Conjunctions – Easy Explanation

📘 What is a Conjunction?

A **conjunction** is a word used to connect words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence. It helps in forming more complex and meaningful sentences by joining ideas together.

Example: I like tea and coffee. ("and" connects the two nouns "tea" and "coffee".)

📚 Types of Conjunctions

• Coordinating Conjunctions: These connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance.
  Example: *and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet*.
• Subordinating Conjunctions: These join an independent clause with a dependent clause.
  Example: *because, although, if, unless, while, since*.
• Correlative Conjunctions: These are pairs of conjunctions that work together to connect words or phrases.
  Example: *either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but also*.

🧠 Examples of Conjunctions

• Coordinating Conjunctions:
  She likes both and loves playing tennis.
• Subordinating Conjunctions:
  If it rains, we will stay home.
• Correlative Conjunctions:
  Neither the teacher nor the students were present.

📌 Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t use a conjunction to start a sentence (unless the sentence is a question or informal). Example: *And I will go to the market* is incorrect, but *I will go to the market and buy some fruits* is correct.
• Use a comma before conjunctions in compound sentences, especially when connecting two independent clauses. Example: *I wanted to buy a new book, but I didn’t have enough money.*

📋 Questions Asked in Exams

• Q: What is a conjunction?
  A: A conjunction is a word used to connect words, phrases, or clauses.
• Q: Give examples of correlative conjunctions.
  A: *either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but also*.
• Q: What is the difference between subordinating and coordinating conjunctions?
  A: Subordinating conjunctions connect an independent clause with a dependent clause, while coordinating conjunctions connect two equal clauses or phrases.