Forms and Functions of English Conjunctions

Coordinating, Correlative, and Subordinating Conjunctions in English

May 24, 2009
Heather Marie Kosur

Coordinating Conjunction Grammar Tree - Heather Marie Kosur

The following article explains the three forms and three functions of conjunctions in English that students must learn.

The English language contains three grammatical forms of conjunctions that perform three grammatical functions. Both native speakers and ESL students must learn the three forms and three functions to use conjunctions in both spoken and written English. The three forms of conjunctions in English are:

Coordinating conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions

The three functions of conjunctions in English are:

Coordinator
Correlator
Subordinator

Conjunctions are traditionally defined as words that "link words, phrases, and clauses."

Coordinating Conjunctions

The first grammatical form of conjunctions is the coordinating conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions are defined as words that link or coordinate two or more linguistic constituents such as words, phrases, and clauses. Coordinating conjunctions perform the grammatical function of coordinator. The seven coordinating conjunctions in English are:

and
or
but
nor
so
yet
for*

Prescriptive grammars require that the linguistic constituents linked by a coordinating conjunction be of the same grammatical form. For example, the following sentences contain coordinating conjunctions that join equal constituents:

The library and the student center are open late. (noun phrases)
You may walk, jog, or run. (verbs)
The weather is lovely, so the weatherman was wrong. (clauses)

However, native English speakers often use coordinating conjunctions to join different grammatical forms. For example, the following sentences contain coordinating conjunctions that join unequal constituents:

He screams loudly and like a girl. (adverb and prepositional phrase)
The shoes must be inexpensive or on sale. (adjective and prepositional phrase)
The cat broke the plate, but the glass was broken by the dog. (active voice and passive voice)

*The conjunction for is not commonly used in either spoken or written Modern English.

Correlative Conjunctions

The second grammatical form of conjunctions is the correlative conjunction. Correlative conjunctions are defined as the first word or words of pairs of conjunctions that also link or coordinate two or more linguistic constituents. Correlative conjunctions perform the grammatical function of correlator. For example, the first word or words of the following pairs of conjunctions are correlative conjunctions:

both...and
either...or
neither...nor
whether...or
not only...but also

The second word or words in the previous pairs of conjunctions are coordinating conjunctions. Correlative conjunctions only appear in pairs with coordinating conjunctions.

Prescriptive grammars again require that the linguistic constituents linked by pairs of correlative and coordinating conjunctions be of the same grammatical form. For example, the following sentences contain pairs of correlative and coordinating conjunctions that join equal constituents:

Both the dog and the cat like to drink milk. (noun phrases)
Students must either write a report or read another book for the final project. (verb phrases)
Not only do I hate chili but I also hate beans. (clauses)

Subordinating Conjunctions

The third grammatical form of conjunctions is the subordinating conjunction. Subordinating conjunctions are defined as words that introduce a dependent or subordinate clause. Subordinating conjunctions perform the grammatical function of subordinator. The three dependent clauses in English are noun clauses, adjective clauses, and adverb clauses. Some common subordinating conjunctions in English are:

after
although
as
because
before
even
if
since
than
that
unless
until
what
when
whether (or not)
where
whereas
while
which
who

For example, the following sentences contain subordinating conjunctions:

That you adopted a cat surprises me. (noun clause)
Dates wrapped in bacon, which many people think unappetizing, is quite delicious. (adjective clause)
The baker made cookies after she baked a cake. (adverb clause)

The three forms of conjunctions in English are coordinating conjunction, correlative conjunction, and subordinating conjunction. The three functions of conjunctions in English are coordinating, correlator, and subordinator. Both native English speakers and ESL students must learn the three forms and three functions in order to correctly and fully use the English language in both spoken and written forms.

Sources

Benner, Margaret L. "Conjunctions." Online Writing Support. 2009. Towson University. 18 May. 2009.

Hopper, Paul J. A Short Course in Grammar. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1999.

Huddleston, Rodney. Introduction to the Grammar of English. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1984.

Kosur, Heather Marie. "The Form-Function Method for Teaching Grammar: Learning English Grammar by Studying Grammatical Form and Function." Suite 101. 16 Apr. 2009. Suite 101. 24 May. 2009.

Reiser, Karen. "Conjunction Classes: Coordinating and Subordinating." Suite 101. 3 Sep. 2007. Suite 101. 24 May. 2009.

Heather Marie Kosur, Heather Marie Kosur

Heather Marie Kosur - About Me I earned a BA in English studies with a minor in creative writing from Illinois State University in May 2007 and an MS in ...