Conjunctions – Correction Rules

1. Coordinating conjunctions can be remembered as FANBOYS. For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
Coordinating conjunctions join single words or group of words, but they must always join similar elements: e.g. subject +
subject, object + object , sentence + sentence.
Examples:
The children ran and jumped all over the place.
Ali and Wali are my neighbours.
Would you like cereal or toast?
If a coordinating conjunction is used to join two independent clauses, use a “comma” before the conjunction.
He tries his best to pass, but he fails every time.
2. If a coordinating conjunction is used to join an independent clause with a phrase, do not use a “comma” before
the conjunction.
He tries his best to pass but fails every time.
3. While using a coordinating conjunction, keep in mind the sense of the sentence.
‘For’ is used to indicate reason/cause.
She bought a pizza for she was hungry.
‘And’ is used to indicate continuity of action.
Ali lives in Alaska and he is a park ranger there.
‘Nor’ is used to indicate that both the actions have not been completed.
He does not enjoy eating vegetables,nor does he enjoy eating fruit.
‘But’ is used to indicate contrast.
The lecture was difficult but everyone received got good grades.
‘Or’ is used to indicate choices.
We can watch a horror movie or we can watch an action movie.
‘Yet’ is used to indicate contrast or to show that something has not been done so far.
The test was difficult yet everyone received B grade.
‘So’ is used to indicate the result of causes/reasons.
He worked very hard so he passed.
4. Subordinating conjunctions join an independent clause with a dependent clause.
Some subordinating conjunctions are: after, when, before, while, once, until, till, unless, although, though, since,
because, as, if, whether, in order to, so that, who, whom, whose, that, whenever, where, why, even if, even
though,, etc.
Because it is raining, we have an umbrella.
5. If the independent clause comes first in a sentence, do not put a comma between independent and dependent
clause. He will pass if he works hard.
6. If the dependent clause comes first in a sentence, put a comma between dependent and independent clause.
If he works hard, he will pass.
7. Correlative conjunctions also connect similar elements but they are always used in pairs.
 Be careful while using following correlative conjunctions.
No sooner than As/so as
Hardly/scarcely/Barely when Either or
Such/same as/that Neither nor
Both and Not only but also
No other than Nothing else but
Lest should Between and
Whether or Whether or
8. Some of adverbial conjunctions are: Moreover, however, nonetheless, nevertheless, likewise, meanwhile,
therefore,this, indeed ,moreover, similarly, subsequently, hence, in fact, on the contrary, otherwise, after all, as a
result, besides, consequently, furthermore, etc.
9. Adverbial conjunctions/conjunctive adverbs/conjuncts are used in three ways.
a. If a conjunct is used between two independent clauses, put a semi colon (;) before it and a comma (,)
after it.
It is raining here; however, I shall attend my classes today.
b. If a conjunct is used in the beginning of a sentence, put a comma after it.
However, I shall attend my classes today.
c. If a conjunct is used in a clause, put a comma before as well as after it.
I, however, shall attend my classes.
10. ‘Nothing else … but’ is used for things whereas ‘No other … than’ is used for persons.
I can think of nothing else but your dazzling smile. The manager was no other than his son.
11. ‘Such … as’ is used to give examples whereas ‘such … that’ needs main clause after ‘that’.
I like fruits such as mangoes and oranges.
He is such a bad person that nobody likes him.
12. ‘As...as’ is usually used in positive sentence, whereas ‘so...as’ is used in negative sentence.
It is as important today as it was before. This building is not so big as that building.
13. ‘Same … as’ shows similarity whereas ‘same … that’ shows exact similarity.
This is the same bike as I have seen before. This is exactly the same bike that I had bought earlier.
14. ‘Unless’ and ‘until’ themselves mean ‘if not’. Do not use another ‘not’ in the same clause.
You cannot pass unless you work hard.
‘Unless’ shows a condition whereas ‘until’ shows a time deadline.
I will not quit my job unless I set up my business. You can go out and play until it gets dark.
1. Always use a ‘helping verb’ after ‘hardly, scarcely, no sooner, etc.’
No sooner had he reached home than his friend came.
2. The use of the following combinations of conjunctions is wrong.
As/Because/since……../therefore Although……..but/yet ( although…..,yet)
when/after……..then Such/same……..who/which