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REET L1+L2 · English (Language I/II)

Conjunctions: Coordinating, Correlative and Subordinating Linking Words — REET Notes

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This page covers all three types of conjunctions, the complete list of correlative pairs, common mistakes (lest, unless, no sooner, though…yet), and how to pick the right 'linking device' in a passage. REET 2024 carried 7 questions from this topic, and most of them were built around correlative pairs.

  • 7 questions in REET 2024
  • Class 6–10 grammar level
  • 9 min read
Verified 17 September 2026 · Source: NCERT Position Paper: National Focus Group on Teaching of English

How REET asks this topic

Of REET 2024's 7 questions, 3 asked directly for the correct correlative pair — 'Both … and' (correct policies and schemes; illness and deafness) and 'Not only … but also' (water conservation and proper management). One question asked you to pick 'as well as' in place of 'and', one needed 'either' at the end of a negative sentence (cannot expect … either), one asked you to identify the conjunction among a set of words (Or), and one asked for the type of conjunction ('civilized or uncivilized' — coordinating). All were based on passage sentences and were referred to as 'linking devices' too. In short, REET is less interested in definitions and more in whether you can pick the right connector for the meaning.

What a conjunction is

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.

Conjunction vs preposition: a preposition is followed by a noun/pronoun (after dinner, before sunrise), while a conjunction can be followed by a whole clause (after we had dinner, before the sun rose). The same word — after, before, since, until, for — can function as either; identify it from whatever comes after it.

Conjunctions fall into three main types: Coordinating (joining parts of equal rank), Correlative (used in pairs) and Subordinating (joining a dependent clause to a main clause). Traditional grammar treats correlatives as a paired form of coordinating conjunctions, but the exam tests them as a separate type.

1. Coordinating Conjunctions — FANBOYS

ConjunctionRelationshipExample
ForReason (formal; mid-sentence)He was tired, for he had walked all day.
AndAdditionSmoke and noise pollute the air.
NorNegative additionHe did not call, nor did he write.
ButContrastShe is poor but honest.
OrAlternativeWe are civilized or uncivilized.
YetUnexpected contrastIt was late, yet he kept working.
SoResultIt was raining, so the match was cancelled.

A coordinating conjunction links two grammatically equal 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 — used in pairs

PairMeaningExample
Both … andBothBoth illness and deafness can be caused by noise pollution.
Not only … but alsoNot just … but … tooNot only water conservation but also proper management is needed.
Either … orOne or the otherEither you or your brother has to come.
Neither … norNot one, nor the otherNeither Ravi nor Mohan was present.
Whether … orWhether … orI don't know whether he will come or not.
Though/Although … yetAlthough … stillThough he is poor, yet he is honest.
No sooner … thanAs soon as … thenNo sooner had the bell rung than the children ran out.
Hardly/Scarcely … whenBarely … whenHardly had I reached the station when the train left.
As … as / So … asAs much as (so…as is used in negatives)He is as tall as his father. He is not so tall as his father.
So … that / Such … thatSo much … thatHe was so tired that he fell asleep.
Rather … thanRather thanI would rather walk than wait.

The two halves of a pair aren't interchangeable — 'Both … as well as', 'Neither … or' and 'No sooner … when' are all wrong, and traditional grammar also treats 'Though … but' as incorrect.

3. Subordinating Conjunctions — joining a dependent clause

TypeConjunctionsExample
Timewhen, while, before, after, since, until/till, as soon asWait here until I return.
Cause/Reasonbecause, since, asAs it was late, we went home.
Conditionif, unless, provided that, in caseUnless you work hard, you will fail.
Concession/Contrastalthough, though, even if, whereasAlthough it rained, the fair continued.
Purposeso that, in order that, lestWalk carefully lest you should fall.
Resultso … that, such … thatThe box was so heavy that I couldn't lift it.
Comparisonthan, as … asShe is taller than her sister.
Placewhere, whereverSit wherever you like.

'Unless' (= if not) and 'lest' (= so that … not) are themselves negative, so 'not' is never added with them: both 'Unless you do not work' and 'lest you should not fall' are incorrect.

Rules that come up again and again

At the end of a negative sentence
'Either' is used for 'not … either': They cannot expect the same from their children either. 'Too' is used in positive sentences.
Inversion with No sooner / Hardly
When these start the sentence, the auxiliary verb comes first: No sooner did he see me than he ran away.
Parallel structure
The same form follows both halves of a pair: He is not only intelligent but also hardworking (adjective–adjective).
After 'lest'
'should' or the base form of the verb follows: 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.

How to teach this to children

Sentence-joining strips (Classes 3–5)

Write two short sentences on strips — 'I like mangoes.' / 'I like bananas.' — and put cards for and, but, because in between. Children pick the right card, form a single sentence, and read it aloud to notice how the meaning shifts.

