Notes on Conjunctions

CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS

Conjunctive adverbs act as transitions between complete ideas by indicating comparisons, contrasts, results, and other relationships. A semicolon and a comma are used together when a conjunctive adverb separates two main clauses.

I wanted to go; however, I was too busy.

Here is a list of common conjunctive adverbs.

accordingly also anyway besides certainly consequently finally further

furthermore hence however incidentally indeed instead likewise meanwhile

moreover namely nevertheless next nonetheless now otherwise similarly

still then thereafter therefore thus undoubtedly

The check was far more than the balance; consequently, it bounced.

These things really happened; otherwise, I wouldn't have claimed to have seen them.

In these sentences, the conjunctive adverb may look like a coordinate conjunction (and, or, so, but, for), but it is not as strong as a coordinate conjunction. Therefore, the semicolon is used to link the two main clauses, and the comma is used to set off the conjunctive adverb (really a one-word adverb cluster) from its main clause.

When a sentence shows an unexpected result of another sentence, only a few conjunctive adverbs can be used. The most common ones are probably nevertheless, nonetheless, and still:

Ahmed had the flu and should have stayed home; nevertheless, he still went to work.

*However can also be used to introduce an unexpected result:

Ahmed had the flu and should have stayed home; however, he went to work.

COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

A compound sentence is composed of two or more simple sentences. A compound sentence is used when you want to give equal weight to two closely related ideas. This is called coordination. The following are joining words (coordinating conjunction) used in a compound sentence:  FANBOYS

For

And

Nor

But

Or

Yet

So

Use a comma before the joining word.

The rain increased, so the officials cancelled the game.

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

A complex sentence is made up of a simple sentence and a statement (dependent clause) that begins with a dependent word (subordinating conjunction). The following are commonly used dependent words:

after although as because before even if even though

provided that rather than since so that than that whenever

where whereas wherever whether while if unless

until when in order that once why though

The subordinate conjunction has two jobs. First, it provides a necessary transition between the two ideas in the sentence. This transition will indicate a time, place, or cause and effect relationship.

I checked my money before I invited Tom for lunch.

The second job of the subordinate conjunction is to reduce the importance of one clause so that a reader understands which of the two ideas is more important. The more important idea belongs in the main clause, the less important in the clause introduced by a subordinate conjunction.

As Samson blew out the birthday candles atop the cake, he burned the tip of his nose on a stubborn flame.

Burning his nose > blowing out candles.