{"id":349,"date":"2025-04-17T16:36:01","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T16:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/text-conjunctions\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T22:56:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T22:56:14","slug":"text-conjunctions","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/text-conjunctions\/","title":{"raw":"Other Parts of Speech: Learn It 3","rendered":"Other Parts of Speech: Learn It 3"},"content":{"raw":"Conjunctions<\/strong> are the words that join together sentences, phrases, and other words. Conjunctions are divided into several categories, each of which follows different rules.\r\n

Coordinating Conjunctions<\/span><\/h2>\r\nThe most common conjunctions are and<\/em>,\u00a0or<\/em>, and\u00a0but<\/em>. These are all\u00a0coordinating conjunctions<\/strong>. Coordinating conjunctions\u00a0are conjunctions that join -or coordinate- two or more\u00a0equivalent\u00a0items (such as words, phrases, or sentences).\r\n\r\nThe acronym FANBOYS<\/i> can be used to remember the most common coordinating conjunctions:\u00a0for<\/i>, and<\/i>, nor<\/i>, but<\/i>, or<\/i>,\u00a0yet<\/i>, and so<\/i>.\r\n\r\n
Here are some examples of coordinating conjunctions used in sentences:\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Nuclear-powered artificial hearts proved to be complicated, bulky, and<\/strong> expensive. (Here, the conjunction connects three items in a list, so we need commas.)<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Any external injury\u00a0or<\/strong> internal injury puts patients at risk of uncontrolled bleeding. (Here, the conjunction connects two equivalent items but not independent clauses, so we do not use a comma.)<\/li>\r\n \t
  • The current from the storage batteries can power lights, but<\/strong> the current for appliances must be modified within an inverter. (Here, the conjunction connects two equivalent items -independent clauses that could stand on their own - so a comma is needed).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>As you can see from the examples above, a comma only appears before these conjunctions sometimes. So how can you tell if you need a comma or not? There are three\u00a0general rules to help you decide.\r\n

    Rule 1: Joining Two Complete Ideas<\/h3>\r\nLet's look back at one of our example sentences:\r\n

    The current from the storage batteries can power lights, but the current for appliances must be modified within an inverter.<\/p>\r\nThere are two complete ideas in this sentence (a complete idea has both a\u00a0subject and a verb).\u00a0Because each of these ideas could\u00a0stand alone as a sentence<\/strong>, the coordinating conjunction that joins them must be preceded by a comma. Otherwise you have a run-on sentence.\r\n\r\n

    Run-on sentences are one of the most common errors in college-level writing. Here's some key information to remember: Correct:<\/strong> One standalone sentence is fine, but two standalone sentences can be joined with a comma and coordinating conjunction. Incorrect (comma splice):<\/strong> One standalone sentence is fine, two standalone sentences with just a comma and no coordinating conjunction is a comma splice. (The coordinating conjunction is missing here.)Incorrect (run-on):<\/strong> One standalone sentence is fine two standalone sentences together with no comma and no coordinating conjunction are a run on. (We need the coordinating conjunction and the comma here!)<\/section>\r\n

    Rule 2: Joining Two Similar Items<\/h3>\r\nWhat if there is only one complete idea but two subjects or two verbs? Consider the following examples:\r\n
      \r\n \t
    1. Any external injury or internal injury puts patients at risk of uncontrolled bleeding.<\/li>\r\n \t
    2. In the 1960s, artificial heart devices did not fit well and tended to obstruct the flow of venous blood into the right atrium.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nThe first sentence has two subjects:\u00a0external injury<\/em> and\u00a0internal injury<\/em>. They are joined with the conjunction\u00a0or<\/em>. The second sentence has two verbs:\u00a0did not fit well<\/em> and\u00a0tended to obstruct<\/em>. They are joined with the conjunction and<\/em>.\u00a0We DO NOT use a comma with a coordinating conjunction when we are joining two subjects or two verbs, only when we are joining two complete ideas (or sentences that could stand on their own).\r\n

