Subject: English

Topic: Conjunctions
Grade: VIII

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 Conjunctions

Conjunctions in English are traditionally defined as ‘words that

join or link words, phrases, clauses in a sentence’.

Conjunctions are of three types:

Coordinating Correlative Subordinating

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 Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions perform the grammatical function of a
coordinator.
Coordinating conjunctions may join single words, or they may join
groups of words, but they must always join similar elements:

subject + subject verb phrase + verb phrase sentence + sentence

The seven coordinating conjunctions

can be remembered with the
acronym FANBOYS.

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 Coordinating Conjunctions
The seven coordinating conjunctions are:

FOR introduces the reason for the preceding clause

AND joins two similar ideas together

NOR used in the correlative pair, neither-nor

BUT joins two contrasting ideas together

OR joins two alternative ideas

YET very similar to 'but' as it also joins two contrasting ideas together

SO shows that the second idea is the result of the first

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 Coordinating Conjunctions

a) They must have gone out for nobody is answering the phone.

b) Alice cooked the dinner and Peter cleaned the house.
c) Grandfather does not go to the park for exercise nor does he go for
fresh air. He goes only to meet his friends.
d) The rope was thin but it was strong.
e) You can pay the money now or you can pay at the time of delivery.
f) He is rich yet he is unhappy.
g) He works hard so he will win.

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 Correlating Conjunctions
•Correlative conjunctions perform the grammatical function of an
associate /link.
•Correlative conjunctions are used in pairs. If we use one part of the pair,
we must also use the other.
Both...and
Either...or
Neither...nor
Not only...but also
Whether...or
Just as …so

Both, and: Both Rodney and Xing were selected for the team this year.
Neither, nor: Neither Rodney nor Xing was selected for the team this year.
Not only, but also: Not only did Rodney get selected for the team, but also
was chosen as the team captain.

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 •When using correlative conjunctions, be sure to join similar parts:
nouns with nouns, adjectives with adjectives, prepositional phrases with
prepositional phrases, etc.

e.g.
a) James is both cheerful and friendly. (Correct)
b) James is both cheerful and likes to ride his bike. (Incorrect)

•It is also important to place correlative conjunction near the words you want
to connect.

e.g.
a)Sarah won awards not only in French but also in Spanish. (Correct)
b)Sarah not only won awards in French but also in Spanish. (Incorrect)

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 Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with appropriate coordinating conjunctions.

1. They were poor ________ often suffered great hardship.

2. He overslept  ______ thus missed the train.
3. That coat cannot be mine, ______ it is too big for me.
4. As a boy he had never been to school and _______ he had no
opportunity of learning to read and write.
5. This must not happen again, _________ you will be dismissed.
6. Hurry up, ___________ else you will be late.
7. He must have done his duty, _______ he is a conscientious man.
8. He tried hard, ___________ he did not succeed.
9. Most video games are fun, _______ Minecraft is the best one!
10. The guests did not mind the delay, _____ did they complain about
getting a different room.

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 Answers to Exercise 1

1. They were poor and often suffered great hardship.

2. He overslept and thus missed the train.
3. That coat cannot be mine, for it is too big for me.
4. As a boy he had never been to school, and therefore he
had no opportunity of learning to read and write.
5. This must not happen again, or you will be dismissed.
6. Hurry up, or else you will be late.
7. He must have done his duty, for he is a conscientious man.
8. He tried hard, but he did not succeed.
9. Most video games are fun, but Minecraft is the best one!
10. The guests did not mind the delay, nor did they complain
about getting a different room.

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 Exercise 2
Subordinating Conjunctions

1. We were happy ______ we received the first prize.

2. The people were listening eagerly _______ the leader was
speaking.
3. This is the place _______ we were attacked.
4. _________ he worked hard, he failed.
5. ___________ she is beautiful, she is not intelligent.
6. You wait here _______ I come.
7. She will not come __________ we compel her.
8. There was a silence __________ the guests had gone.
9. She began to cry ___________ she had lost her golden chain.
10. _________ you work hard, you will get the first prize.

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 Exercise 2
Subordinating Conjunctions

1. We were happy when we received the first prize.

2. The people were listening eagerly while the leader was
speaking.
3. This is the place where we were attacked.
4. Although he worked hard, he failed.
5. Though she is beautiful, she is not intelligent.
6. You wait here till I come.
7. She will not come unless we compel her.
8. There was a silence after the guests had gone.
9. She began to cry because she had lost her golden chain.
10. If you work hard, you will get the first prize.

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 Exercise 3
Coordinating and Correlating Conjunctions

1. Jenny didn’t know _________ her bike would be fixed ____ if she
would have to walk.
2. These items are not in the local store _________ are being sold
online.
3. __________ my mother ______ my brothers will accompany me on
Sunday.
4. This salad is ________ delicious __________ healthy.
5. The coat cannot be mine ________ it is too big for me.
6. He’s seventy-two, _______ he still swims, and plays tennis
regularly.
7. He was very hungry, _______ he ate the entire pizza.

