According to the Royal Academy of Language, a conjunction is a “class of invariable words, generally unstressed, whose elements manifest coordination or subordination relationships between words, syntactic groups or sentences.”
This definition means that conjunctions are a set of words that cannot be modified in form (they do not change gender or number) and whose function is to serve as a link between parts of a sentence and even between sentences.
The following examples show sentences containing conjunctions highlighted in green:
Types of conjunctions
Taking into account the definition of the RAE, we will divide conjunctions into two types: coordinating and subordinating.
Within both types there are both conjunctions and conjunctive phrases, which are sets of words that perform the same functions as conjunctions within sentences.
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS:
They are those that join two parts of a sentence or two sentences that have the same hierarchy, that is, they have the same function or grammatical category, which makes them independent of each other.
Within coordinating conjunctions four types can be distinguished:
Copulative:
These conjunctions are those that indicate addition or accumulation.
Those that appear in the table accompanied by an example sentence belong to this type:
CONJUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
Y/ E in front of i, hi
Maria was in the kitchen and I was in the living room.
NOR / NOR… NOR…
I don’t feel like it neither salad neither soup.
NOT ONLY…
BUT ALSO…
Not only he is a great teacher but also a good companion.
AS MUCH AS…
So much your sister as Your brother can come to the play to see you perform.
AS WELL AS…
I read all the newspapers, as well as their supplements every weekend.
LIKE…
Equal he wants to come by bus that On the metro, your card is valid for both transports.
THE SAME AS…
Sara is a case, the same goes out into the street in pajamas that she puts on her heels to have dinner in front of the television.
Adversaries:
These conjunctions are those that qualify or contrast ideas/facts.
Those that appear in the table accompanied by an example sentence belong to this type:
CONJUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
ON THE CONTRARY
On the contrary than we thought, Julio ate even dessert.
ALTHOUGH
Although According to the predictions, the boy in the blue shirt was the winner of the race.
ALTHOUGH
Teresa got all the ingredients, although He barely had time to make the purchase.
INSTEAD
Pablo finished his drawing, instead I had to finish it at home.
BUT
The book is very extensive, but Every word is worth it.
HOWEVER
The first part of the project has been simple; howeverthe second one is going to take us more time.
Distributive:
These conjunctions show the alternation of options that are not exclusive and, therefore, compatible.
Those that appear in the table accompanied by an example sentence belong to this type:
CONJUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
WELL WELL…
Good we move away from the problem, good we solve it.
ORA ORA…
pray decide one thing, pray you decide another.
BE… BE…
Do not doubt that I will see your exhibition be in the morning, be in the afternoon.
AS MUCH AS…
I love both desserts. so much your mother’s as that of mine.
NOW… NOW…
He likes to practice very different sports: already The golf, already the Rugby, already the swimming.
Dilemmas:
These conjunctions are what indicate the existence of several options.
Those that appear in the following table with an example sentence belong to this type:
CONJUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
O /U when the next word begins with o, ho
You can do homework at home either in your grandfather’s house.
EITHER…OR…
Carlos has two options: O well buy the chocolate cake O well the cream cakes.
Explanatory:
These conjunctions are those that introduce a clarification about something previously stated.
Those that appear in the following table with an example sentence belong to this type:
CONJUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
THAT IS TO SAY
The t-shirt you are looking for may be in stocks, that is to saythey may have it in stock.
IT’S MORE
That building is very tall, it’s moreit is the tallest building in the entire neighborhood.
THIS IS
We need professional painters, this ispeople who understand how the stain on the facade should be covered.
RATHER
The cake is chocolate, ratherit is pure chocolate.
I MEAN
To go to another level I need half a point, I meanreach seven.
SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS:
They are those that introduce a proposition or sentence subordinate to another main one, that is, propositions or sentences that depend on another to make sense; Therefore, they join sentences or propositions with different hierarchy or grammatical category.
Within the subordinating conjunctions also there are different typessome of them are listed below:
Causes:
They are those that introduce the reason or reasons why some circumstance has occurred.
The following that appear in the table with their corresponding example sentences belong to this type:
CONJUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
AS
As You have arrived early, you will have more time to eat.
GIVEN THE
Given the The amount of tomatoes harvested has not been very large, I don’t think there will be many benefits.
BECAUSE
There is no problem because We bought the tickets months ago.
WELL
Marta will be delighted to welcome you well He was very kind to her.
