Conjunctions serve to connect words or sentences.English alliancesdiffer among themselves in what elements they connect, what kind of relationship they establish, and also depending on their form.
Conjunctions belong to the official parts of speech and do not change outwardly. To such words it is impossible to add indicators of number or person. Their meaning in a sentence is determined by how the fragments of the phrase relate to each other and what relationship they enter into.
Conjunctions in a sentence
The function of unions is to link different elements to each other. These elements can be either single words or whole sentences.
The most common union is and (and). Using its example, we will show between which elements a connection can be established.
Separate words of any parts of speech can be combined:
I bought apples and bananas - I bought apples and bananas.
This movie is so interesting and thrilling - This movie is so interesting and exciting.
Or phrases:
I saw the doctor from the local hospital and his beautiful wife - I saw a doctor from the local hospital and his beautiful wife.
Conjunctions of the English languagecan combine whole sentences:
Alice is asleep upstairs and Bobby is playing in the garden - Alice is sleeping upstairs and Bobby is playing in the garden.
Alice is asleep upstairs. And Bobby is playing in the garden - Alice is sleeping upstairs. And Bobby is playing in the garden.
Types of conjunctions in English
The pure connection of elements is not the only role of unions in English language. In addition to being related, they can also contribute different meanings. By the nature of the connection in English, there are:
- Coordinating conjunctions - coordinating conjunctions
- Subordinating conjunctions - subordinating conjunctions
By form, unions are divided into:
- Simple conjunctions - simple conjunctions
- Compound conjunctions - compound conjunctions
- Composite unions - composite conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions
The peculiarity of coordinating unions is that two related elements have an equivalent status. If such an alliance unites homogeneous members sentences, they depend on the same word. If the union connects sentences, then they are equivalent in meaning and do not depend on each other.
to writing unions of the English language include: and - and, and
or - or
nor - also not
but - but
either… or - or… or
neither ... nor - neither ... nor
Various parts of speech and fragments of various lengths can participate as linked elements:
It was cold but sunny - It was cold but sunny.
I called her but she didn't answer - I called her, but she did not answer.
Neither my husband nor my father have liked this movie - Neither my husband nor my father liked this movie.
The type of coordinating conjunctions is distinguished on the basis of the function in the sentence and the nature of the connection of the elements. According to their meaning, they can be divided into three main groups: coordinating, distributive and adversative. Counseling unions (for example, and - and) link the fragments into a single whole. Dividers emphasize the individual character of each element. These include, for example, the unionor in English, which means "or". Opposite - such as but (but) - oppose elements to each other.
Composing:
and - and
both… and - and… and
nor - also not
I love both my work and my hobby - I love both my work and my hobby.
Dividers:
or - or either ... or - or ... or
We can go there on Friday or on Saturday - We can go there on Friday or Saturday.
Opposite:
but - but
yet - however
nevertheless - nonetheless
This is a wonderful yet sad story - This is a wonderful yet sad story.
Subordinating conjunctions
Subordinating unions not only connect various elements, but also indicate their unequalness: one element is in a dependent position from another. At the same time, the use of the dependent without indicating the main turns out to be incomplete.
Most often, subordinating conjunctions connect parts of a statement together and form a complex sentence. SuchEnglish conjunctionsoccupy a position at the beginning of the dependent part of the phrase. If they establish a connection between phrases in a simple sentence, then one of them turns out to be the main one, and the other is dependent:
My wife is older than I am - My wife is older than I am.
The meaning of the subordinating union indicates the nature of the connection between the parts of the sentence. Based on differences in meaning, several groups of subordinating conjunctions can be distinguished.
Temporary value:
after - after
before - before
when - when
while - while
since - since
till / until - until
as soon as - as soon as
as long as - while
Can you play with children while I'm making dinner? - Can you play with the kids while I cook dinner?
My secretary will inform me as soon as we've received the letter - My secretary will inform me as soon as we receive an answer.
Purpose and causation:
because - because as - since
since - since
that - to
so that - in order to
in order to - in order to
though / although - although, despite
lest - not to
We had a big quarrel with our neighbors just because he had told a stupid joke - We had a big fight with our neighbors, just because he was joking stupidly.
He said it in a loud voice so that anyone could hear - He said it loudly so that everyone could hear.
