)
BUT: takes away from previous idea (I like comedians, but I'm not a fan of comics that swear.)
OR: creates an option (Do you want to see a movie or play a game?)
YET: counters established expectation (I enjoy reading, yet it takes so much time.)
SO: shows an effect (I planted in early May, so I should have some tomatoes pretty soon.)
Coordinating conjunctions are usually not preceded by a comma (David and I drove to the pier and went fishing) except when in a list or connecting clauses.
When a coordinating conjunction is in a list, it is preceded by a special comma called the Oxford comma (I don't like spicy foods, eggplant, or garlic).
When a coordinating conjunction connects two independent clauses, it must be preceded by a comma (I don't want to go to college, yet it does seem like a good idea).
In formal writing, sentences should never start with a coordinating conjunction. If these FANBOYS are like language glue, starting a sentence with one is like covering a surface with glue and letting it dry: it doesn't actually accomplish anything and looks gross.
FOR: gives a reason (I missed the bus, for I had an emergency meeting after school.)
AND: builds on previous idea (I want to climb a fourteener, fight a bear, and act in a movie before I die.)
NOR: shows two non-options (I don't care about the environment, nor do I care about education policy.)
BUT: takes away from previous idea (I like comedians, but I'm not a fan of comics that swear.)
OR: creates an option (Do you want to see a movie or play a game?)
YET: counters established expectation (I enjoy reading, yet it takes so much time.)
SO: shows an effect (I planted in early May, so I should have some tomatoes pretty soon.)
Coordinating conjunctions are usually not preceded by a comma (David and I drove to the pier and went fishing) except when in a list or connecting clauses.
When a coordinating conjunction is in a list, it is preceded by a special comma called the Oxford comma (I don't like spicy foods, eggplant, or garlic).
When a coordinating conjunction connects two independent clauses, it must be preceded by a comma (I don't want to go to college, yet it does seem like a good idea).
In formal writing, sentences should never start with a coordinating conjunction. If these FANBOYS are like language glue, starting a sentence with one is like covering a surface with glue and letting it dry: it doesn't actually accomplish anything and looks gross.
Should I use but or yet?
Despite seeming like they are interchangeable, but and yet have two different roles in English when used as coordinating conjunctions that join X and Y. Both words show that Y contrasts with X. However, but shows a contrast based on logic—Y is a fact or affirmed opinion that goes against X. But can be used to correct a misinterpretation one may have about X or present an opposite view.
He claimed he was in Barbados at the time, but his phone records prove that isn't true.
I know that he's won several Oscars, but I still don't like Mel Gibson.
The ninja was silent but deadly.
Yet shows a contrast based in expectation—X sets up an idea, but Y doesn't take away from it; rather, it changes how the reader looks at it. If but establishes logical contrast, yet is illogical, which is why some English scholars say it's used for irony or surprise. Use of yet is often grounded in how a subject in a sentence feels or acts upon their feelings, as feelings are often illogical and can work against our best interest.
Cathy was determined to lose the six pounds keeping her from fitting in the red dress, yet she could hear the box of Twinkies calling to her.
I told John that my sister would never date him in a million years, yet he's asking her to the dance anyway.
The cake was oddly shaped yet perfect.
Yet also has a temporal aspect: its adverbial definition is "an indication of eventual occurrence." Thus, yet is also used when exploring possibilities.
Danny felt discouraged after the breakup, yet he knew the right guy was out there somewhere.
I've never been to another country, yet I dream of boarding a plane and travelling the world.
If you're stuck on whether to use but or yet, use this rule: but = logical = facts and opinions; yet = surprise = feelings and future
He claimed he was in Barbados at the time, but his phone records prove that isn't true.
I know that he's won several Oscars, but I still don't like Mel Gibson.
The ninja was silent but deadly.
Yet shows a contrast based in expectation—X sets up an idea, but Y doesn't take away from it; rather, it changes how the reader looks at it. If but establishes logical contrast, yet is illogical, which is why some English scholars say it's used for irony or surprise. Use of yet is often grounded in how a subject in a sentence feels or acts upon their feelings, as feelings are often illogical and can work against our best interest.
Cathy was determined to lose the six pounds keeping her from fitting in the red dress, yet she could hear the box of Twinkies calling to her.
I told John that my sister would never date him in a million years, yet he's asking her to the dance anyway.
The cake was oddly shaped yet perfect.
Yet also has a temporal aspect: its adverbial definition is "an indication of eventual occurrence." Thus, yet is also used when exploring possibilities.
Danny felt discouraged after the breakup, yet he knew the right guy was out there somewhere.
I've never been to another country, yet I dream of boarding a plane and travelling the world.
If you're stuck on whether to use but or yet, use this rule: but = logical = facts and opinions; yet = surprise = feelings and future
CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS
Correlative conjunctions are a set of an adverb and a coordinating conjunction that work together as a pair. Correlative conjunctions are not as common as coordinating conjunctions, but they are clearer in nature, and the first word or phrase in the set grammatically cannot exist without the second.
