Conjunction for Class 4

What Do You Mean by Conjunctions?

Conjunctions refer to words that unite different parts of a phrase. They help us put words, phrases, or clauses together to create longer, more engaging sentences. Conjunctions serve as the adhesive that ties our sentences together. "FANBOYS" is a helpful acronym to remember the most common coordinating conjunctions in English which are: For, and, nor, but, or, yet and so.

For a better understanding, let’s look into some examples:

1. The Sun is shining and birds are singing.
2. Would he like pizza or pasta for dinner?
3. Susan was tired, although she finished her homework.
4. My father likes to read a book when it's raining outside.
5. What will happen if it rains tomorrow?
6. The Sun was setting, so it was time to return home.

Words like and, or, although, when, if and so are connecting words which are known as conjunctions and joining words.

Uses of Conjunctions

1. And

“And” is used to connect words within a sentence. For example, My mother is kind, smart, and funny.

2. Or

“Or” is used to present alternatives in the sentence. For example, She can have coffee or tea.

3. But

“But” is used to show the contrast between ideas. For example, I want to read a comic, but I don't have one.

4. When

“When” is used to identify the timing of the incident. For example, He called me when I was at the gym.

5. As

“As” is used to compare things. For example, He is as tall as her sister.

Click Here to Read About: Conjunctions for Class 5

Types of Conjunctions

There are three types of conjunctions:

1. Coordinating Conjunctions

These conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that have the same or comparable structure. The most common coordinating conjunctions are and, but, or, so, for, and nor.

Understand it briefly with some examples:

→ John likes to eat apples and bananas.
Here “and” connecting the two objects

→ She wanted to play outside, but it started raining.
Here “but” connects the two phrases.

2. Subordinating Conjunctions

These conjunctions are used to connect an independent clause (a complete thought) to a dependent clause (an incomplete thought). They demonstrate a connection between two sentences, such as cause and effect, time, or condition. The most common coordinating conjunctions are because, if, although, when, while, since, and unless.

Let’s understand it briefly with some examples:

→ Kids will go to the park if it stops raining.
Here “if” demonstrates a condition.

→ Because it was cold, we stayed at home.
Here “because” demonstrates the reason.

3. Correlative Conjunctions

These conjunctions appear in pairs and are used to connect related words, phrases, or clauses. The most common correlative conjunctions are either...or, neither...nor, both...and, not only...but also, and whether...or.

Understand it briefly with some examples:

→ She can either have a cupcake or a muffin for dessert.
Here “or” connects the related words.

→ Both my father and brother love to read fiction.
Here “and” connects the two persons.

FAQs

1. What are some common conjunctions used regularly?

Answer: And, but, because, or are some common conjunctions used daily to make communication effective and easier to understand.

2. Can a sentence start with a conjunction?

Answer: Yes, a sentence can begin with a conjunction, but they are more commonly used to connect ideas inside sentences. For example, If you finish your homework early, we can go to the park and play.

3. What are the three kinds of Conjunction?

Answer: Coordinating, Subordinating and Correlative are three kinds of conjunctions.