Conjunctions are words that connect other words, phrases, or clauses together. They show us how ideas relate to each other.
They connect ideas and show how those ideas relate to each other.
Examples:
- I wanted to go for a run earlier, but it was pouring down outside.
- She works full-time and studies in the evenings.
- You can call me or send an email.
Each conjunction above is doing a slightly different job. But introduces a contrast, and joins one idea to another, while or presents an alternative. Despite their different roles, all three serve the same purpose – they link ideas together.
We can see the difference conjunctions make by looking at the same idea expressed in two ways:
- It was raining. We stayed in. We watched a film.
- It was raining, so we stayed in and watched a film.
The first example sentence works, but the reader has to fill in the connections between the ideas for themselves. The second (with the conjunctions so and and) makes those connections clear within a single sentence.
Conjunctions in Use
- Tom and Lucy met at university, and they have been inseparable ever since.
- ‘I wish I could, but I don’t want to.’ – Phoebe Buffay [Friends, 1994]
- The barbecue was going fine until someone mentioned politics.
- Neither the instructions nor the diagram made any sense whatsoever.
- Although the recipe looked simple enough, the kitchen told a different story.
- Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
- Whether you love them or hate them, you can’t avoid conjunctions.
* Conjunctions
- Tom and Lucy met at university, and they have been inseparable ever since.
What Conjunctions Connect
Conjunctions can connect individual words, phrases, or entire clauses.
Conjunctions Connecting Individual Words
At their simplest, conjunctions can join single words together. These are often words of the same type, such as two nouns, two adjectives, or two verbs.
Examples:
- Would you like tea or coffee? (two nouns)
- The film was long but brilliant. (two adjectives)
- He sings and plays guitar. (two verbs)
- Shall we meet today or tomorrow? (two adverbs)
Conjunctions Connecting Phrases
Conjunctions can also join phrases, which are groups of words that work together as a unit.
These phrases might describe a location, a time, a manner, or something else entirely.
Examples:
- You can pay by card or in cash. (two prepositional phrases)
- She looked under the sofa and behind the bookshelf. (two prepositional phrases)
- María spent the afternoon studying pronouns on English Grammar Corner and testing herself with the practice sections ahead of her English exam. (two verb phrases)
Conjunctions Connecting Clauses
Conjunctions are also used to join clauses, which are groups of words that contain a subject + verb together. This is where conjunctions do some of their most important work.
Connecting clauses allows us to build longer, more detailed sentences.
Examples:
- I called her, but she didn’t answer.
- Although the reviews were terrible, we actually quite enjoyed the film.
- While the initial results were promising, the project was paused until additional funding could be secured.
Conjunction Types at a Glance
In English, conjunctions are grouped into three main types:
- Coordinating conjunctions
- Subordinating conjunctions
- Correlative conjunctions
They might sound complicated, but each type just connects ideas in a different way. We’ll look at all three in more detail later. First, here’s a quick overview so you can see how they compare:
Conjunction Types: Functions and Examples
| Conjunction Type | Conjunctions | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinating Conjunctions – Connect equal parts | for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so | – You can sit here or grab a table outside. |
| Subordinating Conjunctions – Connect a main clause to a dependent clause | because, although, if, when, while, since, before, after, unless, so that, even though, whereas | – I can’t sleep if the room isn’t completely dark. |
| Correlative Conjunctions – Work in pairs to connect related parts | – both / and – either / or – neither / nor – not only / but also – whether / or | – She speaks both French and Spanish. |
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions connect parts of a sentence that are equal.
Consider this example:
- Tim likes tea and coffee.
Both tea and coffee sit on the same level here. Remove either one and the sentence still works: Tim likes tea / Tim likes coffee. Neither word depends on the other.
The same applies when connecting full clauses:
- It was meant to be a quick meeting, but Tim kept asking questions.
Both clauses can stand on their own: It was meant to be a quick meeting / Tim kept asking questions. Again, neither one depends on the other to make sense.
They are, however, connected in meaning. The second clause explains why the meeting wasn’t quick. That’s what but does here. It takes two grammatically independent ideas and shows how they relate to each other.
This independence is what makes coordinating conjunctions different from other types. The parts they connect are always equal. In grammatical terms, this balance is known as equal grammatical weight.
There are seven coordinating conjunctions in English: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.
These seven words can be remembered using the acronym FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.
Let’s take a closer look at each one.
And
And is the most common conjunction in English. It connects ideas by adding one piece of information to another.
In its simplest form, it links items that belong together:
- Tom and Sarah are coming over for dinner tonight.
Here, and tells us both people are coming, not one or the other.
And can also suggest sequence, where one action follows another:
- She grabbed her coat and headed straight out the door.
