1.1.8 Conjunction

A conjunction/connector is a word or a phrase that joins two sentences or group of words, together.

Examples:

Galen ran fast but he missed the train.

It rained heavily but the match continued.

Darthy went to the market and bought vegetables.

He is sick so he is in hospital.

Coordination Conjunctions:

Coordinating Conjunctions links two or more words, clauses, phrases or sentences of equal importance.

Some common Coordinating conjunctions are:

and, but, or, therefore, as well as, too, else, otherwise, still, yet, while, however, so, consequently, for, etc…

Example: She ran fast and won the race.

Subordinating Conjunction:

Subordinating Conjunction are the words that links a dependent clause to an independent clause.

Some common Subordinating conjunctions are:

after, as, until, unless, when, whenever, as soon as, as if, as though, because, before, even if, even though, if, since, so that, though, till, where, wherever, whether, while, why, etc……

Example: The bus had left before he came.

Correlative Conjunction:

A correlative conjunction is a type of conjunction that functions in a pair.

Some common Corelative conjunctions are:

either…or, both….and, neither….nor, not only…. but also, such…as, such….that, so….as, as….as, as….so,

no sooner…. than, rather….than, whether….or.

Example: I am not only a singer but also a musician.

Exercise with Answers:

1. Fill in the blanks with suit able linking words or conjunctions.

1. Our team played well ______ won the game. (but, because, and)
2. She slipped badly ______ she did not hurt herself. (but, and, or)
3. The box was heavy ______ he could not lift it. (so, because, and)
4. Rani was late to school ______ she missed the bus. (because, so, and)
5. You can use a pen ______ a pencil for writing. (but, and, or)

Answers:

1. and 2. but             3.so                  4.because          5.or
2. Join the sentence of Column A with B using the words given

(and     but       or         because)

3. Find out the conjunctions in the following sentences.

1. Revathy and Rohini are friends.
2. If you say so, I will believe it.
3. Shekar is intelligent but careless.
4. The bus was overcrowded so, Arun avoided travelling on it.
5. Though Vinay is ill, he doesn’t skip classes.

Answers:

1.and                2.so                  3.but                 4.so                  5.though

4. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with suitable conjunctions from the box:

(if         after      and       till         because             but)

1. I returned home _______ the bus had started.
2. I respect him ______ he is very strict.
3. Sudharshan will succeed ______ he works hard.
4. Aravinth ______ Arun are classmates from their childhood.
5. You can’t have these fruits ______ they are ripe.

Answers:

1.after               2.because          3.if                    4.and                5.till

5. Choose the correct conjunctions from the options given in the brackets.

1. Everyone likes him _________ he is very helpful. (because/for)
2. ______ it was cloudy, we decided to take an umbrella. (so/as)
3. Rathi found her watch ______ she had left it. (wherever/where)
4. I don’t know _________ I can afford to buy a new dress or not. (whether/why)
5. _______ he was ill, he went to the doctor. (as/though)

Answers:

1.becasue          2.As      3.where             4.whether          5.As

6. Complete the following sentences using appropriate Connectors from the box.

(moreover, although, meanwhile, therefore, because, as long as, thus, above all, for instance, except)

1. Irine felt cold ______________ she was wearing a winter coat.
2. This restaurant has some of the best chefs in the town. _____________ their service is excellent.
3. I’m not going to the party tonight _______________ I didn’t get an invitation.
4. You can set the table. ________________, I’ll start making dinner.
5. I can play quite a few instruments. ______________, the flute, the guitar and the piano.
6. The store was out of chocolate chips; ______________ they would need to make a different type of cookies.
7. The stores are open daily ____________ Sundays.
8. I’ll stay ________________ you need me.
9. This detergent is highly concentrated and ____________ you will need to dilute it.
10. It was the thing he prized _____________.

Answers:

1.although         2.moreover       3.because          4.meanwhile      5.for instance

6.therefore        7.except            8.as long as        9.thus               10.above all

7. Complete the sentences given below choosing the right connectors given in brackets.

1. Call me _________ you need money. (so that, in order that, in case)
2. I forgot _________ I had to meet the principal. (whether, that, if)
3. ________ he is ninety years old, he is in the pink of health. (when, since, though)
4. It is raining. Take an umbrella _________ you will get drenched. (or else, and, but)
5. They faced many hardships _________ they are always cheerful. (although, nevertheless, otherwise)

Answers: 1. in case        2.that                3.Though          4.or else            5.nevertheless

8. Fill in the blanks with the connector that goes with the underlined words.

1. Both the minister _________ the officers visited the affected areas.
2. Jaya teaches not only English _________ Science.
3. Either Raghu _________ Bala will have to buy vegetables from the market.
4. No sooner did I enter the house _________ it started drizzling.

Answers:

1.as well as                    2.but also                      3.or                  4.than

9. Combine the pairs of sentences using appropriate connectors.
10. We came late. We did not miss the train.
11. They checked the packet twice. Then they sealed it.
12. Sita saw a snake. At once she ran away.
13. Robert completed the project. He submitted it to the teacher.
14. Yusuf was running high temperature. He could not take part in the competition.

