7.1 What Is a Conjunction?
One use of a conjunction is to connect words or phrases that have the same g rammatical structure in a sentence. This use of conjunctions is called Parallel Structure. The conjunctions used in this pattern are and, but, or, nor (more specifically called Coordinating Conjunctions).
Examples:
Steve and his friend are coming to dinner.
Susan raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
He is waving his arms and (is) shouting at us.
In this case, the second auxiliary may be omitted if it is the same as the first.
Steve and his friend are coming to dinner.
These shoes are old but comfortable.
He wants to watch TV or (to) listen to some music.
In this case the second to may be omitted.
A parallel structure may contain more than two parts. In this case, commas are u sed to separate each unit. The final comma that precedes the conjunction is o ptional but is customarily used. No commas are used if there are only two parts to a parallel structure.
Examples:
Susan raised her hand, snapped her fingers and asked a question.
The colors in that fabric are red, gold, black and green.
Parallel structures make repeating the same words unnecessary.
Exercise 1
Combine the given sentences into one concise sentence that contains a parallel s tructure.
Examples:
Mary opened the door and greeted her guests.
- 1. Mary is opening the door. Mary is greeting her guests.
- 2. Mary will open the door. Mary will greet her guests.
- 3. Alice is kind. Alice is generous. Alice is trustworthy.
- 4. Please try to speak more loudly. Please try to speak more clearly.
- 5. He gave her flowers on Sunday. He gave her candles on Monday. He gave her a ring on Tuesday.
- 6. While we were in NY, we attended an opera; while we were in NY we ate at marvelous restaurants. While we were in NY we visited some friends.
- 7. He decided to quit school. He decided to go to California. He decided to find a job.
- 8. I am looking forward to going to Italy. I am looking forward to eating wonderful spaghetti every day.
- 9. I should have finished my homework. I should have cleaned up my room.
- 10. The boy was old enough to work. The boy was old enough to earn some money.
- 11. He preferred to play baseball. He preferred to spend his time on the streets with other boys instead of studying.
- 12. I like coffee. I do not like tea.
- 13. I have met his mother. I have not met his father.
- 14. Jake would like to live in Puerto Rico. He would not like to live in Iceland.
7.1.1 Auxiliary Verbs after "But" and "And"
When you use But or And you must follow some rules. Take a look at the d ifferent cases and remember the difference between affirmative and negative sentences.
Cases: When you join two affirmative sentences follow this rule.
Use and to join + the subject + auxiliary verb depending on the tense + too at t he end. Like this:
Another option is: and + so + auxiliary verb depending on the tense + subject. Like this:
When you join two negative sentences follow this rule.
Use and + the auxiliary verb in negative, depending on the tense + subject + either at the end. Like this:
Another option is: and + neither + auxiliary verb in affirmative, depending on t he tense + subject. Like this:
When you join an affirmative sentence and a negative sentence follow this rule.
Use but + the auxiliary verb in negative, depending on the tense + subject. Like t his:
When you join an affirmative sentence and a negative sentence follow this rule.
Use but + subject + the auxiliary verb in affirmative, depending on the tense. L ike this:
You can not contract a subject and an auxiliary verb at the end of a sentence. Only i n the negative form.
Examples:
Exercise 2
Rephrase the following sentences. Watch out for the different tenses in each.
2. They watched that program. We watched that program.
3. He is driving a racecar. Tomas is driving a racecar.
4. Her cousin was choosing a dress when her boyfriend called. Mary was choosing a dress when her boyfriend called.
5. My classmates will go to the country. I will go to the country.
6. The lady will be cleaning the house tomorrow all afternoon. My aunt will be cleaning the house tomorrow all afternoon.
7. I have gone to the theatre. They have gone to the theatre.
Exercise 3
There are 5 people. Describe what each will eat using and, but.
Sara: apple
Tom: banana
Tina: banana
Jason: apple
Frank: strawberry
Sara:goes shopping
Tom: plays golf
Tina: watches TV
Jason: plays golf
Frank: bakes cookies
Sara:is modern
Tom: is modern
Tina: is old fashion
Jason: is wild
Frank: old fashion
Sara:fly a plane
Tom: jump high
Tina: fly a plane
Jason:jog fast
Frank: fly a plane
Exercise 4
Complete the sentences using the correct structures of auxiliary verbs after b ut and and. Use the word in parenthesis.
Examples:
Alex doesn't have a mustache and Brian doesn't either.
Sara was at home last night and .
California is on the West coast, and .
I went to a movie yesterday and .
I didn't study last night, and .
Jim can't speak Arabic, and .
I like to go to science fiction movies, and .
I don't like horror movies, and .
Whales are mammals, and .
7.1.2 Connecting Ideas with Even Though, Although and Because
Even Though, Although express an unexpected or opposite result. (The two w ords mean exactly the same).
Examples:
I did not eat Even though I was hungry.
Although I was hungry, I did not eat.
I did not eat although I was hungry.
Because expresses an expected result.
Examples:
I ate because I was hungry.
Exercise 5
Combine each pair of sentences in two different orders. Use Because.
loudly at the basketball game.
Exercise 6
Use the correct connector.
Example:
- 1. the weather is cold, Ben is wearing a coat.
- 2. Tim is fairly tall, he can't reach the ceiling.
- 3. Matt is very tall, he can reach the ceiling.
- 4. Dan isn't as tall as Matt, he can't reach the ceiling.
- 5. Nick isn't tall, he can reach the ceiling using a chair.