      Rule 3: Joining Three or More Similar Items<\/h3>\r\nWhat do you do if there are three or more items?\r\n\r\n
      \r\n
        \r\n \t
      • Anna loves to run, David loves to hike, and Luz loves to dance.<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Fishing, hunting, and gathering were once the only ways for people to get food.<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Emanuel has a very careful schedule planned for tomorrow. He needs to work, study, exercise, eat, and clean.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>As you can see in the examples above, there is a comma after each item, including the item just before the conjunction (and<\/em>). There is a bit of contention about that final comma, but most styles prefer to include it (it's called the serial comma).\r\n\r\n
        [ohm2_question]40613[\/ohm2_question]<\/section>\r\n

        \"Two<\/em>Adverbial Conjunctions<\/h2>\r\nAdverbial conjunctions<\/strong>, or conjunctive adverbs, link two separate thoughts or sentences. When used to interrupt thoughts, a comma is required on either side of the conjunction.\r\n
          \r\n \t
        • The first artificial hearts were made of smooth silicone rubber, which apparently caused excessive clotting and, therefore<\/strong>, uncontrolled bleeding.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
          \r\n

          Interrupting Adverbial Conjunctions<\/h3>\r\nIncorrect:<\/strong> My sister therefore, is going to be the first transgender supreme court justice.\r\n\r\nCorrect: <\/strong>My sister, therefore, is going to be the first transgender supreme court justice.\r\n\r\n<\/section>When used to separate complete ideas (independent clauses, which each contain a subject and a verb), a semicolon is required before the conjunction and a comma after.\r\n
            \r\n \t
          • The Kedeco produces 1200 watts in 17 mph winds using a 16-foot rotor; on the other hand<\/strong>, the Dunlite produces 2000 watts in 25 mph winds.<\/li>\r\n \t
          • This is a complete sentence; however, this is also a complete sentence.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
            \r\n
              \r\n \t
            • Incorrect:<\/strong> Mexican-Americans are described by a variety of names in the United States; for example, Latine, Chicano, and Hispanic are all terms used to describe Americans of Mexican descent. (connecting)<\/li>\r\n \t
            • Correct:<\/strong> Mexican-Americans are described by a variety of names in the United States;<\/strong> for example, Latinx, Chicano, and Hispanic are all terms used to describe Americans of Mexican descent.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>Be careful to think about whether the adverbial conjunction is interrupting (like therefore<\/em>\u00a0above) or connecting (like on the other hand<\/em> or for example<\/em>).\r\n\r\nAdverbial conjunctions include the following words; however, it is important to note that this is by no means a complete list.\"A<\/b>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
              therefore<\/td>\r\nhowever<\/td>\r\nin other words<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
              thus<\/td>\r\nthen<\/td>\r\notherwise<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
              nevertheless<\/td>\r\non the other hand<\/td>\r\nin fact<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n
              [ohm2_question]40614[\/ohm2_question]<\/section>\r\n

              Correlative Conjunctions<\/span><\/h2>\r\nCorrelative conjunctions<\/b>\u00a0are word pairs that work together to join words and groups of words of equal weight in a sentence.\r\n\r\nThe table below shows some examples of correlative conjunctions used in sentences:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
              Correlative Conjunction<\/th>\r\nExample<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n
              either\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0or<\/td>\r\nYou either<\/b> do your work or<\/b> prepare for a trip to the office. (Either do, or prepare)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
              neither\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0nor<\/td>\r\nNeither<\/b> the basketball team nor<\/b> the football team is doing well.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
              not only\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0but (also)<\/td>\r\nHe is not only<\/b> handsome\u00a0but<\/b> also<\/b> brilliant. (Not only A but also B)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
              Not only<\/b> is he handsome, but<\/b> also<\/b> he is brilliant. (Not only is he A, but also he is B)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
              both\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0and<\/td>\r\nBoth<\/b> the cross-country team and<\/b> the swimming team are doing well.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nBe careful! Correlative conjunctions can give you subject and verb agreement issues.\r\n\r\nCorrect:<\/strong> Neither the teacher nor the students are happy.\r\n\r\nIncorrect:<\/strong> Neither the teachers<\/em> nor the students<\/em> are happy.\r\n\r\nThe verb matches the closest subject. We reviewed this in the Verbs section.\r\n

