What is a Conjunction? Use, Examples & Definition of Conjunctions

Learn what a conjunction is, the different types of conjunctions, and how to use them correctly with examples and rules.

Understanding conjunctions is essential if you want to write and speak English fluently. Conjunctions connect ideas, words, and phrases so your sentences flow naturally. In this article, you’ll learn what conjunctions are, how to use them, and see clear examples in action. By the end, you’ll feel confident using conjunctions to join ideas smoothly and effectively.

What is a Conjunction?

A conjunction is a word you use to connect words, phrases, or clauses. It helps you join ideas so your writing or speech sounds natural and logical. Words like and, but, or, because, and although are conjunctions.

Without conjunctions, your sentences would sound short and disconnected. With them, you can express relationships like contrast, cause and effect, condition, addition, or sequence.

Example: I wanted to go for a walk. It was raining.
Improved: I wanted to go for a walk, but it was raining.

The word but is a conjunction that joins two ideas and shows contrast. That’s how a conjunction works.

Why Conjunctions Matter

Conjunctions give your sentences structure and meaning. They help you:

• Combine short ideas into complex thoughts
• Show how ideas relate to each other
• Avoid repetition
• Make writing smoother and more natural

Without conjunctions, your sentences might sound like a list of facts. Conjunctions connect your ideas so they make sense together.

Types of Conjunctions

Conjunctions fall into three main types:

1. Coordinating Conjunctions
2. Correlative Conjunctions
3. Subordinating Conjunctions

Each type plays a different role in connecting ideas, and understanding them helps you use conjunctions naturally. Let’s explore each one with definitions, examples, and rules.

Coordinating Conjunctions

A coordinating conjunction joins two or more words, phrases, or independent clauses of equal importance.

You can remember the seven main coordinating conjunctions using the acronym FANBOYS:

Letter	Conjunction	Function
F	for	explains reason or purpose
A	and	adds one idea to another
N	nor	shows a negative alternative
B	but	shows contrast
O	or	gives a choice or alternative
Y	yet	shows contrast (like “but”)
S	so	shows result or effect

Examples of Coordinating Conjunctions

• He apologized, for he knew he was wrong.
• She sings and plays guitar beautifully.
• We didn’t go swimming, nor did we go hiking.
• I wanted coffee, but I made tea instead.
• You can come early, or you can wait until noon.
• He worked hard, yet he didn’t get the promotion.
• He was tired, so he went to bed.

Each conjunction connects ideas of equal weight and makes the sentence flow naturally.

Rules for Using Coordinating Conjunctions

• Place the conjunction between two equal parts.
• Use a comma before the conjunction if it joins two independent clauses.
• Don’t start every sentence with a conjunction, but it’s fine in informal writing.

Example: I love reading, and I enjoy writing.
(both clauses are independent)

Example: You can stay or leave.
(joins two verbs)

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to connect two equal parts of a sentence. They show balance or contrast between ideas.

Common Correlative Conjunctions

Pair	Example
both…and	Both John and Mary are coming.
either…or	You can either call or email me.
neither…nor	She is neither angry nor upset.
not only…but also	He is not only smart but also kind.
whether…or	Whether you win or lose, play fair.

Examples of Correlative Conjunctions in Sentences

• Either you apologize or you leave.
• She is not only a teacher but also a mentor.
• Neither the boys nor the girls were late.
• Both the manager and the assistant agreed.
• Whether we stay or go, we’ll decide soon.

Rules for Using Correlative Conjunctions

• Keep the sentence parts parallel.
  Incorrect: She likes not only to sing but also dancing.
  Correct: She likes not only to sing but also to dance.
• Make sure the conjunction pair matches logically.
• Avoid mixing conjunction pairs.

Subordinating Conjunctions

A subordinating conjunction joins a dependent (subordinate) clause to an independent clause. It shows the relationship between the two ideas, such as time, reason, condition, or contrast.

For example: Because it was raining, we stayed inside.

In this sentence, “Because it was raining” is a dependent clause — it gives a reason but can’t stand alone as a complete sentence. It depends on another idea to make sense.

“We stayed inside” is an independent clause — it expresses a complete thought and can stand alone.

The subordinating conjunction because links these two clauses. It connects the reason (dependent clause) with the result (independent clause), showing the cause-and-effect relationship between them.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions

Function	Conjunctions	Example
Time	after, before, when, while, until, since, as soon as	After you finish, we’ll go out.
Cause/Reason	because, since, as	I stayed home because it was raining.
Condition	if, unless, provided that, in case	If it rains, we’ll stay inside.
Contrast	although, though, even though, whereas	Although it’s cold, we went for a walk.
Purpose	so that, in order that	He whispered so that no one could hear.
Result	so…that, such…that	The movie was so funny that we laughed for hours.
Place	where, wherever	Sit where you feel comfortable.

Examples of Subordinating Conjunctions in Sentences

• Because I was tired, I went to bed early.
• She smiled although she was nervous.
• We’ll start when everyone arrives.
• You can’t enter unless you have a ticket.
• I’ll wait until you call me.

