Level 8 : Conjunctions and Interjections
Lesson 1 : Coordinate Conjunctions
What is Conjunctions?
Definition: A conjunction is a word that joins words, phrases, or clauses. There are several types of conjunctions and several other types of words that act as conjunctions.

Joining words:	You should wait before grabbing one of those tempting but hot cookies.
Joining phrases:	We have to drive across two states and around a lake to get to Grandmother's house.
Joining clauses:	Because you didn't do your homework, you will need to miss recess.

What is Coordinate Conjunctions?
Definition: A coordinating conjunction connects words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. In other words, the conjunction can join several nouns or several phrases or several clauses. The coordinating conjunctions are and, but, or, nor, for, so, and yet.

Joining nouns:	We can have pizza, spaghetti, or lasagna for dinner.
Joining verbs:	The puppies in the dog park chased, wrestled, and swam all afternoon.
Joining adjectives:	The forest behind your house seems dark and mysterious.
Joining phrases:	We left on time but arrived late because of the storm.
Joining clauses:	The dragon refused to eat people for he found them rather foul tasting.

Each coordinating conjunction connects ideas in a slightly different way.

And	combines two or more positive ideas.
But	connects two or more true but contrasting ideas.
Or	presents a choice between ideas. Only one of the choices is true or possible.
Nor	combines two or more negative ideas. Neither of the ideas is true or possible.
Yet	connects two or more ideas that are somewhat contrasting.
For	explains a reason or purpose.
So	shows an effect or result.

Hint:
Beware - so can also be so that, which is a subordinating conjunction. Sometimes we say so when we mean so that.

EXAMPLE
We are going to the movies, so we can't watch that program.
You need to be here on time so we can get to the movie before it starts.
You need to be here on time so that we can get to the movies before it starts.

Punctuating Coordinate Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions have a comma before them when they join two independent clauses. (A simple sentence is an independent clause.) Both clauses must make sense by themselves.

EXAMPLE
I know I brought my pencil. I can't find it.
I know I brought my pencil, but I can't find it.

Often a conjunction is used at the end of a series. That conjunction is usually preceded by a comma in American English. British English writers often leave out that "terminal comma" or "serial comma." The conjunction can be repeated for an emphatic effect instead of using commas.

EXAMPLE
I have English, math, and science homework.
I have English and math and science homework.

Correlative Conjunctions
Definition: Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to join words, phrases, or clauses. The correlative conjunctions are either...or, neither...nor, both...and, not only...but also, whether...or.

Joining words:	My uncle is not only a doctor but also a pharmacist.
Joining phrases:	All of these clothes are either too small or worn out.
Joining clauses:	Either Monica will bring drinks, or she will bring brownies.

Correlative conjunctions are stronger than coordinating conjunctions and emphasize the relationship between the ideas being joined. Notice the difference in the following sentences:

EXAMPLE
- Cats and dogs make good pets. - Both cats and dogs make good pets.
- Ron or Davie found my bicycle. - Either Ron or Davie found my bicycle.

Note:
Not only...but also can be split apart. Even the second half can be split. Not only cannot be split.

EXAMPLE
I like not only ice skating but also hockey.
Not only is he a great singer, but he is also an actor.

Note:
Be careful of the placement of the parts of the conjunction.

Confusing:	Either you must bring in your permission slip or stay home. (The reader is left hanging waiting for the second clause.)
Better:	You must either bring in your permission slip or stay home. (You must do one of these two actions.)
Also better:	Either you must bring in your permission slip, or you must stay home.

Confusing:	It was not only a long movie but also exciting.
Better:	The movie was not only long but also exciting.
Better:	It was not only a long movie but also an exciting one.

As you learned in the modifiers unit, watch where you put only.

Confusing:	Jeremy not only won a trophy but also money.
Better:	Jeremy won not only a trophy but also money.

Parallel Ideas
Definition: Ideas are considered parallel when they are grammatically equal. Ideas in a series must be parallel. You might have a series of nouns, a series of verbs, a series of prepositional phrases, a series of predicates, a series of independent clauses, or a series of some other grammatical element. Each item in the series should be the same thing.

A series of nouns:
kitchen, bathroom, entryway
Please mop the kitchen, bathroom, and entryway.

A series of verbs:
reading, writing, daydreaming (all are present participles)
The students in the class were reading, writing, and daydreaming.

A series of prepositional phrases:
under the sofa, in the cushions, behind the television
I have looked for the remote control under the sofa, in the cushions, and behind the television.

A series of predicates:
went to the store, bought some milk, came home
After school, I went to the store, bought some milk, and came home.

A series of clauses:
Laura likes mysteries. Malachi prefers suspense. Shona loves romances.
Laura likes mysteries, Malachi prefers suspense, and Shona loves romances.

Too often writers pay attention to the ideas instead of the construction of the sentence.

EXAMPLE
Incorrect: We watched two movies, a television show, and read a book. (noun phrase, noun phrase, predicate)
Correct: We watched two movies, watched a television show, and read a book.