              Subordinating Conjunctions<\/span><\/h2>\r\nSubordinating conjunctions <\/b>are conjunctions that join an independent clause and a dependent clause.\u00a0The most common subordinating conjunctions in the English language are shown in the table below:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
              after<\/td>\r\nalthough<\/td>\r\nas<\/td>\r\nas far as<\/td>\r\nas if<\/td>\r\nas long as<\/td>\r\nas soon as<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
              as though<\/td>\r\nbecause<\/td>\r\nbefore<\/td>\r\neven if<\/td>\r\neven though<\/td>\r\nevery time<\/td>\r\nif<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
              in order that<\/td>\r\nsince<\/td>\r\nso<\/td>\r\nso that<\/td>\r\nthan<\/td>\r\nthough<\/td>\r\nunless<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
              until<\/td>\r\nwhen<\/td>\r\nwhenever<\/td>\r\nwhere<\/td>\r\nwhereas<\/td>\r\nwherever<\/td>\r\n\u00a0while<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n
              <\/div>\r\n
              Here are some examples of subordinating conjunctions:\r\n
                \r\n \t
              • The heart undergoes two cardiac cycle periods: diastole, when<\/strong> blood enters the ventricles, and systole, when<\/strong> the ventricles contract and blood is pumped out of the heart.<\/li>\r\n \t
              • Whenever<\/strong> an electron acquires enough energy to leave its orbit, the atom is positively charged.<\/li>\r\n \t
              • She did the favor\u00a0so that<\/strong> he would owe her one.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n

                Let's take a step back and look for a pattern in comma usage. Commas aren\u2019t based on whether a subordinating conjunction is present\u2014they depend on the placement of the clauses.<\/p>\r\n

                Some clauses add extra information that isn\u2019t necessary for the main meaning of the sentence. These nonessential<\/strong> clauses need commas to separate them from the rest of the sentence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

                \r\n

                Example: <\/strong>The heart undergoes two cardiac cycle periods: diastole, when blood enters the ventricles, and systole, when the ventricles contract and blood is pumped out of the heart.<\/p>\r\n

                Without extra information: <\/strong>The heart undergoes two cardiac cycle periods: diastole and systole.<\/p>\r\n

                In the first sentence, the extra details about when<\/em> blood enters and exits the heart are helpful but not essential. That\u2019s why they\u2019re set off with commas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/section>\r\n

                A dependent clause<\/strong> cannot stand alone as a full sentence, while an independent clause<\/strong> can.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

                \r\n

                Example: <\/strong>Whenever an electron acquires enough energy to leave its orbit, the atom is positively charged.<\/p>\r\n

                As seen in the example above, when a dependent clause comes before<\/em> an independent clause, it should be followed by a comma.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

                  \r\n \t
                • A complete sentence (Independent clause):<\/strong> The atom is positively charged.<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t
                • Not a complete sentence (Dependent clause):<\/strong> Whenever an electron acquires enough energy to leave its orbit.<\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                  If a dependent clause follows<\/strong> an independent clause, no comma<\/strong> is needed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

                    \r\n \t
                  • Example (No Comma Needed): <\/strong>She did the favor so that he would owe her one.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nBut if the dependent clause comes first, you do use a comma:\r\n
                      \r\n \t
                    • Example (Comma Needed): <\/strong>So that he would owe her one, she did the favor.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>
                      \r\n

                      Comma Usage and Placement<\/h3>\r\n

                      Dependent clause first \u2192 Use a comma<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

                        \r\n \t
                      • Whenever an electron acquires enough energy to leave its orbit, the atom is positively charged.<\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                        Dependent clause after \u2192 No comma<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

                          \r\n \t
                        • She did the favor so that he would owe her one.<\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                          Extra (nonessential) information \u2192 Use commas on both sides<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

                            \r\n \t
                          • The heart undergoes two cardiac cycle periods: diastole, when blood enters the ventricles, and systole, when the ventricles contract and blood is pumped out of the heart.<\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>","rendered":"

                            Conjunctions<\/strong> are the words that join together sentences, phrases, and other words. Conjunctions are divided into several categories, each of which follows different rules.<\/p>\n