SINCE
I’ll talk to the director since you don’t dare.
SINCE
Since We are late for dinner, the minimum is that we clear the table ourselves.
GIVEN THAT
I don’t see any problem given that you prepared the dough this morning.
Comparisons:
They are those that establish comparisons between different elements.
The following that appear in the table with their corresponding example sentences belong to this type:
CONJUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
AS
you are clever as a fox.
LIKE
You make the cupcakes like I.
MORE THAN…
Have further onions that potatoes to make the omelet.
LESS THAN…
We’ve bought less fruit that other times.
WORSE/BETTER THAN
That movie can’t be worst than the one we saw last night.
SUCH AS
Leave everything such as you found it when you arrived.
AS…
Rocío is so moved as Roberto for the wedding.
Complete:
They are those that serve to add additional information to what is being given.
The following that appear in the table with their corresponding example sentences belong to this type:
CONJUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
AS WELL AS
Ernesto is nervous, as well as his entire family for his exam grades.
YEAH
Eva wanted to know Yeah I had bought a new dress.
WITHOUT
Marcos decided without the others had time to say something.
THAT
We wish that everything goes as planned.
Concessive:
They are those that indicate a license, a concession to something else that is being exposed.
The following that appear in the table with their corresponding example sentences belong to this type:
CONJUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
DESPITE
The ghost scared them despite everyone expected it.
ALTHOUGH
He got it although The others threw in the towel.
ALTHOUGH
Estela won’t tell you anything, although knew something
SO
I won’t be home today So I have to spend the afternoon walking around.
BY MORE THAN
By more than Antonio tried, he couldn’t get the paint out of the drain.
AS MUCH AS
He didn’t try hard to get it as much as I wanted it.
EVEN
Did not try even a few breadcrumbs.
Conditionals:
They are those that introduce a condition or a need that must occur for something to be fulfilled or happen.
The following that appear in the table with their corresponding example sentences belong to this type:
CONJUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
ON CONDITION THAT
Your grandparents will come on condition that You pick them up at the station.
UNLESS
Unless If you do everything the recipe says, the stew will not turn out well.
AS
As Don’t arrive on time, you won’t even have a glass of water left to drink.
PROVIDED THAT
Bought different types of fruit provided that Their daughters ate a great variety.
IF
If If you need a friend, count on me.
YEAH
Yeah If you agree, we will continue with the process.
BUT
But We agree, we will not be able to get out of this labyrinth.
AS LONG AS
Everything will turn out as you expect as long as be willing to put in the effort.
Finals:
They are those that are used to present a conclusion of something that is being exposed.
The following that appear in the table with their corresponding example sentences belong to this type:
CONJUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
IN ORDER TO
He insisted on calling again. in order to The gift arrived earlier than agreed.
IN ORDER TO
Martín bought some flowers in order to The house looked more colorful.
WITH THE INTENTION OF (THAT)
I work two more hours with the intention of finish earlier the next day.
WITH THE OBJECT OF
Natalia saved more than fifty euros with the object of buy the latest video game that came out last month.
SO THAT)
I will lower the blind so that Don’t let in so much light.
Illative or consecutive:
They are those that indicate the consequence(s) of what was stated above.
The following that appear in the table with their corresponding example sentences belong to this type:
CONJUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
WITH WHAT
It’s too late, with what Do not you think it anymore.
THEN
You’ve already lost three balls, then Be more careful.
THEREFORE
I have read all the rules of the game, thereforeI will not admit any cheating.
WELL
We will consider it, well It has taken you a lot of effort to get to this point.
Temporary:
They are those that are used to indicate a temporal sequence.
The following that appear in the table with their corresponding example sentences belong to this type:
CONJUNCTIONS
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
BEFORE
I hope he reacts before be late
NOT YET
Not yet We went to buy tickets for the concert.
WHEN
I will call you when have a little while.
AFTER WHAT
we will rest after what Let’s make sure everything goes well.
AFTER
After If they discover the deception, they will be angry with you.
WHILE)
keep planting while I’m watering.
AS SOON AS
As soon as have your answer, I will tell you.
The range of conjunctions and conjunctive phrases is wide and on many occasions they go unnoticed because they do not provide key information in the sentences. However, as is shown throughout the text, they are important when it comes to fully understanding a statement.
Before finishing the text, we leave you some resources on conjunctions.