Conjunctions are like hinges. They connect words, phrases, and clauses. Let’s review the three types of conjunctions.
The most common conjunctions are called coordinating conjunctions. The word coordinate means to bring different elements into a harmonious and orderly relationship.
Which is better: Mars or Snickers?
The beach was nice, but the seagulls were annoying.
Use whatever strategy works for you. These are some of the most common building blocks of language and you’ll want to be able to identify them.
The word subordinate means to treat something as being of less importance than another. Just like a king rules over his people (his subordinates), so a sentence has elements that are of lower rank or importance.
When Jim went to China, he accidentally ordered a hot dog.
Once we’ve graduated, we can do anything!
I won’t tell you the story unless you buy me a drink.
I made only two friendship bracelets because I have only two friends.
As you can see, while there are just a few correlative conjunctions, we use them all the time.
She wrote so many Christmas cards.
The hose was leaking, so I bought some new washers.
They knew each other before the war.
Before we had our staycation, we had no idea how many local attractions there are.
Cathy’s pigeons are more iridescent than mine.
He clearly loves you more than I do.
Everything depends on context. The more parts of speech you learn, the easier it gets to differentiate them. That’s the theory anyway.