She grabbed her coat first, then headed out. The and tells us the order.
When we list three or more items, and usually appears before the final item:
- One day I’d like to go to Italy and explore Rome, Florence, and Venice.
But
The conjunction but introduces a contrast. It tells us that the second part of the sentence goes against what came before or isn’t what we might expect.
Sometimes the contrast is between a problem and an unexpected outcome:
- The restaurant was packed, but we managed to get the last table.
Despite the restaurant being full, the outcome was a pleasant surprise. But signals that shift.
Other times, it highlights something that challenges our assumptions:
- He’s only twelve, but he plays chess better than most adults I know.
Being twelve, we wouldn’t expect him to outplay most adults. But tells us he does.
Note: The word but can also function as a preposition meaning ‘except’ (e.g., Everyone but me got the joke). When but connects two ideas to show contrast, it is a conjunction. When it means ‘except’, it is a preposition. Context usually makes the difference clear.
Or
Or presents a choice or an alternative. It tells us that one option or the other applies, but not both.
At its most straightforward, or offers a simple choice between two options:
- We can eat in or get a takeaway. I don’t mind.
Here, or gives us two equal options. There’s no preference or pressure either way, just a simple choice between the two.
However, or can also suggest a consequence rather than a genuine choice:
- Put suncream on, or you’ll regret it later.
Here, or is warning that one thing will happen if the other thing doesn’t. This is a common use of or in everyday English.
So
So introduces a result or consequence. It shows us what happened because of something else.
The first part of the sentence gives us the cause, and so introduces what followed:
- It started pouring down on our walk, so we took cover in the local pub.
The rain is the cause, and so shows us what followed (they took cover in the pub). One thing directly led to the other, and so makes that connection visible.
Let’s take another example:
- My phone died halfway through the tour, so I didn’t get many photos.
Again, the first part gives us the cause (dead phone) and so introduces the consequence (no photos).
Unlike the other coordinating conjunctions, so only connects clauses. It doesn’t join individual words or phrases.
Note: Be careful not to confuse the coordinating conjunction so (meaning ‘therefore’) with the subordinating conjunction so that (meaning ‘in order that’). Compare: It started raining, so we went inside (result) vs. He wore a suit so that he’d make a good impression (purpose).
Yet
Yet introduces a contrast, much like but. The difference is in the weight. Where but is the everyday, go-to word for contrast, yet tends to feel more formal and often implies ‘despite that’.
Compare these two sentences:
- He didn’t enjoy his degree, but he finished it.
- He didn’t enjoy his degree, yet he graduated with a first.
Both show contrast. But the second feels more deliberate. Yet suggests the contrast is more striking or worth noting.
Yet is also useful when the contrast involves something unexpected or hard to explain:
- She eats nothing but junk food, yet she somehow runs marathons.
We’d expect someone with a poor diet to struggle with fitness. Yet tells us the reality doesn’t match, and the word somehow reinforces the surprise.
It can also signal that something continues despite the odds:
- I’ve been to Paris a dozen times, yet I still get lost every time I go.
Note: The word yet is more commonly used as an adverb meaning ‘up to this point’ (e.g., Have you finished yet? / I haven’t decided yet). When yet connects two contrasting ideas, it is functioning as a conjunction.
For
For gives a reason or explanation for what came before. It is more common in formal or literary contexts. In everyday English, because is far more common for expressing reason.
- She decided to leave early, for she had a long drive ahead of her.
Here, for explains why she left early. It works the same way as because would, but with a more formal tone.
And although for and because both express reason, they work differently. For is a coordinating conjunction, so both parts of the sentence remain independent. Because is a subordinating conjunction, which makes the second part dependent on the first. The meaning is the same, but the grammar is different.
Note: The word for also functions as a preposition (e.g., This gift is for you). When for connects two complete clauses and provides a reason, it is functioning as a conjunction. When it shows purpose, direction, or who receives something, it is a preposition. Context usually makes the difference clear.
Nor
Nor is an interesting case. It works as the negative counterpart of or.
As we’ve seen, the conjunction or offers a choice between options. Nor shuts these options down. It tells us that one thing isn’t the case, and neither is the other.
Example:
- I don’t drink coffee, nor do I drink tea.
Note: You may have noticed in the example above that the verb after nor switches from negative to positive (I don’t drink → nor do I drink). This is called inversion. Because nor already carries the negative meaning, the clause that follows it doesn’t need another negative word.
More examples showing inversion:
❌ – I haven’t been to the USA, nor I haven’t been anywhere else in the Americas.
✅ – I haven’t been to the USA, nor have I been anywhere else in the Americas.
❌ – I wouldn’t recommend it, nor I wouldn’t go back.
