Wednesday, May 23, 2012

MSQ Grammar Lesson #6: Conjunctions


Coordinating Conjunctions
  • Join independent clauses to make compound sentences. Coordinating conjunctions revise run-on sentences and comma splices or join short sentences.
  1. Ex: and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet
  • Remember, placement of a comma can vary in respect to the conjunction
  1. I wanted more popcorn, but Sam wanted Junior Mints. (Comma is placed before but b/c there are 2 independent clauses)
  1. I wanted more popcorn but no soda. (No comma before but b/c there is only one independent clause)

Subordinating Conjunctions
  • Join independent clauses to make complex sentences. Subordinating conjunctions fix run-ons and comma splices or combine sentences.
  1. Ex: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, if only, rather than, since, that, though, unless, until, when, where, whereas, wherever, whether, which, while
  •  Only when a subordinate clause is used in the beginning of a sentence, a comma must be inserted
  1. Ex: Because it’s hard to eat popcorn without it, I wanted to get more soda.
  2. Ex: I wanted to get more soda because it’s hard to eat popcorn without it.

Sources: Rutgers Guide to Grammar and Style; Elements of Style; OWL

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