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 Answers to Exercise 3

1. Jenny didn’t know whether her bike would be fixed or

if she would have to walk.
2. These items are not in the local store but are being
sold online.
3. Either my mother or my brothers will accompany me
on Sunday.
4. This salad is not only delicious but also healthy.
5. The coat cannot be mine for it is too big for me..
6. He’s seventy-two, yet he still swims, and plays tennis
regularly.
7. He was very hungry, so he ate the entire pizza.

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 Exercise 4
Complete the sentence using each of the coordinating conjunctions (wherever possible).

The dog leapt at the for

cat…..
and

nor

but

or

yet

so

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 Exercise 5
Complete the sentence using each of the coordinating conjunctions (wherever possible).

The car stopped for

suddenly……
and

nor

but

or

yet

so

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 Complete the sentence using each of the coordinating conjunctions (wherever
possible).

5. The farmer was for

very happy……….
and

nor

but

or

yet

so

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 Answers to Exercise 4

The dog for the cat was trying to

leapt at the eats its food.
cat….. and the cat ran away.
nor -
but it could not catch the
cat.
or the cat leapt at the
dog?
yet the cat continued
eating its food.
so the cat ran and hid
under the car.

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 Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions can be remembered with the acronym

A WHITE BUS.

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 Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions are words that introduce dependent or
subordinate clauses including noun clauses, adjective clauses, and adverb
clauses.

Examples:
a) It worries me that you will live alone in this house. (noun clause)

b) The boy who won the race is my son. (adjective clause)

c) Please wash your hands after you pet the cat. (adverb clause)

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 Some subordinating conjunctions introduce noun clauses.

a) Ria is the only one who knows where the bookstore is.

b) I didn’t realize that you no longer live here.

c) Do you know who knocked the vase off the table?

d) Jane is not interested in whatever her neighbour does.

e) You can choose which flavour of ice cream you want.

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 Some subordinating conjunctions introduce adjective or relative clauses:

Most of the Adjective clauses are usually introduced by relative pronouns.

They are:

Who Whom Whose Which That When

a) People who are smart follow the rules.

b) The girl whom you play tennis with is my sister.
c) Uncle Jack has a friend whose daughter lives in China.
d) Chocolate, which many of us love, is fattening.
e) Fruits  that are grown organically are not cheap.
f) I can remember the time when there were no computers.

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 Some of the subordinating conjunctions that introduce adverb clauses

Subordinating conjunctions vary according to the purpose of the clause they begin.

Time Condition Cause and Effect Contrast

after, if, because,

when, until, whether or as, though,
soon, not, since, although,
before, provided, so, while,
once, while, in case, in order whereas,
as unless, even that, now even though
soon as, if, in the that,
whenever event in as much as

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 Examples :
Time:  After the chores are done, we will eat ice cream.
Cause: She passed the course because she worked hard.
Purpose:  So that he would not ruin the carpet, he took off his shoes. 
Concession: Although you gave it your best, you did not win the match.
Condition:  If you save some money, you can buy a new car. 

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 Exercise 7

Fill in the blanks with a suitable conjunction.

when, before, while, unless, wherever, either…or, such….that, after

a) The train arrived __________ everyone could reach the station.
b) Rewrite the sentences __________ I have indicated in red ink.
c) _____ you take an umbrella ______ you take a raincoat when you go out.
d) We won’t know what is wrong with the car _______ I talk to the mechanic.
e) Raziya was eating her dinner __________ the light went off..
f) _____ was the beauty of the mountains______ the traveller decided to stay
there a little longer.
g) She had an unpleasant experience __________ she was in Thailand.
h) __________ she had washed the clothes, she hung them out to dry.

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 Answers to Exercise 7
a. The train arrived before everyone could reach the station.
b. Rewrite the sentences wherever I have indicated in red
ink.
c. Either you take an umbrella or a raincoat when you go
out.
d. We won’t know what is wrong with the car unless I talk to
the mechanic.
e. Raziya was eating her dinner when the light went off.
f. Such was the beauty of the mountains that the traveller
decided to stay there a little longer.
g. She had an unpleasant experience while she was in
Thailand.
h. After she had washed the clothes, she hung them out to
dry.

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 Poem

• ……….. I get up,

• ………..the alarm clock has gone off, after
• ……….. the sun comes up, whenever
as
• ……… I stumble to the shower,
before
• I slowly get ready for my day of school.

• ………I arrive at school,

• ………I am talking to my friends,
while
• ………classes begin,
as
• ……….I do my work, when
• I long to be back in my cozy bed. before

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 Answers to the poem

 
Whenever I get up,
After the alarm clock has gone off,
Before the sun comes up,
As I stumble to the shower,
I slowly get ready for my day of school.
 
When I arrive at school,
As I am talking to my friends,
Before classes begin,
While I do my work,
I long to be back in my cozy bed.

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