✅ – I wouldn’t recommend it, nor would I go back.
Commas and Coordinating Conjunctions
Comma placement before coordinating conjunctions is a common niggle, even for native speakers. The good news is the rule is straightforward: it depends on what the conjunction is connecting.
— When connecting two complete clauses, we generally place a comma before the conjunction
A complete clause (also known as an independent clause) contains a subject and verb and can stand as a sentence on its own.
For example:
- We’d just finished painting the living room, and the dog brushed straight up against the wet wall.
We can see this more clearly by breaking the sentence down:
| Complete Clause | Comma | Complete Clause |
|---|---|---|
| We’d just finished painting the living room | , | and the dog brushed straight up against the wet wall. |
Both clauses could work as independent sentences, so we place a comma before the conjunction. This comma marks where the first clause ends and the second clause begins.
More examples:
- He’s not keen on flying, so they’re driving up to Edinburgh instead.
- I wanted to stay longer, yet something told me it was time to leave.
Note: With short, closely related clauses, the comma is sometimes omitted (e.g., I looked away and the dog stole my sandwich). However, including the comma is always a safe choice.
— When connecting words or phrases (not complete clauses), a comma is generally not needed
When a conjunction connects individual words, there are no complete clauses to separate, so no comma is needed:
- The soup was hot and delicious.
- Is it real or fake?
- He’s strict but fair.
- The weather was cold and wet.
The same logic applies when a conjunction connects phrases. As long as there are no complete clauses on either side of the conjunction, a comma is not needed:
- We sat on the grass and had a nice picnic.
- They travelled through France and into Spain.
- She works at the office and from home.
- We can meet before lunch or after work.
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions connect a main clause to a dependent clause. Let’s start with these two terms.
As we saw earlier, a main clause (also called an independent clause) contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. It can stand on its own as a sentence:
Example:
- We had to cancel the barbecue.
A dependent clause (also called a subordinate clause), on the other hand, contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. It relies on a main clause to make sense:
- because it was too windy.
On its own, this is incomplete. We’re left wondering – what happened because it was too windy?
A subordinating conjunction connects these two parts. It’s the word that shows how the dependent clause relates to the main clause:
- We had to cancel the barbecue because it was too windy.
Put together, we get: main clause + subordinating conjunction (because) + dependent clause.
Unlike coordinating conjunctions, which join equal parts, subordinating conjunctions create an unequal relationship. The main clause carries the central point, and the dependent clause adds supporting information, such as a reason, a time, a condition, or a contrast.
Note: Dependent clauses sometimes appear on their own, with the main clause left implied. A good example of this is L’Oréal’s famous slogan ‘Because you’re worth it’. The full thought would be something like ‘[Buy this] because you’re worth it’, but leaving it unsaid makes the slogan punchier and more direct.
There are many subordinating conjunctions in English. We can group the most common ones by the type of information they provide:
Time (when something happens)
Subordinating conjunctions like when, while, before, after, until, since, as soon as, and whenever tell us when something happens in relation to something else.
Example:
- I didn’t realise how tired I was until I sat down.
Here, until places a boundary on time. One thing was true up to a certain point, and then something changed. That’s what time conjunctions do. They position one event in relation to another, whether that’s before it, after it, during it, or up to a certain point.
More examples:
- Before you say anything, it wasn’t my fault.
- Whenever I try to parallel park, there always seems to be an audience.
- He’s been obsessed with Formula 1 since he watched his first race at the age of ten.
Reason (why something happens)
Conjunctions like because, since, and as tell us why something happens. They connect a result to its reason.
Example:
- They postponed the match because the pitch was waterlogged.
Here, because links the result (the match was postponed) to the reason behind it (the pitch was waterlogged). Without the conjunction, we’d have two separate facts. With it, we can see that one directly caused the other.
More examples:
- I only found out about the job because a friend who works there mentioned it.
- Since we’re all here, we might as well get started.
- As we had some time to kill, we wandered around the shops for a bit.
Note: Since and as can also indicate time (e.g., since Monday / as the door opened).
Condition (under what circumstances)
Conjunctions like if, unless, as long as, and provided that set a condition. They tell us that something will only happen if something else is true.
Example:
- If the traffic is anything like yesterday, we should leave now.
Here, if sets a condition. Whether we need to leave now depends entirely on what the traffic is like. The outcome (leaving now) only follows if the condition (bad traffic) is met.
More examples:
- If the price goes up again, I’m cancelling.
- I’ll lend you my car as long as you bring it back with a full tank.
- Visitors are welcome to take photographs provided that flash is not used.
Contrast (showing an unexpected relationship or difference)
Conjunctions such as although, though, even though, whereas, and while introduce something unexpected or highlight a difference between two ideas.