Explanatory English unions:
that - what
where - where / where
when - when
if - whether
whether - whether
My mother told me that he was a liar - My mother told me that he was a liar.
He asked whether we had traveled this summer - He asked if we traveled this summer.
Conditional:
if - if
unless - if not
provided / providing - provided that
If you have any doubts don't accept the proposal - If you have any doubts, don't accept the proposal.
Provided that we would get government support, the project has a chance to be successful - If we get government support, the project has a chance to be successful.
Mode of action and comparison:
as if - as if
than - than
He talks about it as if it is the end of the world - He talks about it like it's the end of the world
The same union can have different meanings and belong to several groups at once. For example, the union if can introduce an indirect question or be used in conditional sentences where it expresses a causal relationship.
I'm not sure if he has already come - I'm not sure if he has already come.
If Mary doesn't leave home in five minutes, she will miss the train - If Mary doesn't leave home in the next five minutes, she will miss the train.
Allied words in relative sentences
Among conjunctions of the English languagea group of allied words can be distinguished. Their difference is that they replace the corresponding part of speech in the sentence and act as full-fledged members of the sentence.
Allied words are relative pronouns:
who - who, who
whose - whose
when - when
where - where
which - which
that - which
Such phrases can be reformulated by replacing relative pronouns with sentence members from the main part of the statement.
I came in at that moment when Mary and John were arguing - I came in at that moment when Mary and John were arguing (I came in and Mary and John were arguing at that moment).
That is the town where I spent all my childhood - This is the city where I spent all my childhood (I spent all my childhood in that town).
This is the painter whose works I adore - This is the artist whose work I adore (I adore the works of this painter).
Allied words that refer to an object or subject from the main part of the phrase differ depending on animation and position in the sentence:
who - who: replaces the animate subject of the main clause
whom - whom: replaces animate noun in indirect case
which - which: replaces an inanimate noun
that - which: can replace an inanimate or animate noun under certain conditions
The man who lives next door is always very polite - The man who lives next door is always very polite (who replaces the animate noun person from the first part of the sentence and is in the position of the subject of the dependent part: This polite man lives next door).
She "s the woman to whom I would give everything - She is the woman to whom I would give everything (whom is the animate object in the dependent clause: I would give everything to this woman).
The conjunction word which for inanimate nouns can act both in the position of the object and the subject:
I saw a movie which is much more exciting - I saw a movie that is much more exciting (which replaces the subject of the sentence: That movie is much more exciting).
We have visited the house which we want to buy - We have visited the house we want to buy (which replaces the sentence object: We want to buy this house).
The word that is the most universal: it can act both as an animate and inanimate participant in a situation:
We have visited the house that we want to buy - We have visited the house that we want to buy.
The man that lives next door is always very polite - The man who lives next door is always very polite.
However, the use of that with reference to a person is not always possible. The word that is used only to specify who is being discussed. If the relative sentence does not indicate a person, but introduces additional information about him, English union that cannot be used.
My brother Charles, who is fond of reading, gave me this book - My brother Charles, who loves to read, gave me this book (who is used as a description of an already specified person, so changing to that is not possible).
The difference between unions and other parts of speech
Some words can act both as conjunctions and as other members of the sentence.
For example, the same words can serve as allied words and interrogative pronouns:
We've been in a little town where there is no theater - We were in a small town where there is no theater (where is a union word).
Where can I find it? - Where can I find it? (where is a question word).
A typical situation is when conjunctions have the same form with prepositions or adverbs. For example, the words after and before can be used in three functions: conjunction, preposition, or adverb:
I've seen her before - I've seen her before (before is an adverb).
I was there before you - I was here before you (before is a preposition).
I had seen her before you introduced us - I saw her before you introduced us (before - union).
As an adverb, words depend directly on the verb. Prepositions are always attached to the next word in a sentence. When the word is used as a union, it connects the fragments of the statement, and its main meaning is to indicate the relationship between the elements.
Simple and complex unions
English alliancescan be divided not only according to the meaning and function in the sentence, but also according to the external form. Formally, they are divided into simple, complex and compound. The first group includes unions that are simple in education, consisting of one word. To the second - monosyllabic, which have a complex internal structure: they contain suffixes and prefixes and can be formed from other parts of speech. Compounds are polysyllabic unions that look like phrases or like a broken sequence of words.
Examples of simple unions:
but - but
and - and
then - then
if - if
as - since
Complex alliances are built from several elements: although - although
however - however
until - until
unless - if not
whereas - while
Compound unions consist of several words, but their meaning is not shared, but belongs to the whole group. These unions include: as if - as if
in order to - in order to
in case - if
In the compound groupconjunctions of the English languageyou can also select double / double. Their difference is that they not only consist of several words, but parts of one union are separated in a sentence by other words.
either... or - or... or
neither ... nor - neither ... nor
both… and - and… and
At the weekend I will either be in Boston or in New York - At the weekend I will either be in Boston or New York.
Neither Tom nor John heard about it - Neither Tom nor John heard about it.
Both cats and dogs are pets - Both cats and dogs are pets.
As in Russian, in English conjunctions connect parts of large sentences and parts of speech in the sentences themselves. In English, conjunctions are completely autonomous. They do not depend on the grammatical characteristics of neighboring words and do not obey the rules of grammar. The functions of conjunctions in English do not differ from those in Russian.
Form of unions
There are the following forms of conjunctions in English. Firstly, these are simple unions that consist of one word. Second, derivatives. As the name implies, they are formed as a result of the transformation of other parts of speech. Thirdly, complex conjunctions are distinguished, consisting of two words or having a -ever part. Finally, we come to compound unions. They combine concretizers and service parts of speech, nevertheless serving to connect words in a sentence. Let's take a closer look at each form.
Simple unions: and, if, but etc.:
I'd like soup, mashed potatoes and tea - I'll have soup, mashed potatoes and tea.
I walked through the wood and saw no people - I walked through the forest without meeting people
If only you were here with me! "If only you were here with me!"
I’ll read this text in public if you promise me to save her - I will read this text in public if you promise to save her
I love her but I can’t do such a thing - I love her, but I can’t do such an act
He realized what they wanted but could do nothing to stop them - He understood what their goal was, but could do nothing.
Derivative unions: unless, because, etc.
We will jump unless you agree to help - We will jump if you do not agree to help us
I say i'll do it unless you agree to do it yourself - I tell you that I will do it, unless you agree to do it yourself
I hated her because of my own reasons - I hated her for my personal reasons
You know I do all this because I promised your mother to help you - You know that I do all this because I promised your mother to help you
Complex alliances: however, whenever, whatever, wherever
However nobody knows him better than me - In addition, no one knows him better than me
She was, however, one of the most absent-minded persons I ever met - She was, among other things, the most absent-minded person I have ever met
You can call me whenever you need to, you know it - You can call me whenever you need
I will be with you whenever you ask - I will be with you whenever you ask
Whatever you see, won't shout - Whatever you see, don't yell
I'll try to find any good for you whatever you need - I'll try to find any product that you might need
They will find us wherever we go and it is the problem - They will find us wherever we go. And that's the problem
Wherever I live I will always remember our little sweet family traditions - Wherever I live. I will always remember our little sweet family traditions
Unions: what are they
There are the following types of unions in English: coordinating, subordinating and correlative or coordinating. Coordinating conjunctions are most often small and there are 7 of them in English. To make them easier to remember, they came up with the abbreviation “fanboys” - respectively for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Subordinating conjunctions are essentially adverbs that are used in the function of conjunctions in a sentence. There are many more of them than subordinate ones. Let's look at them in the following table:
| Concession | While | I will cook while you are sleeping - I will cook while you sleep I tried to help though they didn't want to talk with me - I tried to help. Even though they didn't want to talk to me I liked her although she didn’t talk to me much - I liked her, although she didn’t talk to me very much |
| Condition | In case | In case they come we'll be ready - In case they come, we will be ready I'll call her if you want - If you want, I'll call her He will go only if she goes with us too - He will only go if she also goes with us |
| Comparison | Than | You are better than me - You are better than me I want to save her as much as you do - I want to save her as much as you do |
| Time | Untill | We will wait until you come - We will wait until you come I am going to leave as soon as possible - I'm going to leave as soon as possible I had done the work before you called me - I did the work before you called me |
| reason | Because | I did it because she had told me - I did it because she told me The work is done so that you can go home - the work is done, so you can go home |
| Manner | How | I asked how was she - I asked how she was He looked at me as if I did something wrong - He looked at me as if I had done something bad |
| place | Where | I promised to return to the place where we had met first - I promised to return to where we first met Whenever he goes his wife always goes with him - Wherever he goes, his wife always goes with him |
| Relative adjective | What | I always wanted to know what they were talking about that night - I always wanted to know what they were talking about that night Whatever I do you always cries at me - Whatever I do, you always yell at me He was the man which saved their lives - He was the same man who saved their lives |
| relative pronoun | whom | Whom do you want to give the prize? Who do you want to give the prize to? I ask the people whose cap it is - I asked these people whose cap it is Whoever goes, not to talk to him - Whoever goes, don't talk to him |
Pair or correlative unions
They are used in pairs, linking parts of large sentences. If the number of connected objects is different, then the one that is closer to the verb will be decisive. The most common of them:
as ... as: I am as good at math as my elder sister - I also know mathematics well, like my older sister
either…or: They liked either our city or our culture in general– They liked both our city and our culture in general
neither ... nor: We support neither your idea nor his - we do not support either your idea or his
not only… but also: I want not only help but also show what we really are - I want to not only help, but also show what we really are
Use of conjunctions The use of unions
Note: Before studying this material, it is recommended that you read the material " ".
tables use of conjunctions in English
1. Coordinate conjunctions / coordinators
a. Connecting unions (copulative conjunctions)
| Connecting union | Translation | Example | Translation |
|
and
[ænd] |
and ; a | This terrain is wide and beautiful. | This area is spacious. and beautiful. |
|
as well as
[æz wel æz] |
as well as ; at the same time and | Robert has bought a bouquet of red roses as well as a box of chocolates. | Robert bought a bouquet of red roses as well as a box of chocolates. |
|
both ... and
|
and... and ; like...and | This car is both beautiful and powerful. | This car and beautiful and powerful. |
|
not only ... but also
|
not only but | This car is not only beautiful but also powerful. | This car Not only beautiful, but also powerful. |
|
neither ... nor
[?na?ð?(r) ... n??(r)] |
no no | Jessica can't fulfill this work neither today nor tomorrow. | Jessica can't do this job neither today, neither tomorrow. |
b. Adversative conjunctions
| Adversarial alliance | Translation | Example | Translation |
|
but
|
but ; a | Colin wants to buy these watches but he has little money. | Colin wants to buy this watch but he has little money. |
|
yet
|
However ; but ; But at the same time | Jordan came into the room yet no one noticed him. | John entered the room but no one noticed him. |
|
while
|
bye ; while | Linda walks while Ashton works. | Linda is walking bye/while Ashton is working. |
|
except
[?k?sept] |
if not | Who can do it except you? | Who can do it if not you? |
v. Disjunctive conjunctions
| Dividing union | Translation | Example | Translation |
|
or
[??(r)] |
or ; otherwise | Bruce has to visit her or she remains. | Bruce should visit her or/otherwise she will be offended. |
|
either ... or
[?a?ð?(r)(Brit.)/?i?ð?(r)(Amer.) ... ??(r)] |
or either ; or or | He should say it to Hannah either by phone or by letter. | He should tell Hanna about it. or by phone, or in a letter. |
2. Subordinate conjunctions
| Subordinating union | Translation | Example | Translation |
|
that
[ðæt] |
what ; to | George told me that he met an old friend from his school. Note: In such sentences, it is possible to omit the union that: Kevin told me he met an old friend from his school. |
J said what he met an old school friend. |
|
after
[???ft?(r)] |
after | Kevin went shopping after he had breakfast. | Kevin went shopping after had breakfast. |
|
before
[b??f??(r)] |
before as | Kevin had breakfast before he went shopping. | Kevin had breakfast before as went shopping. |
|
unless
[?n?les] |
if not ; until | Unless you tell me the reason I won't go anywhere. | If/Till you not give me a reason, I'm not going anywhere. |
|
as
[æz] |
because ; what | We did exactly as he wanted. Note: In such sentences, it is possible to omit the union that: We did exactly he wanted. |
We did exactly because he wanted |
|
as ... as
[æz...æz] |
just like | Jonathan runs as fast as Henry. | Jonathan runs same way quickly, like Henry. |
|
as long as
[æz l?? aez] |
until ; bye | He will work there as long as he finds another job. | He will work there until/bye won't find another job. |
|
as soon as
[æz su?n æz] |
once | He will visit you as soon as he comes back to the city. | He will visit you once will return to the city. |
|
since
|
since ; because ; insofar as | They have been partners since they got this job. | They are partners since got this job. |
|
because
|
because ; because | I like reading because it is the way to discover something new. | I like to read, because it's a way to learn something new. |
|
until
[?n?t?l] |
until | He must learn it until he keeps it in his mind. | He must learn it until won't remember. |
3. Allied words (conjunctive words). The allied word differs from the union in that it can be a union and at the same time a member of the sentence in the subordinate part. Allied words can be adverbs and relative pronouns.
| allied words | Translation | Example | Translation |
| a. Adverbs | |||
|
when
|
when | I came back to the place where I used to play football when I was a little boy. | I returned to the place where I played football, when was a little boy. |
|
where
|
where | ||
|
how
|
how | electrician can explain you how it works. | An electrician can explain to you how it works. |
|
why
|
why | This is why I"ve come back. | This then why I came back. |
| b. Relative pronouns | |||
|
that
[ðæt] |
which the ; what | What if I told you that I was the person who could solve your problem? | What if I said what Am I the right person to solve your problem? |
|
who
|
who ; which the | ||
|
what
|
what | Peter doesn't know what is prepared for his birthday. | Peter doesn't know what prepared for his birthday. |
|
which
|
which the | The cd disk which you are asking for is already bought. | CD, pro which the you ask, already bought. |
|
whose
[hu?z] |
whose ; which the | Daniel is talking about a writer whose books were sold all over the world. | Daniel talks about the writer whose the books have been sold all over the world. |
Union(Conjunction) is a service part of speech that connects two words, separate, independent sentences or parts of a complex sentence. Unions do not change their form, they do not act as any member of the proposal in the proposal and are not used on their own.
- Tom and I go to school together. Me and Tom go to school together.
- Jack came straight to my house in order to go to the cinema together. Jack came straight to my house to go to the cinema together.
- Neither Kate nor Jim met Ann before. Neither Kate nor Jim had met Ann before.
Types of unions by value
Unions English languages are divided into three main groups according to their meaning: coordinating unions, subordinating unions and paired unions. Allocate also allied dialects.
Coordinating conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions(coordinating conjunctions) connect words, phrases, homogeneous members of a sentence or independent sentences of the same significance into one compound sentence.
Comma put before the union when it joins independent proposals. However, in this case too comma can be omitted if sentences are short. When a coordinating union connects words or homogeneous members of a sentence, they not separated by a comma. An exception are the so-called Oxford commas.
- Do you want some tea or coffee?– Would you like some tea or coffee? (homogeneous members of the sentence)
- It was late so i decided to go home. It was late, so I decided to go home. (two independent proposals)
- I know you are waiting for my help, yet I don't know how to help you.“I know that you are waiting for my help, but I do not know how to help you. (two independent proposals)
Subordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions(subordinating conjunctions) connect subordinate clause with the main one, on which it depends in meaning, forming a complex sentence.
|
|
Subordinating union always placed at the beginning of the subordinate clause. In front of him do not put a comma.
- Chris never goes to the beach with us as he doesn't know how to swim. Chris never goes to the beach with us because he can't swim.
- I will let you use my computer when you finish your homework. I will let you use my computer when you finish your homework.
- Unless we leave right now, we will be late for the flight. If we don't get out now, we'll miss the plane.
Pair unions
Pair unions(correlative conjunctions) are used to connect words, phrases or homogeneous, identical parts of one sentence.
A comma is placed between paired unions for an intonational and semantic pause, or when connecting two long phrases with unions. Pair unions are not used to connect different independent proposals.
- Both Derek and Sam are good at maths. Both Derek and Sam are good at math.
- This girl is not only beautiful, but also really smart. She is not only beautiful, but also really smart.
- Would you rather be rich or be happy? Would you rather be rich or happy?
Allied dialects
Unions also include allied adverbs that connect two independent sentences into one compound, or are placed at the beginning of a sentence for its logical connection with the previous sentence.
|
|
In a compound sentence, allied adverbs are preceded by semicolon, and after the adverb - comma. In a separate sentence, the allied adverb is often at the beginning of the sentence and is followed by comma.
- Last Sunday Clark went to a party and stayed there all night ; as a result , he overslept and missed his Monday exams.– Last Sunday Clark went to a party and stayed there all night; as a result he overslept and missed his exams on Monday.
- I don't want to go to that French restaurant. In fact, i don't really like French food. I don't want to go to that French restaurant. In truth I don't like french food.
- The music and the food at yesterday's party were not great. Moreover, i was really bored. In other words, the party was awful. The music and food at yesterday's party was not great. Besides, I was very bored. All in all, the party was terrible.
Types of unions by education
Unions English according to their education can be divided into simple, complex, composite unions.
Simple unions(simple conjunctions) consist of one root without suffixes or prefixes.
Complex alliances(compound conjunctions) are formed from other parts of speech, other unions, with the help of suffixes, prefixes or parts -ever(ever, always).
Compound unions(composite conjunctions) consist of two or more words, auxiliary and independent parts of speech. They also include pair unions.
How to distinguish a union from other parts of speech
Often unions English have the same forms with adverbs and prepositions. In order to distinguish between them, you need to know what function each of these parts of speech performs in a sentence.
Unions are never members of a sentence, like adverbs. Conjunctions also do not refer to any specific word, like prepositions, but only connect words, phrases and sentences with each other. Conjunctions are often placed at the beginning of a sentence or between two simple sentences in one complex one.
- I have never met such a lovely girl before.“I have never met such a sweet girl before. (before - adverb)
- Don't jump the queue! I came here before you!- Don't jump in line! I got here before you! (before - preposition)
- Please, brush your teeth before you go to bed. Please brush your teeth before you go to bed. (before - subordinating conjunction)
In English grammar, conjunctions occupy a special place. Thanks to them, you can combine short sentences and monosyllabic phrases into longer and more meaningful ones. Correct use unions will help you improve not only oral, but also written language. About what unions are and what function they perform in English, we will tell in our article.
What is a conjunction in English?
Union or conjunction is a service part of speech that logically connects words, phrases and parts of a sentence. Conjunctions in English differ in that they do not change and do not depend on any grammatical characteristics of the connected words.
Conjunctions can be classified by structure or by function in a sentence.
English conjunctions by structure:
English conjunctions by their function in a sentence
It is believed that English conjunctions are divided into two large groups: coordinating and subordinating. Some researchers English grammar distinguish another group - correlative unions (or correlative). Typical representatives of this group are our acquaintances such as “neither… not”, “not only… but also” and so on. But we will talk about them when we think about the writing group.
Coordinating conjunctions
Coordinating Conjunctions in English (or Coordinating Conjunctions) connect individual words, phrases or equal sentences in the composition compound sentence. They indicate the semantic equality of units that are connected thanks to them.
Of course, such unions are divided into their own subgroups, depending on what function they perform in the sentence.
Subordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions in English (or Subordinating conjunctions) connect the subordinate clause with the main one. This is how complex sentences are obtained. There are many such words in English. They are divided into subgroups, depending on what kind of subordinate clause the given word introduces.
Table of English conjunctions
It was all a little boring, but a necessary theory of English grammar. In the end, we want to give a table of English conjunctions that are used most often.
and - and
also - too
as - as, as, since, when
as…. as - also ... like
because - because
both…. and - how…. so
but - but, except
either… or - or…. or
neither ... nor - neither ... nor
however - however
if - if
in order - in order to
in case - in case
moreover - more than that
nevertheless - nonetheless
or - or
otherwise - otherwise
once - once (already)
so… that - so that
so… as - so that
that - something that
therefore - therefore
than - than
although - although
thus - thus
unless - if.., not
while - while
whether - whether ...
yet - however
like - like
lest - not to, no matter how
unlike - not like
with - with
according to - according to something
in spite of - despite ...
meanwhile - in the meantime
as if, as though - as if
as long as - until…. .
as soon as - as soon as
on condition - provided that
Shutikova Anna