Answers:

1. Although we came late, we did not miss the train.
2. They checked the packet twice and then they sealed it.
3. When Sita saw a snake, at once she ran away.
4. After Robert completed the project, he submitted it to the teacher.
5. Since Yusuf was running high temperature, he could not take part in the competition.

10. Choose the correct linker.
11. ________ he was honest, he was punished. (though, but)
12. Walk carefully _________ you will fall down. (unless, otherwise)
13. My mother called me _________ I was playing football. (or, while)
14. My salary is low _________ I find the work interesting. (nevertheless, similarly)
15. The passengers rushed to board the bus _________ it arrived. (as soon as, as long as)

Answers:

1.though           2.otherwise        3.while              4.nevertheless                5.as soon as

11. Supply suitable linkers.

1. “__________ I was alive and had a human heart, ” answered the statue, “I did not know what tears were, __________ I lived in the palace __________ sorrow was not allowed to enter. My courtiers called me the Happy Prince __________ Happy Indeed I was. So I lived and __________ I died.

2. Many writers make incorrect sentences __________ they try to put sentences together. They may make grammatical errors __________ leave out important punctuation marks. Making such mistakes is quite common __________ preparing the first draft . __________ he must carefully edit his final draft.

3. In most large cities __________ towns of our country, there are special schools for girls. __________, there are many coeducational schools __________ girls __________ boys study together. Most parents allow their daughters to attend these schools, __________ there are some parents __________ are against

such schools for girls __________ the age of 14 or15.

Answers:

1. when – for – where – and – so 2. when – and – while – However
2. and – As – both – and – but – who – after

12. Rearrange the words in the correct order to make meaningful sentences.
13. as / I / healthy / are / you / am / as
14. your / today / put on / new / since / is / birthday /dress / the
15. allergic / dogs / Rani / though / is / to / of / six / she / them / has
16. speaks / Ruben / besides / German / languages / two
17. loan/apply/you/if/for/you/a/get/will/immediately/it/

Answers:

1. I am as healthy as you are.
2. Put on the new dress since today is your birthday.
3. Though Rani is allergic to dogs, she has six of them.
4. Ruben speaks two languages, besides German.
5. If you apply for a loan, you will get it immediately.

13. Choose the appropriate linker from within the brackets and complete the sentences.

1. I could not complete my paper in the examination _________ (because, but) I was slow in answering the questions.
2. It started raining, _________ (yet, so) we could not play.
3. _________ (As, If) I got up early, I managed to reach school on time.
4. _________ (Though/Whereas) he committed a mistake, he apologised _________ (and/since) promised that he would not repeat it.
5. This is _________ (how/what) it must be done.
6. The vendor saw the train moving slowly from the platform, _________ (therefore/until) he got in.
7. I was not well, _________ (but/so) I did not attend the class.
8. (If, Although) _________ she can drive, she travels by bus.
9. (If/Unless) _________ you register your name, you cannot participate in the competitions.
10. (As soon as/Besides) _________ my father arrived home, I narrated the incident.
11. Be quick to hear _________ (then/ and) slow to speak.
12. I am _________ (neither/either) an ascetic in theory _________(nor/or) in practice.
13. We fail to harness the rainwater, _________ (consequently, nevertheless) we suffer.
14. My brother will certainly clear TNPSC; _________ (yet/for) he works very hard.

• Answers:

1.because          2.so                  3.As                  4.Though, and               5.how

6.therefore        7.so                  8.Although        9.Unless                        10.As soon as

11.and              12.neither, nor   13.conseuently   14.for

14. Fill in the blanks with appropriate correlative conjunctions.
15. She is _______ an understanding person _______ everybody likes to be with her.
16. Suraj owns _______ a typewriter _______ a computer.
17. Vani is _______ a good singer _______ a good dancer.
18. Amit did not know _______ his father met his class teacher _______ not .
19. I would _______ starve _______ beg.

Answers:

1.such, that        2.not only, but also         3.not only, but also         4.whether, or     5.neither, nor

15. Spot the errors in the following sentences. Correct and rewrite them.
16. Neither Ramya is a singer nor a dancer.
17. Scarcely had the workers stepped out, than the building collapsed.
18. No sooner did the power resume, when the children screamed in joy.
19. My friend can type so fast as I.
20. Sitha had no other assignment, but that of collecting the data.
21. Rekha cooks like her mother does.
22. Professor Usha is not only a writer but an orator.
23. Your neighbours are not so wicked like you think.
24. The girl both won an award and a scholarship.
25. Three years have passed when my cousin resigned his job.

Answers:

1. Neither Ramya a singer nor a dancer. (is will not come)
2. Scarcely had the workers stepped out, when the building collapsed.
3. No sooner did the power resume, than the children screamed in joy.
4. My friend can type as fast as I.
5. Sitha had no other assignment, than that of collecting the data.
6. Rekha cooks as her mother does.
7. Professor Usha is not only a writer but also an orator.
8. Your neighbours are not so wicked like as you think.
9. The girl won both an award and a scholarship.
10. Three years have passed since my cousin resigned his job.