##  [Conjunction](/hypergrammar-2/what-is-a-conjunction)

##  Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

You can use a <a id="conjunction">conjunction</a> to link words, [phrases](building-phrases) and [clauses](building-clauses), as in the following examples:

- I ate the pizza *and* the pasta.
- Call the movers *when* you are ready.

## Co-ordinating Conjunctions

Use a <a id="co-ordinatingconjunction">co-ordinating conjunction</a> (*and*, *but*, *or*, *nor*, *for*, *so* or *yet*) to join individual words, phrases and [independent clauses](using-clauses-as-nouns-adjectives-and-adverbs#independentclause). Note that you can also use the conjunctions *but* and *for* as [prepositions](what-is-a-preposition).

Each of the highlighted words below is a co-ordinating conjunction.

- Lilacs *and* violets are usually purple.

In the above example, the co-ordinating conjunction *and* links two [nouns](what-is-a-noun#noun).

- This movie is especially interesting to feminist film theorists, *for* the screenplay was written by Mae West.

In the example above, the co-ordinating conjunction *for* links two independent clauses.

- Jack claimed that he spent most of his youth dancing on rooftops *and* swallowing goldfish.

In the above example, the co-ordinating conjunction *and* links two [participle phrases](the-function-of-phrases#phradj) (*dancing on rooftops* and *swallowing goldfish*).

## Subordinating Conjunctions

A <a id="subordinatingconjunction">subordinating conjunction</a> introduces a [dependent clause](using-clauses-as-nouns-adjectives-and-adverbs#dependentclauses) and indicates the nature of the relationship(s) between the independent clause(s) and the dependent clause(s).

The most common subordinating conjunctions are *after*, *although*, *as*, *because*, *before*, *how*, *if*, *once*, *since*, *than*, *that*, *though*, *till*, *until*, *when*, *where*, *whether* and *while*.

Each of the highlighted words in the following examples is a subordinating conjunction.

- *After* she had learned to drive, Alice felt more independent.

The subordinating conjunction *after* introduces the dependent clause *after she had learned to drive*.

- *If* the paperwork arrives on time, your cheque will be mailed on Tuesday.

Similarly, the subordinating conjunction *if* introduces the dependent clause *if the paperwork arrives on time*.

- Gerald had to begin his report again *when* his computer crashed.

The subordinating conjunction *when* introduces the dependent clause *when his computer crashed*.

- Midwifery advocates argue that home births are safer *because* the mother and baby are exposed to fewer people and fewer germs.

The dependent clause *because the mother and baby are exposed to fewer people and fewer germs* is introduced by the subordinating conjunction *because*.

## Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions, which always appear in pairs, link equivalent sentence elements. The most common correlative conjunctions are *both . . . and*, *either . . . or*, *neither . . . nor*, *not only . . . but also*, *so . . . as*, and *whether . . . or*. (Technically, correlative conjunctions consist simply of a co-ordinating conjunction linked to an [adjective](what-is-an-adjective#adjective) or adverb.)

The highlighted words in the following examples are correlative conjunctions.

- *Both* my grandfather *and* my father worked in the steel plant.

In this sentence, the correlative conjunction *both . . . and* links the two [noun phrases](the-function-of-phrases#phrsubj) that act as the [compound subject](subject-and-predicate) of the sentence (*my grandfather* and *my father*).

- Bring *either* a Jello salad *or* a potato salad.

Here the correlative conjunction *either . . . or* links two noun phrases (*a Jello salad* and *a potato salad*).

- Corinne is trying to decide *whether* to go to medical school *or* to go to law school.

Similarly, the correlative conjunction *whether . . . or* links the two [infinitive phrases](the-function-of-phrases#npspec) (*to go to medical school* and *to go to law school*).

- The fire destroyed *not only* the school *but also* the neighbouring pub.

In this example, the correlative conjunction *not only . . . but also* links the two noun phrases (*the school* and *the neighbouring pub*) that act as [direct objects](objects-and-complements).

Note that some words that function as conjunctions can also act as prepositions or adverbs.

##  Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil HyperGrammar 2

© Département d’anglais, Faculté des arts, Université d’Ottawa
Un outil mis en ligne par le Bureau de la traduction, Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada

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## Liens connexes

- [HyperGrammar 2](/fr/hypergrammar-2/index-fra) (page d’accueil)
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