Conjunctions – English Grammar Lessons

Summary

This video introduces conjunctions in English, explaining their function of linking words, phrases, and clauses. It covers four common coordinating conjunctions: 'and,' 'but,' 'or,' and 'so,' each used for addition, opposition, choice, and result, respectively. The video also outlines three common sentence patterns: joining words, phrases, and clauses, with examples like 'He likes cats and dogs,' and 'They went out for dinner, but they didn’t order any dessert.' It emphasizes the importance of using the correct conjunction and punctuation, particularly in lists and clauses. The video concludes with practice exercises for viewers to identify and use conjunctions correctly.

Takeaways

• 😀 Conjunctions are words that connect two or more words, phrases, or clauses in English.
• 😀 The four main coordinating conjunctions are 'and' (addition), 'but' (opposition), 'or' (choice), and 'so' (result).
• 😀 Conjunctions can join words of the same part of speech, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.
• 😀 The first sentence pattern for conjunctions is 'word + conjunction + word' (e.g., 'He likes cats and dogs').
• 😀 Conjunctions can also join phrases, as in the sentence 'I jogged down the street and up the hill.'
• 😀 The third sentence pattern for conjunctions is 'clause + conjunction + clause' (e.g., 'They went out for dinner, but they didn’t order any dessert').
• 😀 A clause contains both a subject and a verb, and conjunctions often connect clauses with a comma before them.
• 😀 Commas are used in lists with more than two items when conjunctions are involved (e.g., 'He doesn't like baseball, basketball, or tennis').
• 😀 In sentences with conjunctions, we may use commas before the conjunction when it joins two clauses.
• 😀 Examples of conjunctions in use include: 'She has a lot of books but no time to read them' and 'I finished my homework, so I'm going to the party.'

Q & A

What is the role of conjunctions in English?

Conjunctions are words that join two or more words, phrases, or clauses together in a sentence.

Can you give an example of a conjunction joining two words?

In the sentence 'She likes apples and oranges,' the conjunction 'and' joins the words 'apples' and 'oranges.'

What are the four common coordinating conjunctions in English?

'And,' 'but,' 'or,' and 'so' are the four common coordinating conjunctions in English.

How is 'and' used as a conjunction?

'And' is used to show addition or to link similar ideas or items.

How is 'but' used as a conjunction?

'But' is used to show contrast or opposition between two ideas or actions.

What is the function of 'or' in a sentence?

'Or' is used to present a choice or alternative between two or more options.

What does 'so' indicate in a sentence?

'So' is used to show a result or outcome of an action or situation.

What is the first sentence pattern for conjunctions?

The first sentence pattern is 'word + conjunction + word,' where the conjunction joins two or more words of the same part of speech.

Can conjunctions join phrases as well as words? Give an example.

Yes, conjunctions can join phrases. For example, in 'I jogged down the street and up the hill,' 'and' joins the phrases 'down the street' and 'up the hill.'

How are conjunctions used to join clauses?

Conjunctions can join clauses, which contain both a subject and a verb. For example, in 'They went out for dinner, but they didn’t order any dessert,' 'but' joins the clauses 'They went out for dinner' and 'they didn’t order any dessert.'