CONNECTORS

1
CONNECTORS

• A conjunction may be used to indicate the
• relationship between the ideas expressed in a
• clause and the ideas expressed in the rest of a
• sentence.
• Examples
• We could go to the library, or we could go to
• the park.
• He neither finished his homework nor studied
• for the test.
• I went out because the sun was shining.

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Coordinate conjunctions

• Coordinate conjunctions are used to join two
  similar
• grammatical constructions for instance, two
  words,
• two phrases or two clauses.
• Examples
• My friend and I will attend the meeting.
• Austria is famous for the beauty of its landscape
  and
• the hospitality of its people.
• The sun rose and the birds began to sing.
• In these examples, the coordinate conjunction and
  is used to join two words/two phrases/and two
  clauses.

3

• and in addition
• She tried and succeeded.
• but however
• They tried but did not succeed.
• or alternatively
• Did you go out or stay at home?
• nor and neither
• I did not see it, nor did they.
• (Note the use of inverted word order)
• yet however
• The sun is warm, yet the air is cool.

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Coordinate conjunctions

• As illustrated above, when a coordinate
• conjunction joins two verbs which have the same
• subject, the subject need not be repeated.
• For instance, in the example she tried and
• succeeded, the pronoun she acts as the subject
• for both the verb tried and the verb succeeded.
• It should also be noted that when a coordinate
• conjunction joins two verbs which do not have
• the same subject, the two coordinate clauses
• may be separated by a comma or semicolon, in
• order to make the meaning clear.

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Correlative conjunctions

• Correlative conjunctions are used in pairs, in
• order to show the relationship between the
• ideas expressed in different parts of a
• sentence. For instance, in the following
• example, the expression either ... or is used
• to indicate that the ideas expressed in the
• two clauses represent two alternative choices of
  action.
• Example
• Either you should study harder, or you
• should take a different course.

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Correlative conjunctions

• both ... and
• He is both intelligent and good-natured.
• either ... or
• I will either go for a walk or read a book.
• neither ... nor
• He is neither rich nor famous.
• hardly ... when
• He had hardly begun to work, when he was
  interrupted.
• if ... then
• If that is true, then what happened is not
  surprising.
• (Note that in this construction the word then can
  usually be omitted.)

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Correlative conjunctions

• no sooner ... than
• No sooner had I reached the corner, than the bus
  came.
• not only ... but also
• She is not only clever, but also hard-working.
• rather ... than
• I would rather go swimming than go to the
  library.
• scarcely ... when
• Scarcely had we left home, when it started to
  rain.
• whether ... or
• Have you decided whether you will come or not?

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Subordinate conjunctions

• Subordinate clauses may begin with
• relative pronouns such as that, what,
• which, who and whom, as well as with
• words such as how, when, where, wherever and why.
• Examples
• The house, which stood on a hill, could be
• seen for miles.
• I wonder how he did that.

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In addition, subordinate clauses may also begin
with words which are commonly referred to
assubordinate conjunctions

• As
• 1. because As he is my friend, I will help
  him.
• 2. when We watched as the plane took off.
• After
• 1. later in time After the train left, we
  went home.
• Although or though
• 1. in spite of the fact that Although it was
• after midnight, we did not feel tired.
• Before
• 1. earlier than I arrived before the stores
• were open.

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In addition, subordinate clauses may also begin
with words which are commonly referred to
assubordinate conjunctions

• Because
• 1. for the reason that We had to wait,
  because we arrived early.
• For
• 1. because He is happy, for he enjoys his
  work.
• If
• 1. on condition thatIf she is here, we will
  see her.
• Providing or provided
• 1. on condition that All will be well,
  providing you
• are careful.

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In addition, subordinate clauses may also begin
with words which are commonly referred to
assubordinate conjunctions

• Since
• 1. from a past time I have been here since
  the sun rose.
• 2. as, because Since you are here, you can
  help me.
• So or so that
• 1. consequently It was raining, so we did not
  go out.
• 2. in order that/purpose I am saving money so
  I can buy a bicycle.
• Note When used with the meaning in order that,
  so
• is usually followed by that in formal English.
• e.g. I am saving money so that I can buy a
  bicycle.

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• Supposing
• 1. if Supposing that happens, what will you
  do?
• Than
• 1. used in comparisons He is taller than you
  are.
• Unless
• 1. except when, if not Unless he helps us, we
  cannot succeed.
• Until or till
• 1. up to the time when! I will wait until I
  hear
• from you.

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• Whereas
• 1. because Whereas this is a public building,
  it is
• open to everyone.
• 2. on the other hand He is short, whereas you
  are tall.
• Whether
• 1. if I do not know whether she was invited.
• While
• 1. at the time when! While it was snowing, we
• played cards.
• 2. on the other hand! He is rich, while his
  friend is
• poor.
• 3. although While I am not an expert, I will
  do my
• best.

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In addition, the following phrases are often used
at thebeginning of subordinate clauses.

• As if
• 1. in a similar way She talks as if she knows
  everything.
• As long as
• 1. if As long as we cooperate, we can finish
  the work easily.
• 2. while He has lived there as long as I have
  known him.
• As soon as
• 1. immediately when Write to me as soon as you
  can.
• As though
• 1. in a similar way It looks as though there
  will be a storm.

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In addition, the following phrases are often used
at thebeginning of subordinate clauses.

• Even if
• 1. in spite of a possibility I am going out
  even if it rains.
• In case
• 1. because of a possibility Take a sweater in
  case it gets cold.
• Or else
• 1. otherwise Please be careful, or else you
  may have an accident.
• So as to
• 1. in order to I hurried so as to be on time.

