Conjunctions: Coordinating, Subordinating, and Correlative

Conjunctions, also known as linking or connecting words, are used to join words, phrases and clauses in a sentence. There are three types of conjunctions in the English language: coordinating, subordinating, and correlative.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Rule 1: We use coordinating conjunctions to join two or more ideas of equal value - words, phrases, clauses. A coordinating conjunction is always placed between the two elements it connects.

Rule 2: We can divide coordinating conjunctions into different categories, depending on their meaning or function in a sentence.

Here's an overview:

Subordinating Conjunctions

Rule 3: We use subordinating conjunctions to connect a main (independent) clause and a subordinate (dependent) clause, and emphasise or support the idea expressed in the main clause.

Rule 4: We can divide subordinating conjunctions into different categories, depending on their meaning or function in a sentence.

Here's an overview:

Note: A subordinating conjunction always introduces a dependent clause, meaning that it must be placed in front of that clause. Nonetheless, the order of the independent and dependent clause is not fixed.

Correlative Conjunctions

Rule 5: We use correlative conjunctions - two-word conjunctions - to link two elements of the same grammatical structure (just like coordinating conjunctions).

Rule 6: We can divide correlative conjunctions into different categories, depending on their meaning or function in a sentence.

Here's an overview:

Note: When a sentence begins with correlative conjunctions not only ... but also / no sooner ... than / scarcely ... when, the subject and auxiliary verb are inverted.