- Although I set three alarms, I still managed to oversleep.
We’d expect three alarms to do the job. Although tells us the reality didn’t match the expectation. That’s the role of contrast conjunctions. They signal that what follows doesn’t quite line up with what came before.
More examples:
- She thrives under pressure, whereas I don’t handle it quite so well.
- Even though I knew the answer, my mind went completely blank.
- The hotel was nothing special, though the location and views made up for that.
Purpose (the intended goal)
Conjunctions like so that and in order that tell us the intended goal behind an action. They explain why someone did something, not what happened as a result.
Example:
- We moved closer to the stage so that we could actually see the screen.
In this example, so that connects the action (moving closer) to its intended purpose (being able to see). The second part isn’t a result that happened by chance. It’s the reason the action was taken in the first place.
More examples:
- I always read reviews first so that I know what to expect.
- We left a spare key with the neighbours so that they could feed the cat.
- Additional funding was allocated in order that the project could be completed on schedule.
Comma Placement with Subordinating Conjunctions
Where we place the comma in a sentence with a subordinating conjunction depends on which clause comes first.
— When the dependent clause comes first, use a comma after it
The comma marks where the dependent clause ends and the main clause begins, which makes the sentence easier to read.
For example:
- If the weather holds up, we’re planning a trip to the beach this weekend.
Here’s how the sentence breaks down:
| Dependent Clause | Comma | Main Clause |
|---|---|---|
| If the weather holds up | , | we’re planning a trip to the beach this weekend. |
More examples:
- Because the lift was out of order, we had to walk up 10 flights of stairs.
- While I was making dinner, the smoke alarm decided to cheer me on.
- Since they moved to the countryside, we hardly see them anymore.
— When the main clause comes first, a comma is generally not needed
Sentences with subordinating conjunctions can often be flipped around. When the main clause comes first, the comma is no longer needed:
| Main Clause | Comma | Dependent Clause |
|---|---|---|
| We’re planning a trip to the beach this weekend. | – | if the weather holds up. |
Put together, this gives us:
- We’re planning a trip to the beach this weekend if the weather holds up.
The meaning hasn’t changed. The only difference is the order, and because the main clause now comes first, the comma is no longer needed.
More examples:
- We had to walk up 10 flights of stairs because the lift was out of order.
- The smoke alarm decided to cheer me on while I was making dinner.
- We hardly see them anymore since they moved to the countryside.
An exception to note: When the subordinating conjunction introduces a contrast (using words like although, though, even though, or whereas), a comma is often used even when the dependent clause comes second.
Examples:
- We had a brilliant time, even though the weather was awful the entire trip.
- I need complete silence to concentrate, whereas some work best with music.
- The interview went well, though I still haven’t heard back.
Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions work in pairs. Each half of the pair appears at a different point in the sentence, and together they connect related words, phrases, or clauses.
Some of the most common correlative pairs are:
- both / and
- either / or
- neither / nor
- not only / but also
- whether / or
Correlative conjunctions come up more often than we might think, especially in everyday conversation. Let’s look at each one in a bit more detail.
Both / And
Both and and connect two things that are equally true or apply together.
Example:
- It was both the longest flight I’ve ever been on and the most uncomfortable.
Either / Or
Either and or are used to present two alternatives or choices.
Example:
- ‘Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.’ – Rafiki [The Lion King, 1994]
Neither / Nor
Neither and nor rule out both options. They tell us that two things are equally untrue or don’t apply.
Example:
- Neither the sat nav nor the taxi driver had any idea where we were going.
Note: Neither and nor should only be used with positive verb forms because they already express negative meaning. Adding an additional not would create a double negative.
❌ – She didn’t neither call nor text.
✅ – She neither called nor texted.
Not Only / But Also
Not only and but also emphasise that two things are true, with the second element adding extra weight.
Example:
- Not only did he get the job, but they also offered him more than he asked for.
Note: But also sometimes appears as just but (e.g., Not only is she talented, but she works incredibly hard too).
Whether / Or
Whether and or introduce two possibilities, often when the outcome is uncertain or doesn’t affect the result.
Example:
- Whether you book online or over the phone, the price is the same.
Keeping Correlative Pairs Balanced
Sentences with correlative conjunctions generally read better when the grammatical structure after each half of the pair matches.
- He enjoys both swimming and running.
Here, swimming and running are both gerunds (-ing words), which is why the sentence reads so naturally.
Compare this with:
❌ – He enjoys both swimming and to run.
This version mixes swimming (a gerund) with to run (an infinitive), which creates an awkward, unbalanced sentence. The fix is to make both halves match:
✅ – He enjoys both swimming and running.