Conjunctions: Definition, Grammar Rules and Examples

Conjunctions are words that link other words, phrases, and clauses together.

There are three main kinds of conjunctions: coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions are words like but, and, or, yet, and so. They join together two parts of a sentence that have equal grammatical rank.

• I would eat pizza and mozzarella sticks for lunch.

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions like either/or, neither/nor, and not only/but also.

• I would like to eat either pizza or Chinese food for lunch.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions join independent and dependent clauses. Subordinating conjunctions can show a cause and effect or a contrasting relationship.

• Although I wanted to go out for dinner, I stayed home and cooked.