Conjunctions — Patwari English Grammar
This page gives all three types of conjunctions, a complete list of correlative pairs, common mistakes (lest, unless, no sooner, though…yet), and how to choose the right 'linking device' in a passage.
- Class 6-10 grammar level
- 9 min read
What is a Conjunction
A conjunction is a word that joins two words, phrases or clauses and shows the relationship between them: Ram and Shyam are friends. She is poor but honest. I stayed at home because it was raining.
The difference between a conjunction and a preposition: a preposition is followed by a noun/pronoun (after dinner, before sunrise), while a conjunction can be followed by a full clause (after we had dinner, before the sun rose). The same word — after, before, since, until, for — can be used in both forms; identify which one it is from what follows it.
There are three main types of conjunctions: Coordinating (joining parts of equal rank), Correlative (coming in pairs), and Subordinating (joining a dependent clause to the main clause). In older grammar, correlatives are considered just a paired form of coordinating conjunctions, but exams ask about them as a separate type.
1. Coordinating Conjunctions — FANBOYS
| Conjunction | Relationship | Example |
|---|---|---|
| For | reason (formal; mid-sentence) | He was tired, for he had walked all day. |
| And | addition | Smoke and noise pollute the air. |
| Nor | negative addition | He did not call, nor did he write. |
| But | contrast | She is poor but honest. |
| Or | alternative | We are civilized or uncivilized. |
| Yet | an unexpected contrast | It was late, yet he kept working. |
| So | result | It was raining, so the match was cancelled. |
A coordinating conjunction joins two equal grammatical units (word-word, clause-clause). 'as well as' also joins two nouns in the sense of 'and also': Water conservation as well as proper management is needed.
2. Correlative Conjunctions — Coming in Pairs
| Pair | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Both … and | both | Both illness and deafness can be caused by noise pollution. |
| Not only … but also | not only … but also | Not only water conservation but also proper management is needed. |
| Either … or | either … or | Either you or your brother has to come. |
| Neither … nor | neither … nor | Neither Ravi nor Mohan was present. |
| Whether … or | whether … or | I don't know whether he will come or not. |
| Though/Although … yet | although … yet | Though he is poor, yet he is honest. |
| No sooner … than | no sooner … than | No sooner had the bell rung than the children ran out. |
| Hardly/Scarcely … when | hardly … when | Hardly had I reached the station when the train left. |
| As … as / So … as | as … as (so…as in the negative) | He is as tall as his father. He is not so tall as his father. |
| So … that / Such … that | so … that | He was so tired that he fell asleep. |
| Rather … than | rather … than | I would rather walk than wait. |
Neither half of a pair can be swapped for the other — 'Both … as well as', 'Neither … or', 'No sooner … when' are wrong, and in traditional grammar 'Though … but' is also considered wrong.
3. Subordinating Conjunctions — Joining a Dependent Clause
| Type | Conjunctions | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Time | when, while, before, after, since, until/till, as soon as | Wait here until I return. |
| Cause/Reason | because, since, as | As it was late, we went home. |
| Condition | if, unless, provided that, in case | Unless you work hard, you will fail. |
| Concession/Contrast | although, though, even if, whereas | Although it rained, the fair continued. |
| Purpose | so that, in order that, lest | Walk carefully lest you should fall. |
| Result | so … that, such … that | The box was so heavy that I couldn't lift it. |
| Comparison | than, as … as | She is taller than her sister. |
| Place | where, wherever | Sit wherever you like. |
'Unless' (= if not) and 'lest' (= so that … not) are themselves negative, so 'not' doesn't go with them: both 'Unless you do not work' and 'lest you should not fall' are wrong.
Rules That Come Up Repeatedly in the Exam
- At the end of a negative sentence
- use 'either' for 'not … either' (not … either): They cannot expect the same from their children either. 'too' goes in an affirmative sentence.
- Inversion with No sooner / Hardly
- when these begin the sentence, the auxiliary verb comes first: No sooner did he see me than he ran away.
- Parallel structure
- the same form follows each half of the pair: He is not only intelligent but also hardworking (adjective–adjective).
- After 'lest'
- 'should' or the base form of the verb: Hurry lest you should miss the bus.
- Reason is that
- 'The reason why he failed is that he was lazy' — 'is because' is avoided in formal English.
- Tense with 'since' (time)
- the main clause is usually in the present perfect: It has rained a lot since we came here.
Memory Trick
For Coordinating, remember FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So). In a correlative-pair question, look at the second blank first: if 'and' is needed, use Both; if 'but also' is needed, use Not only; if 'nor' is needed, use Neither; if 'than', use No sooner; if 'when', use Hardly/Scarcely. If the meaning is positively 'both', use Both … and; if it emphasises 'not just this, but that too', use Not only … but also.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many types of Conjunction are there?+
Mainly three: Coordinating (and, but, or), Correlative (both…and, either…or) and Subordinating (because, although, if, when).
What are correlative conjunctions?+
Conjunctions that are used in pairs, such as both…and, either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also, whether…or, no sooner…than.
Does 'No sooner' take 'than' or 'when'?+
'No sooner' takes 'than'; 'Hardly' and 'Scarcely' take 'when'.
Why doesn't 'not' go with 'Unless'?+
Because 'unless' itself already means 'if not'. 'Unless you work hard' is correct; 'Unless you do not work hard' is wrong because it creates a double negative.