Story chain activity (Classes 6–8)

One child starts a sentence — 'Raju went to the market…' — the next picks up a conjunction card and continues the sentence — '…because he needed a pen', '…but the shop was closed'. This gives practice in choosing a conjunction that fits the meaning.

Teaching aids

A FANBOYS chart, matching cards for correlative pairs (Both—and, Neither—nor), and a short local-topic paragraph with the linking devices left blank.

Common misconceptions

Children join every sentence with 'and' (and then… and then…); they write 'though … but' and 'unless … not'; and they treat incomplete sentences starting with 'because' ('Because I was late.') as complete ones.

Assessment idea

Give a 5–6 sentence 'combine the sentences' task where each pair needs a different relationship (reason, contrast, condition, result). Check for correctness of meaning, not just the right word.

Memory trick

For coordinating conjunctions, remember FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So). For correlative-pair questions, look at the second blank first: need 'and'? Both. Need 'but also'? Not only. Need 'nor'? Neither. Need 'than'? No sooner. Need 'when'? Hardly/Scarcely. A positive 'both' meaning takes Both … and; a stress on 'not just this, that too' takes Not only … but also.

REET 2024 questions (solved)

Question 79

If the parents lack to fulfil their responsibilities, they cannot expect the same from their children __________.

  1. Aeither
  2. Bneither
  3. Cor
  4. Dnor

Explanation

नकारात्मक वाक्य (cannot expect) के अंत में ‘भी नहीं’ का भाव व्यक्त करने के लिए ‘either’ प्रयुक्त होता है। ‘neither/nor’ स्वयं नकारात्मक हैं, इसलिए ‘cannot’ के साथ double negative बन जाएगा; ‘or’ यहाँ अर्थ नहीं देता।

Question 68

Water conservation _____ proper management can be considered as one of the effective steps to avoid water crisis.

  1. Aas well as
  2. Bor
  3. Cas
  4. Dthough

Explanation

Passage में लिखा है 'Water conservation and proper management can also be considered...'। 'as well as' दो संज्ञाओं को 'और साथ ही' के अर्थ में जोड़ता है, इसलिए 'Water conservation as well as proper management' सही है। 'or' विकल्प देता है और 'though' विरोध दर्शाता है, जो यहाँ अर्थ के अनुकूल नहीं है।

Question 69

_____correct policies _____ schemes are made to avoid water crisis.

  1. AAs – as
  2. BNeither – nor
  3. CBoth – and
  4. DEither – or

Explanation

Passage के अनुसार 'correct policies and schemes are made' – दोनों ही बनाए जाने चाहिए। दो चीज़ों को साथ जोड़ने के लिए correlative conjunction 'Both … and' प्रयुक्त होता है: 'Both correct policies and schemes are made…'। 'Neither … nor' नकारात्मक और 'Either … or' विकल्प का भाव देता है।

Question 70

Fill in the blanks with appropriate linking device. Linking devices are given below : ______ water conservation _____ proper management can also be considered as one of the effective steps to avoid water crisis.

  1. AAlthough – yet
  2. BNot only – but also
  3. CNeither – nor
  4. DAs – so

Explanation

वाक्य में 'also' आया है, जो 'Not only … but also' के साथ प्रयुक्त होता है: 'Not only water conservation but also proper management can also be considered…'। 'Although … yet' विरोध तथा 'Neither … nor' निषेध का भाव देते हैं, जो passage के अर्थ के विपरीत है।

Question 54

________ illness ________ deafness can be caused by noise pollution.

  1. AAs – so
  2. BBoth – and
  3. CNeither – nor
  4. DAs – as

Explanation

गद्यांश के अनुसार 'It can cause illness and deafness' — शोर बीमारी और बहरापन दोनों पैदा कर सकता है। दो बातों को साथ जोड़ने के लिए correlative conjunction 'Both … and' प्रयुक्त होता है: 'Both illness and deafness can be caused by noise pollution.' 'Neither … nor' अर्थ को नकारात्मक कर देगा।

Question 59

Choose the conjunction out of the following :

  1. AOr
  2. BJust
  3. CTo
  4. DHas

Explanation

'Or' एक coordinating conjunction है जो दो शब्दों/वाक्यांशों को विकल्प के रूप में जोड़ता है (जैसे गद्यांश में 'he or she')। 'Just' adverb, 'To' preposition और 'Has' क्रिया है।

Question 69

‘We are civilized or uncivilized’ the type of conjunction used here is

  1. ACo-ordinating
  2. BCo-relative
  3. CSubco-ordinating
  4. DTemporal

Explanation

'We are civilized or uncivilized' में 'or' दो समान स्तर के शब्दों (civilized, uncivilized) को जोड़ रहा है, इसलिए यह coordinating conjunction है। Correlative conjunctions जोड़े में आते हैं (either…or), और subordinating conjunction आश्रित उपवाक्य जोड़ता है।

Practice questions

Question 1

______ Meena ______ Geeta are good dancers.

  1. AEither – nor
  2. BBoth – and
  3. CNeither – or
  4. DNot only – and

Explanation

Both girls are good dancers, and the verb 'are' is plural, so 'Both … and' is correct. 'Either–nor' and 'Neither–or' are mismatched pairs.