Subordinating conjunctions show how one idea depends on another.

Rules for Using Subordinating Conjunctions

• When the dependent clause comes first, use a comma.
  Example: Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
• When the main clause comes first, no comma is needed.
  Example: We stayed inside because it was raining.
• Avoid sentence fragments. A dependent clause can’t stand alone.

Difference Between Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions

Feature	Coordinating Conjunctions	Subordinating Conjunctions
Function	Join equal ideas	Join dependent and independent clauses
Examples	and, but, or, so	because, although, if, when
Punctuation	Comma before conjunction (if joining clauses)	Comma after dependent clause (if it starts the sentence)
Example Sentences	I was tired, but I kept working.	Although I was tired, I kept working.

Rules for Using Conjunctions

Here are key rules to help you use conjunctions correctly.

1. Use conjunctions to show relationships between ideas, not just to connect them.
2. Keep sentences balanced when using coordinating or correlative conjunctions.
3. Place commas correctly depending on clause order.
4. Avoid fragments when using subordinating conjunctions.
5. Don’t start every sentence with a conjunction, use it for emphasis only when needed.
6. Maintain consistency in parallel phrases.

How Conjunctions Are Used in Sentences

You can use conjunctions to join words, phrases, or clauses. Let’s explore how each type works.

1. Joining Words

Conjunctions connect single words of the same kind.

Example:

• She likes apples and oranges.
• You can stay or go.
• He is tall but thin.

2. Joining Phrases

Conjunctions link related phrases.

Example:

• I’ll call you before going home.
• He’s interested in reading and writing.
• We worked hard so that we could succeed.

3. Joining Clauses

Conjunctions connect two or more clauses to form compound or complex sentences.

Example:

• I missed the bus, so I took a taxi.
• Although it was late, we kept talking.
• You can join us if you finish early.

Common Mistakes with Conjunctions

Even advanced learners make errors with conjunctions. Let’s fix some common ones.

1. Using Too Many Conjunctions

Too many conjunctions can make sentences confusing.

Wrong: I was tired but I wanted to go out and it was late so I stayed.
Correct: I was tired, but I wanted to go out. It was late, so I stayed home.

2. Creating Run-On Sentences

Avoid joining too many ideas with conjunctions without proper punctuation.

Wrong: I love music and I play guitar and I sing and I write songs.
Correct: I love music. I play guitar, and I sing and write songs.

3. Forgetting Parallel Structure in Correlative Conjunctions

Both sides of a correlative pair must be grammatically similar.

Wrong: He is not only smart but also has kindness.
Correct: He is not only smart but also kind.

4. Misusing Commas

Don’t use commas unnecessarily with conjunctions.

Wrong: I went to the store, and bought milk.
Correct: I went to the store and bought milk.

How Conjunctions Improve Writing and Speech

Conjunctions make your English smoother, more natural, and more logical. They:

• Help you combine short sentences effectively
• Show relationships like contrast, time, and reason
• Improve sentence rhythm and flow
• Add variety and clarity to your writing
• Make ideas easier to follow

Without conjunctions, your writing might sound robotic. With them, it sounds polished and expressive.

Without conjunctions: I like reading. I like writing. I like teaching.

With conjunctions: I like reading, writing, and teaching.

That’s the power of conjunctions.

Conjunctions in Everyday Speech

You use conjunctions constantly in conversation. They make your speech sound natural and connected.

Examples:

• I’ll call you after dinner.
• We can go out if it stops raining.
• She was tired, but happy.
• He’s funny and smart.

Without conjunctions, your sentences sound broken. With them, your ideas connect smoothly.

Conjunctions in Writing

In writing, conjunctions help you create complex, interesting sentences. They improve readability and show how ideas relate.

Good writing example: I stayed home because it was raining, but I read a good book instead.

Poor writing example: It was raining. I stayed home. I read a book.

The first sentence uses conjunctions to join related ideas, making it sound natural and professional.

In essays, conjunctions help you transition between ideas. Words like however, although, and because make your arguments clear.

Review Table: Conjunctions at a Glance

Type	Examples	Function	Example Sentence
Coordinating	and, but, or, so, for, nor, yet	Connect equal ideas	I like tea, but I prefer coffee.
Correlative	both…and, either…or, not only…but also	Work in pairs to connect ideas Show relationship between clauses	She is not only smart but also creative.
Subordinating	because, although, if, when, until	Show relationship between clauses	Because I was late, I missed the bus.

Conjunctions are the glue that holds your sentences together. They make your communication smoother and more meaningful.

You need them to:

• Express complex ideas clearly
• Avoid repetition
• Build logical connections
• Sound fluent and natural

Without conjunctions, you’d rely on short, choppy sentences. With them, your English becomes more elegant and expressive.

Conclusion

Now you understand conjunctions, what they are, how they work, and why they matter. Conjunctions connect your ideas, improve flow, and make your English sound natural.

Whether you’re writing essays, emails, or having conversations, conjunctions help you express yourself clearly. The more you use conjunctions correctly, the more fluent and confident you’ll sound.