English Grammar: The Parts of Speech

Parts of Speech — Conjunctions

In many of your sentences you need words that serve to join words or groups of words. In grammar, words that have this connecting function are called conjunctions.

The word conjunction comes from two Latin words which mean to join with or to join together. In the sentence, Jane and Alice are stenographers, the word and connects the two nouns, Jane and Alice. The word and in this sentence is a conjunction. In the sentence, The manager or his secretary will see you, the word or connects the words manager and secretary. The word or in this sentence is a conjunction. In the sentence, Her small but attractive apartment is for rent, the word but joins the words small and attractive.

The conjunctions that were used in the preceding illustrations were and, but, and or. These conjunctions always connect words or groups of words of equal rank. For the present, we shall limit our discussion to the use of these three conjunctions.

Mark drives too fast and too recklessly. (joins two adverbs - fast / recklessly)

He or I will audit the account. (joins two pronouns - he / I)

I fell and broke my arm. (joins two verbs - fell / broke)

He will give the book to Lucy or Alice. (joins two nouns - Mary / Alice)

They bought a large but attractive home. (joins two adjectives - large / attractive)