Question 2

No sooner had we reached the station ______ the train started.

  1. Awhen
  2. Bthan
  3. Cthen
  4. Dthat

Explanation

The correct pair with 'No sooner' is 'than'. 'When' pairs with 'Hardly/Scarcely' instead.

Question 3

Work hard ______ you should fail.

  1. Auntil
  2. Bso that
  3. Clest
  4. Dunless

Explanation

'Lest' means 'so that … not' and takes 'should' — Work hard lest you should fail. 'So that' would need a negative like 'may not' instead.

Question 4

The type of conjunction in ‘He is poor but honest.’ is

  1. ACorrelative
  2. BCoordinating
  3. CTemporal
  4. DSubordinating

Explanation

'But' joins two adjectives of equal rank (poor, honest), making it a coordinating conjunction.

Question 5

Choose the correct sentence.

  1. AThough he is rich, and he is not proud.
  2. BThough he is rich, but he is not proud.
  3. CThough he is rich, so he is not proud.
  4. DThough he is rich, yet he is not proud.

Explanation

The correct pair with 'Though' is 'yet' (or the second half can be dropped). 'Though … but' is treated as incorrect in traditional grammar.

Question 6

______ you leave now, you will miss the bus.

  1. AAlthough
  2. BWhereas
  3. CBecause
  4. DUnless

Explanation

'Unless' means 'if not', which matches the meaning 'if you don't leave now, you'll miss the bus'. Because, although and whereas don't fit that meaning.

Question 7

In ‘I stayed at home because it was raining’, the word ‘because’ introduces a clause of

  1. Acondition
  2. Breason
  3. Cpurpose
  4. Dtime

Explanation

'Because' is a subordinating conjunction that introduces the reason, making this a clause of reason.

Question 8

Hardly had he finished his lunch ______ the guests arrived.

  1. Athen
  2. Bso
  3. Cwhen
  4. Dthan

Explanation

'Hardly … when' is the correct pair. 'Than' only goes with 'No sooner'.

Question 9

A Class 6 pupil writes, ‘I went to school and I met my friend and we played and then we came home.’ The best teaching step is to

  1. Agive full marks as there is no spelling mistake
  2. Bshow how to join ideas with ‘when’, ‘after’ and ‘so’ to make varied sentences
  3. Cask the pupil to write only one-word answers
  4. Dtell the pupil never to use ‘and’

Explanation

The pupil is stringing ideas together only with 'and'; showing how to join ideas with 'when', 'after' and 'so' teaches sentence variety. Banning 'and' outright isn't the fix.

Question 10

In which sentence is the time word used as a preposition, NOT as a conjunction?

  1. AWe left after the rain stopped.
  2. BWait until I come.
  3. CI have lived here since 2015.
  4. DCall me before you leave.

Explanation

'Since 2015' is followed only by a noun (a year), with no clause, which makes it a preposition here. In the other sentences, after, before and until are each followed by a full clause, making them conjunctions.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions does REET ask from Conjunctions?+

There's no fixed number. REET 2024's shifts carried 7 questions from this topic in the English sections, mostly on correlative pairs.

How many types of conjunctions are there?+

Three main types: Coordinating (and, but, or), Correlative (both…and, either…or) and Subordinating (because, although, if, when).

What are correlative conjunctions?+

Conjunctions used in pairs, such as both…and, either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also, whether…or, no sooner…than.

Does 'No sooner' go with than or when?+

'No sooner' goes with 'than'; 'Hardly' and 'Scarcely' go with 'when'.

Why doesn't 'unless' take 'not'?+

Because 'unless' itself means 'if not'. 'Unless you work hard' is correct; 'Unless you do not work hard' is wrong because of the double negative.

Keep reading

Prepositions

Previous topic: Prepositions

Modals

Next topic: Modal verbs

REET Syllabus

The complete official syllabus for Level 1 and Level 2

REET 2024 Solved Paper

Questions, answer keys and explanations for every shift

Official Sources

  1. NCERT Position Paper: National Focus Group on Teaching of English
  2. Purdue OWL — Subject-Verb Agreement (compound subjects with and/or/nor)

Change Log

  • 17 September 2026 — English page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked