Conjunctions
A
conjunction is a
word that connects words or groups of words.
Spot the conjunctions in the
following sentences.
1.
Bob and Dan
are friends. (The conjunction "and" connects two nouns.)
2.
He will drive
or fly. ("Or" connects two verbs.)
3.
It is early but
we can go. ("But" connects two groups of words.)
Types
of conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions connect two equal parts of a sentence. The most
common ones are: and, or, but, and so.
Subordinating
conjunctions connect two parts of a sentence that are not
equal. Some of the more common subordinating conjunctions are: after,
before, unless, although, if, until, as, since, when, because, than, while etc.
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that work together.
In the sentence Both ]an and Meg are good swimmers, "both" and "and" are correlative
conjunctions. The most common correlative conjunctions are: both ... and,
either ... or, neither ... nor, not only ... but also etc.
Pairs
only
Some conjunctions are used in pairs only.
Their use is correct only in pairs, not
otherwise. The more popular pairs are: Either ... or, neither ... nor, both
... and, though ... yet, although ... yet, whether ... or, not only ...
but also, lest ... should, no sooner ... than, scarcely ... when, hardly ...
when, as much ... as, etc.
Let us use these conjunction pairs in sentences.
1.
I shall either
read or write a story.
2.
He is neither
strong nor courageous.
3.
Both Mohan
and Ram have passed.
4.
Though
he is poor yet he is honest.
5.
I will go whether
he comes or not.
6.
He will not
only encourage you but also help you.
7.
Work hard lest
you should fail.
8.
No
sooner had he reached the station than the train started.
9.
It was hardly
ten o'clock when I called on him.
10.
He is as
much greedy as miserable.
Rules
of use
"Either ... or" and "neither :.. nor" can
be used as conjunctions linking two or more than two elements.
In other words, as correlative conjunctions they can be used for two
or more than two persons or things. But as pronouns and adverbs they can be used for only two persons or
things.
1.
Neither
Ram nor his father, nor even his friend could be of any help
to me.
2.
Neither
power nor wealth, nor position can hold back the march of
law.
3.
Either
my father or my brother or my uncle will help me in my hour
of need.
4.
Either
Kanpur or Luckrw or Agra will be good enough to settle down
after retirement.
5.
I shall either
walk or jog to office.
After "not either" we should use
"or" (not "nor")
1.
Your friend is
not either reasonable or fair. ("nor fair" is
wrong.)
2.
This book is not
either exhaustive or up-to-date. ("nor up-to-date" is
wrong.)
1.
He has no
relation or friend who can support him, (not "nor")
2.
He has not
a relation or a friend who can support him. (not "nor")
3.
He does
not have a relation or a friend who can support him. (not "nor")
4.
I never lived there or even went there before.
(not "nor")
No "not" with "until" and
"unless"
We should not add "not" with
these, as these are already negative.
1.
I shall wait
until you come. (Not "until you do not come")
2.
I shall fail
unless you help me. (Not "unless you do not help me")
Use "or not" after "whether"
and "if"
1.
I do not
know whether (or if) he has gone or not.
2.
I doubt whether
he will help me or not.
3.
Whether he will help me or not is doubtful.
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Common
errors
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The correct form
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Why?
(The theory)
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1
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I
doubt as to whether he
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I
doubt whether he will
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Do not use"as to"
before"whether".
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will
help me or not.
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help
me or not.
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2
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I do
not know as to whether
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I do
not know whether
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he is
honest or not
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he is
honest or not
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3
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I do
not doubt whether he
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I
do not doubt that he
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If a
negative or an interrogative
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will
help me or not.
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will help me.
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sentence
has to be made with
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"doubt" or
"doubtful", we should use
the
conjunction "that" in place of
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4
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Is it
not doubtful whether
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Is it
not doubtful that
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he
will help you or not?
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he will help
you?
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"whether
... or not".
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5
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The
reason why he failed is
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The
reason why he failed
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When
sentences begin with "The
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because
he did not study
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is
that he did not study
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reason
is" or"The reason why"the
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seriously.
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seriously,
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clause
coming after should be
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connected
with the conjunction
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"that" and not with
"because", "due
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to"
or "owing to".
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6
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The
sun will set before you
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The
sun will set before
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When
"before" is used as a
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will
reach.
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you reach.
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conjunction, it points to some future
event or statement, but future tense
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7
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He
will retire before a
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He will
retire before a
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month
will have passed.
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month
has passed.
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is
not used with it, even if its
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principal clause is in the future tense.
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8
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He
will return after the train
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He will return
after the
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The clause following "after" is
usually
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leaves,
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train
has left.
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in the present perfect tense (not in
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simple
present).
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9
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He
behaved as if he is the
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He
behaved as if he
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"As
if" and "as though" are
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king.
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were
the king.
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imaginary
or conditional
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expressions. These use past
conditional tense after them, not
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10
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He
danced with joy as
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He
danced with joy as
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though
he will win the first
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though
he had won the
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present
or future tense.
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prize,
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first prize.
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Because
vs. in order that
We use "because"
to show reason and "in order that" to show purpose.
1. He failed because he did not work hard.
2. He worked hard in order that he may secure first division.
Since then and ever since
When "since" is used
as a conjunction, the verb before it should be in the present perfect tense and the verb after it in past indefinite tense.
1.
Many new developments have taken place since I left home.
2.
I have
never seen him since his father died.
Because, for or since
All these three words show cause
or reason. The difference is in the
force — "because" has the
greatest force in it, "for"
has the least and "since" falls between the two.
1. I must go because my mother
is ill. 2. He
could not catch up since he was
lazy.
3.
He cannot be trusted for he takes everything casually.
This is about "that"
Only in
indirect narration
As a
conjunction "that" is used
only in indirect narration, not in direct narration.
Incorrect: He said that "I am ill." Correct: He said that he
was ill.
Restricted use
"That" as conjunction is not used in interrogative, imperative, optative or exclamatory
clauses, whether the whole sentence is in the direct or indirect
narration.
1.
Incorrect: He asked me that why I was late.
2.
Incorrect: He asked me that "Why are you late?"
3.
Incorrect: He said to the servant that "Bring me a glass of
water."
4.
Incorrect: He said that how beautiful was the scene!
5.
Incorrect: He said that may God bless you!
Not
with interrogative pronouns and adverbs
"That"
as a conjunction is not used in clauses beginning with
interrogative pronouns (which, who, what, etc.) or interrogative adverbs (where,
why, when, how, etc.).
1. Incorrect: He asked that what the time was? 2. Incorrect: He asked that
who he was?
3. Incorrect: I
do not know that when he will come? 4. Incorrect: He does not know that where he is?
Note: But if
the principal clause comes after the
clauses beginning with interrogative
pronouns or
interrogative adverbs, the conjunction "that" will be used.
1.
I promise that when
I come next I will bring your book. In this
sentence the use :'that before when is correct because the principal
clause '7 will bring
your book" comes after the clause beginning
with when.
2.
I
know that what he says is not true.
Hidden
"that"
There are some verbs
(believe, think, hope, presume, suppose, and be afraid) after which
"that" is concealed or understood. In the following sentences,
? indicates where "that" is hidden or understood.
1. I believe ? he is
right. 2. I hope ?
he is now well.
3. I am
afraid ? he is wrong.
Conditional
or supposition sentences
Simple
future tense
1. If you start early, you
will reach in time. [present simple + future simple]
2. If you are honest, you
will be respected. [present simple + future simple]
Simple past tense
1.
If he built two houses, he would
give you
one. (past simple + would)
2.
If I secured first position, he would
give me a
golden watch. (past simple + would)
3.
If you discovered the treasure, you would
get your
share. (past simple + would)
Past
perfect tense
1.
If I had built two houses, I
would have given you one. (had + would have)
2.
If I had secured first position, he would
have given me
a golden watch. (had + would have)
3.
If you had discovered the treasure, you would
have got your
share. (had + would have)
Note—These
sentences can also begin with "Had" in place of "If".
"Such
... as" vs. "such ... that"
"Such ... as" is used to denote a
category whereas "such that" emphasises the degree of
something by mentioning its consequence.
1. Incorrect:
Each
member of the alliance agrees to take such action that it deems
necessary.
Here "it deems necessary" is not a consequence of "such
action': The sentence wants to imply that the action belongs to the category.
"as it deems necessary' In other words, what kind of action? Such action
as it deems necessary.
Correct:
Each
member of the alliance agrees to take such action as it deems necessary.
2.
Incorrect: She
looked at him in such distress as he had to look away.
Here, "he had to look away" is a
consequence of "she looked at him in such distress. "In other words,
the degree of the distress of looking at him was such (so great)
that he had to look away.
Correct:
She
looked at him in such distress that he had to look away.
But after "nothing else"
"Nothing
else' should be followed by "but" and not by "than".
1. Incorrect: Mr
Bureaucrat! This is nothing else than red-tapism.
Correct: Mr Bureaucrat! This is nothing else but red-tapism.
Correct: Mr Bureaucrat! This is nothing else but red-tapism.
Incorrect
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Correct
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Scarcely had he arrived than he had to
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Scarcely had he arrived when he had to
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leave again,
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leave again.
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No sooner had we reached the station when
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No sooner had we reached the station than
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the train left.
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the train left.
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The national network seldom or ever
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The national network seldom or never
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telecasts good programmes.
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telecasts good programmes.
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OR
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The national network seldom, if ever,
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telecasts good
programmes.
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He neither •agreed to my proposal nor to
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He agreed neither to my proposal nor to
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his.
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his.
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The phone neither went dead or worked
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The phone neither went dead nor worked
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properly,
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Properly. y.
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He said that, "It is none of my business."
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He said, "It
is none of my business."
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He asked me that
where I stayed.
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He asked me where I stayed.
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Although Manohar is hardworking, but he
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Although Manohar is hardworking, yet he
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does not get a job.
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does not get a job.
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Not only the students but also the teacher
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Not only the students but also the teacher
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were responsible for what happened in the
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was responsible for what happened in the
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class.
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class.
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Exercise
Correct
the following sentences.
1.
It is nothing
else than a trick being played upon you.
2. He has no other business but to play with computers.
3.
India seldom
or ever wins a medal at the Olympics.
4. I don't know whether Ramakant is equally good as Vijay.
5. I have not only looked after my children but also my
sister's.
6.
Both he and
as well as I footed the bill.
7.
He has no
choice than to start his own business.
8.
It is nothing
else than a wicked desire.
9. She asked me that I could answer her question.
10. He does not interfere without he is compelled.
11. It is•difficult to know whether you have been
selected.
12. I am interested in such books which are interesting.
13. Such was his pronunciation, as I could not understand
him.
14.
Most of the
girls are doing their post-graduation because they may get good husbands.
15.
He treats us
as slaves.
16.
Although they
listen to me, but their actions prove otherwise.
1. It is
nothing else but a trick being played upon you.
2. He has no other business than playing with computers.
3. India seldom or never wins a medal at the Olympics.
4. I don't know whether Ramakant is as good as Vijay.
5. 1 have looked after not only my children but also
my sister's.
6. Both
he and I footed the bill.
7. He
has no choice but to start his own business.
8. It is nothing else but a wicked desire.
9. She asked me whether I could answer her question.
10. He does not interfere without being compelled. Also
correct: He does not interfere unless he is compelled.
The
sentence is correct.
Whether
itself means if .... or
not. So, you need not add the words or
not at
the end of the sentence. However, for the sake of emphasis, or
not is sometimes added.
I am
interested in such books as are interesting.
Such was
his pronunciation that I could not understand him.
Most of the girls are doing their post-graduation so that
they may get good husbands.
He
treats us like slaves.
Although they listen to me, yet their
actions prove otherwise.
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