                            Coordinating Conjunctions<\/span><\/h2>\n

                            The most common conjunctions are and<\/em>,\u00a0or<\/em>, and\u00a0but<\/em>. These are all\u00a0coordinating conjunctions<\/strong>. Coordinating conjunctions\u00a0are conjunctions that join -or coordinate- two or more\u00a0equivalent\u00a0items (such as words, phrases, or sentences).<\/p>\n

                            The acronym FANBOYS<\/i> can be used to remember the most common coordinating conjunctions:\u00a0for<\/i>, and<\/i>, nor<\/i>, but<\/i>, or<\/i>,\u00a0yet<\/i>, and so<\/i>.<\/p>\n

                            Here are some examples of coordinating conjunctions used in sentences:<\/p>\n
                              \n
                            • Nuclear-powered artificial hearts proved to be complicated, bulky, and<\/strong> expensive. (Here, the conjunction connects three items in a list, so we need commas.)<\/li>\n
                            • Any external injury\u00a0or<\/strong> internal injury puts patients at risk of uncontrolled bleeding. (Here, the conjunction connects two equivalent items but not independent clauses, so we do not use a comma.)<\/li>\n
                            • The current from the storage batteries can power lights, but<\/strong> the current for appliances must be modified within an inverter. (Here, the conjunction connects two equivalent items -independent clauses that could stand on their own – so a comma is needed).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n

                              As you can see from the examples above, a comma only appears before these conjunctions sometimes. So how can you tell if you need a comma or not? There are three\u00a0general rules to help you decide.<\/p>\n

                              Rule 1: Joining Two Complete Ideas<\/h3>\n

                              Let’s look back at one of our example sentences:<\/p>\n

                              The current from the storage batteries can power lights, but the current for appliances must be modified within an inverter.<\/p>\n

                              There are two complete ideas in this sentence (a complete idea has both a\u00a0subject and a verb).\u00a0Because each of these ideas could\u00a0stand alone as a sentence<\/strong>, the coordinating conjunction that joins them must be preceded by a comma. Otherwise you have a run-on sentence.<\/p>\n

                              Run-on sentences are one of the most common errors in college-level writing. Here’s some key information to remember: Correct:<\/strong> One standalone sentence is fine, but two standalone sentences can be joined with a comma and coordinating conjunction. Incorrect (comma splice):<\/strong> One standalone sentence is fine, two standalone sentences with just a comma and no coordinating conjunction is a comma splice. (The coordinating conjunction is missing here.)Incorrect (run-on):<\/strong> One standalone sentence is fine two standalone sentences together with no comma and no coordinating conjunction are a run on. (We need the coordinating conjunction and the comma here!)<\/section>\n

                              Rule 2: Joining Two Similar Items<\/h3>\n

                              What if there is only one complete idea but two subjects or two verbs? Consider the following examples:<\/p>\n

                                \n
                              1. Any external injury or internal injury puts patients at risk of uncontrolled bleeding.<\/li>\n
                              2. In the 1960s, artificial heart devices did not fit well and tended to obstruct the flow of venous blood into the right atrium.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                The first sentence has two subjects:\u00a0external injury<\/em> and\u00a0internal injury<\/em>. They are joined with the conjunction\u00a0or<\/em>. The second sentence has two verbs:\u00a0did not fit well<\/em> and\u00a0tended to obstruct<\/em>. They are joined with the conjunction and<\/em>.\u00a0We DO NOT use a comma with a coordinating conjunction when we are joining two subjects or two verbs, only when we are joining two complete ideas (or sentences that could stand on their own).<\/p>\n

                                Rule 3: Joining Three or More Similar Items<\/h3>\n

                                What do you do if there are three or more items?<\/p>\n

                                \n
                                  \n
                                • Anna loves to run, David loves to hike, and Luz loves to dance.<\/li>\n
                                • Fishing, hunting, and gathering were once the only ways for people to get food.<\/li>\n
                                • Emanuel has a very careful schedule planned for tomorrow. He needs to work, study, exercise, eat, and clean.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n

                                  As you can see in the examples above, there is a comma after each item, including the item just before the conjunction (and<\/em>). There is a bit of contention about that final comma, but most styles prefer to include it (it’s called the serial comma).<\/p>\n