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Connecting adverbs

• Connecting adverbs are often used to show the
  relationship
• between the ideas expressed in a clause and the
  ideas
• expressed in a preceding clause, sentence or
  paragraph.
• Examples
• I wanted to study however, I was too tired.
• We knew what to expect. Therefore, we were not
  surprised at
• what happened.
• In the first example, the connecting adverb
  however shows
• that there is a conflict between the idea
  expressed in the
• clause I was too tired and the idea expressed in
  the
• preceding clause I wanted to study. In the second
  example,
• the connecting adverb therefore shows that there
  is a cause
• and effect relationship between the idea
  expressed in the
• sentence we knew what to expect, and the clause
  we were
• not surprised at what happened.

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Connecting adverbs

• b. Connecting adverbs used to connect sentences.
• Unlike conjunctions, connecting adverbs may be
  used in formal English to
• show the relationship between ideas expressed in
  separate sentences.
• For example
• The wind was strong. Thus, I felt very cold.
• In this example, the connecting adverb thus shows
  that there is a cause
• and effect relationship between the ideas
  expressed by the two
• sentences the wind was strong and I felt very
  cold.
• In informal English, coordinate conjunctions are
  sometimes used to show
• the relationship between the ideas expressed in
  separate sentences.
• For example
• The wind was strong. And I felt very cold.
• However, this use of coordinate conjunctions is
  considered to be
• grammatically incorrect in formal English.

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Connecting adverbs

• c. Position in a clause
• A subordinate conjunction must usually be placed
  at the beginning
• of a clause. However, a connecting adverb may be
  placed at the
• beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a
  clause. This is
• illustrated below.
• Examples
• His visit was unexpected. Nevertheless, I was
  pleased to see him.
• His visit was unexpected. I was, nevertheless,
  pleased to see him.
• His visit was unexpected. I was pleased to see
  him, nevertheless.

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d. Examples of connecting adverbs The following
are examples of words which may be used as
connecting adverbs. Each connecting adverb is
followed by its meaning and an example of its use.

• Accordingly so
• He was very persuasive accordingly, I did what
  he asked.
• Also in addition
• She is my neighbor she is also my best friend.
• Besides in addition
• I like the job. Besides, I need the money.
• Consequently so
• She had a fever consequently, she stayed at
  home.
• Furthermore in addition
• You should stop smoking. Furthermore, you should
  do it at once!
• Hence ! for that reason!
• He is a good friend. Hence, I was not embarrassed
  to ask him for help.

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d. Examples of connecting adverbs The following
are examples of words which may be used as
connecting adverbs. Each connecting adverb is
followed by its meaning and an example of its use.

• However but
• We wanted to arrive on time however, we were
  delayed by traffic.
• Likewise in addition
• The region is beautiful. Likewise, the climate is
  excellent.
• Moreover in addition
• She is very intelligent moreover, she is very
  ambitious.
• Nevertheless but
• They are proud. Nevertheless, I like them.
• nonetheless but
• The ascent was dangerous. Nonetheless, he decided
  to attempt it.
• otherwise if not, or else
• We should consult them otherwise, they may be
  upset.

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Parallel construction

• The repetition of a particular grammatical
  construction
• is often referred to as parallel construction.
• Examples
• I am neither angry nor excited.
• The resort contains tennis courts, swimming pools
  and a
• snack bar.
• In the first example, the two phrases neither
  angry and nor excited exhibit
• parallel construction.
• In the second example, the three phrases tennis
  courts,
• swimming pools and a snack bar exhibit parallel
  construction.

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Parallel construction

• The following example illustrates the use of
  parallel construction
• with the correlative conjunctions neither ...
  nor.
• e.g. Incorrect She turned neither right nor to
  the left.
• Corrected She turned neither right nor left.
• or
• Corrected She turned neither to the right nor
  to the left.
• The first sentence is incorrect, since neither is
  followed by a
• single word whereas nor is followed by a
  prepositional phrase.
• The second sentence has been corrected by
  changing the phrase
• to the left to the word left. Alternatively, as
  shown in the third
• sentence, two prepositional phrases can be used.

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Parallel construction

• Parallel construction should also be used when
  listing a series of
• ideas.
• For example
• Incorrect The hotel is charming, well-situated
  and is not expensive.
• Corrected The hotel is charming, well-situated
  and inexpensive.
• The first sentence is incorrect, since the first
  two items in the
• series, charming and well-situated, are
  adjectives, whereas the
• last item, is not expensive, contains a verb.
• The second sentence has been corrected by
  changing is not
• expensive to the adjective inexpensive.

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Parallel construction

• The following is another example of the use of
  parallel
• construction when listing a series of ideas.
• Incorrect I like to ski, skating and swimming.
• Corrected I like skiing, skating and swimming.
• The first sentence is incorrect, since the first
  item in
• the series, to ski, is an infinitive, whereas the
  second
• and third items, skating and swimming, are
  gerunds. The
• second sentence has been corrected by changing
  the
• infinitive to ski to the gerund skiing.

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d. Examples of connecting adverbs The following
are examples of words which may be used as
connecting adverbs. Each connecting adverb is
followed by its meaning and an example of its use.

• Still but
• It is a long way to the beach. Still, it is a
  fine day to go swimming.
• then
• 1. next, afterwards
• We went shopping, then we had lunch.
• 2. so
• If you are sure, then I must believe you.
• Therefore for that reason
• I was nervous therefore, I could not do my best.
• Thus so, in this way!
• He travelled as quickly as possible. Thus, he
  reached Boston the
• next day.