- EITHER/OR: Either you give me the letter or I will take it from you.
- WHETHER/OR: You shouldn't base your choice of prom date on whether Jason or Kevin has the better car.
- NEITHER/NOR: Neither man nor beast could survive that fall.
- BOTH/AND: Both guys and girls were dissatisfied with the school's decision to require uniforms.
- NOT/BUT: Not the poor but the super-rich benefited from the deep tax cuts.
- NOT ONLY/BUT ALSO: Not only did the burn hurt, but also it kept oozing pus.
- IF/THEN: If you cannot fight robots, then you shouldn't participate in Ultimate Robot Fight League.
- RATHER/THAN: I would rather French kiss a rattlesnake than clean the cesspool your brother calls a bathroom.
- JUST AS/SO: Just as the teenagers used AI tools to write their assignments, so teachers used AI tools to detect their plagiarism.
- SUCH/THAT: The blind date was such a disaster that FEMA set a perimeter around the movie theater.
- NO SOONER/THAN: No sooner had I walked into class than I realized that I had put my pants on backward.
If because is a subordinating conjunction that can start a dependent clause, and dependent clauses can start sentences, why can't I start a sentence with because?
Because you can't.
In all seriousness, there is nothing wrong with starting a sentence with because if the first clause is followed by an independent clause. The reason this "rule" came about is teachers. When students try to start sentences with because, ninety-five out of a hundred times they create a sentence fragment (like the one above this paragraph). It's easier for teachers to tell students to never do something than to teach the nuances of how to do things right. I even tell this to my students—however, I also tell them to use since instead of because because they tend to write full sentences with since for whatever reason.
Because I don't just say, "No," and instead give an alternative, my students tend to accept that they shouldn't start sentences with because with little argument.
In all seriousness, there is nothing wrong with starting a sentence with because if the first clause is followed by an independent clause. The reason this "rule" came about is teachers. When students try to start sentences with because, ninety-five out of a hundred times they create a sentence fragment (like the one above this paragraph). It's easier for teachers to tell students to never do something than to teach the nuances of how to do things right. I even tell this to my students—however, I also tell them to use since instead of because because they tend to write full sentences with since for whatever reason.
Because I don't just say, "No," and instead give an alternative, my students tend to accept that they shouldn't start sentences with because with little argument.
SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Subordinating means "to be of a lower order." Conjunctions connect clauses. Therefore, a subordinating conjunction begins an adverbial dependent clause and sets up how that clause relates to the independent clause. Adverbs have five ways they modify—they show when, where, why, how, and to what extent something happens—and every subordinating conjunction falls into these categories:
- SHOWS WHEN: before, after, as soon as, until, when, while (I gave my dog Smuckers a treat before I took him for a walk.)
- SHOWS WHERE: where, wherever, anywhere (I brought my dog Smuckers to a campsite where there were no rabbits for him to chase.)
- SHOWS WHY: because, since, as, so that, considering, seeing as (I gave my dog Smuckers two treats because he did such a good job at the dog show.)
- SHOWS HOW: if, so that, as if, than, like (I gave my dog Smuckers treats so that I could get him to take a bath.)
- SHOWS TO WHAT EXTENT BY PROVIDING A...
- CONDITION: if, unless, provided that, even if, in case (I will leave my dog Smuckers with you unless Miranda can watch him.)
- COMPARISON: than, as though, whether, as though (My dog Smuckers is more well-behaved now than he was when I adopted him.)
- CONTRAST: while, though, although, whereas (Although I love my dog Smuckers, he can be a handful when he's hyper.)
- CONCESSION: despite, even though, excepting, save (I gave my dog Smuckers a treat even though the vet told me that he was getting overweight.)
Notice that most words that are coordinating conjunctions are also prepositions or adverbs when used in a different way. Thus, subordinating conjunctions only start adverbial dependent clauses (relative pronouns start relative dependent clauses and noun clauses). If the adverbial dependent clause comes before the independent clause, a comma should be between the two clauses. If the adverbial dependent clause comes after the independent clause, no comma is needed.
CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS (transitions)
So conjunctions can join words, phrases, and clauses--can they connect sentences? A special type of conjunction called a conjunctive adverb does just that: conjunctive adverbs are inserted into a second sentence to show a relationship to the first sentence.If these conjunctive adverbs look familiar, they should. They are commonly referred to as transition words.
Studies show that this trend is escalating. Additionally, the scientific community has increased research on the topic.
The French declared it law in 1750. That law, however, would only last 23 years.
Finally, the result demonstrate our hypothesis was correct. We must therefore stop adding this to the water.
The French declared it law in 1750. That law, however, would only last 23 years.
Finally, the result demonstrate our hypothesis was correct. We must therefore stop adding this to the water.
Like coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs can be grouped by purpose, as each grouping creates a different type of transitional relationship.
