Published on May 23, 2019 by Amy Luo. Revised on September 1, 2022. A conjunction is a word that is used to connect words, phrases, and clauses. There are many conjunctions in the English language, but some common ones include and, or, but, because,
for, if, and when. There are three basic types of conjunctions: coordinating, subordinating, and correlative. Because the popstar caught a terrible cold, her upcoming performances in Boston and Chicago were indefinitely postponed. The tour organizers provided neither rescheduled
dates norrefunds for the tickets, causing much discontent among the fans. This type of conjunction is used to connect items that are grammatically equal: two words, two phrases, or two independent clauses. There are seven coordinating conjunctions in English, and you can remember them using the mnemonic device FANBOYS: for, and, nor,
but, or, yet, so. A conjunction of this type is placed between the items that it links together. Coordinating conjunctions can join two nouns, verbs, adjectives, or other types of word.
PhrasesThey can also join different types of phrases.
Independent clausesA clause is a group of words that contains at least a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand on its own as a full sentence, expressing a complete thought.
In the sentence above, the coordinating conjunction but creates a relationship between two independent clauses. Therefore, you place a comma before but. Notice that the two clauses also work as sentences on their own.
Punctuating coordinating conjunctionsWhen joining two words or phrases with a coordinating conjunction, do not use a comma.
In these examples, the conjunction joins two words or phrases that are connected to a single verb (gathered and studies), so you shouldn’t place a comma before and. When joining two independent clauses, however, use a comma before the conjunction.
In these examples, the clauses before and after the conjunction could both stand as full sentences on their own, so a comma is required. Subordinating conjunctionsThis type of conjunction includes words like because, if, although, since, until, and while. A subordinating conjunction is used to introduce a dependent clause. In contrast to an independent clause, a dependent clause (also known as a subordinate clause) is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand as a complete sentence on its own. A dependent clause does not express a complete idea, so it must always be attached to an independent clause.
I woke up late this morning is an independent clause, but the subordinating conjunction because turns it into a dependent clause: Because I woke up late this morning does not finish a complete thought. It must be joined to an independent clause to form a grammatically correct sentence. The subordinating conjunction defines the relationship between the clauses. The table below shows some common subordinating conjunctions and the relationships they express, but note that this is not a complete list.
Punctuating subordinating conjunctionsWhen a subordinating conjunction follows an independent clause, a comma is often not necessary. In general, when the dependent clause contains essential information about the independent clause, don’t use a comma.
However, when the subordinating conjunction comes at the beginning of the sentence, use a comma at the end of the dependent clause.
Correlative conjunctionsThis type of conjunction always comes in a pair and is used to join grammatically equal elements in a sentence. Common pairs include either … or, neither … nor, not only … but also, and both … and. In most cases, no comma should be used between the two elements.
Correlative conjunctions must use parallel structure, which means the two elements should take the same grammatical form.
Starting a sentence with a conjunctionBeginner writers are often taught that sentences should not begin with a coordinating conjunction. However, it is not strictly incorrect to begin a sentence with a conjunction, and you may find it used effectively by skilled writers to create emphasis. Governments often seek to gain favor from voters by prioritising economic development over environmental sustainability. But at what cost to the planet and future generations? While such usage has become acceptable in popular and literary language, it is generally best avoided in academic writing where possible. A subordinating conjunction can come at the start of a sentence, but only if the dependent clause is followed by an independent clause. Until the company reaches a satisfactory agreement with the union, the workers will remain on strike. A dependent clause on its own is known as a sentence fragment. How long will the strike go on for? Until the company reaches a satisfactory agreement with the union. Although fragments are often used in speech and informal writing, they should generally be avoided in academic writing. Sources in this articleWe strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below. This Scribbr article
Is this article helpful?You have already voted. Thanks :-) Your vote is saved :-) Processing your vote... What do you call a group of words with its own subject and verb can either stand by itself or depend on other parts?A clause, however, is by definition a group of words that has a subject and a verb. A sentence can have any number of clauses and phrases combined together. See the examples below: Phrases. Clauses.
What do you call a group of words with its own subject and verb?Clauses: A clause is a group of words that has a subject and verb.
What do you call a group of words that has a subject and a predicate?A clause is a group of related words that contain a subject and predicate.
What is a group of words that contains both a subject and a verb and is used as a part of a sentence?question. Answer : A group of words that contains a subject and a verb and is a part of a sentence is called a clause.
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