EXAMPLE
Incorrect: I want to go skiing, biking, or to go to the mall. (gerund, gerund, infinitive)
Correct: I want to go skiing, to go biking, or to go to the mall. (Now they are all infinitive phrases.)
Correct: I want to go skiing, biking, or shopping at the mall. (Now they all are gerunds following go)

Hint:
Try putting each item in the series on its own line and see if they match.

I want to go
skiing	✓
biking	✓
to go to the mall	✗

Conjunctive Adverbs
What is Conjunctive Adverbs?
Definition: A conjunctive adverb (adverbial conjunction, transitional device) can be used to join two independent clauses, making a compound sentence.

Like a conjunction, it connects ideas, but it is stronger. It shows a more specific relationship and usually acts as a transition between the clauses. It can combine, compare, contrast, emphasize, summarize, illustrate, show sequence, and concede that the reader already knows an idea. (Notice that all the ideas in this series are verbs or verb phrases so they are parallel.)

Weak:	Most Labrador retrievers are friendly, but some can be mean.
Stronger:	Most Labrador retrievers are friendly; however, some can be mean.

Common Conjunctive Adverbs
accordingly also anyway besides certainly consequently conversely finally furthermore hence	however incidentally indeed instead likewise meanwhile moreover next nevertheless nonetheless	otherwise similarly specifically still subsequently then therefore thus

Beware: This is not a complete list, and all of these words are not always used this way. Memorizing the list is not useful. Analyzing how words work together in a sentence is the best way to find them.

Conjunctive adverbs can also be used in the middle of a sentence as parenthetical expressions.

EXAMPLE
I know Jeremiah can, in fact, sing very well.

Conjunctive adverbs used as parenthetical expressions include the list above and these common compound ones.

EXAMPLE
for example namely	on the contrary in fact	that is on the other hand

Punctuating Conjunctive Adverbs
When used in a simple sentence as a parenthetical expression, the conjunctive adverb has commas around it because it is not grammatically a part of the sentence. It may seem like an adverb, but it is usually just something people say in conversation.

EXAMPLE
We are, however, not ready to go.

If it is used to combine sentences, a semicolon is used before the conjunctive adverb. (Think of a semicolon as two commas - one that would have been in front of a coordinating conjunction plus one that shows that however is parenthetical.)

EXAMPLE
I am ready; however, you are not.

Sentences with conjunctive adverbs can also be written as separate sentences.

EXAMPLE
I am ready. However, my sister is not.

Subordinating Conjunctions
Definition: A subordinating conjunction joins two clauses by making one clause subordinate to, or dependent on, the other. It makes a stronger connection than a coordinating conjunction does. The subordinating conjunction shows a relationship between the two clauses. Some subordinating conjunctions are made up of more than one word.

Independent:	It is raining hard.
Independent:	We might get wet.

Loose connection with coordinating conjunction:
It is raining hard, and we might get wet. (The reader isn't told that the reason they might get wet is the rain.)

Stronger connection with subordinating conjunction:
We might get wet because it is raining hard. Because it is raining hard, we might get wet.
(The reader can see the cause and effect relationship)

Common Subordinating Conjunctions
after although as as if as far as as long as as soon as as though because before even if even though	how if in order that once provided (that) rather than since so long as so (that) so that than that	though till unless until when whenever where wherever whether while why

Beware: This is not a complete list, and all of these words are not always used this way. Memorizing the list is not useful. Analyzing how words work together in a sentence is the best way to find them.

Subordinating conjunctions introduce adverb or noun clauses. Adverb clauses tell how, why, to what extent, and under what conditions something happened.

Punctuating subordinating conjunctions
If the subordinating conjunction is between the independent clause and the dependent clause, it is strong enough to hold the sentences together without a comma. (Subordinating conjunctions are superglue! Coordinating conjunctions are just classroom glue.)

EXAMPLE
You must finish your painting before it dries.

If the subordinating conjunction is at the beginning of the sentence (making the dependent clause an introductory dependent clause), the sentence needs a comma between the two clauses. (If the glue is at the beginning, how is it going to hold anything together? The comma is the glue.)

EXAMPLE
Before it dries, you must finish your painting.

If the subordinating conjunction is combining two words or phrases, it isn't acting as a subordinating conjunction. It might be acting as a preposition or adverb. You will need to decide on its punctuation based on that use.

EXAMPLE
My movie will end before yours.

Note: Many students believe it is incorrect to start a sentence with because. This is because too many students for too many years answer questions with only the second, dependent clause. Teachers want to discourage that, so they tell students that they are not allowed to start sentences with because.

Why did the Chinese build the Great Wall?
Incorrect:	Because they were trying to keep out their enemies.
Correct:	The Chinese built the Great Wall because they were trying to keep out their enemies.
Correct:	Because they were trying to keep out their enemies, the Chinese built the Great Wall.

Lesson 6 : As/As if vs Like
Like versus as/as if/as though/such as - In casual speech people often use like when they should use as or as if.

Like should only be used when followed by a noun.

EXAMPLE
The clouds look like cotton balls.

As, as if, and as though join clauses.

EXAMPLE
It is going to rain today like as it did yesterday.
It looks like as if it is going to rain.
We ran between the buildings like as though it were already raining.
Such as is used before a list. You will need to bring rain gear like such as an umbrella, a poncho, or boots.