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Think of conjunctions as the glue of the English language. Without them, every thought would be a short, choppy sentence. With them, you can link ideas, show contrast, explain reasons, and express conditions — all in one smooth sentence.
There are three families of conjunctions in English: coordinating, subordinating, and correlative. Each has different rules for punctuation and clause order. This guide covers all three with clear examples and the mistakes to avoid.
💡 Key Takeaways
- The 7 coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) join equal clauses and usually need a comma before them.
- Subordinating conjunctions create dependent clauses; word order and punctuation depend on clause position.
- Correlative conjunctions come in pairs (either…or, both…and) and must frame grammatically equal structures.
- Starting a sentence with and or but is acceptable in modern English, but use it sparingly in formal writing.
- Conjunctions affect meaning, not just style — choosing although vs because changes the logic entirely.
What Are Conjunctions?
A conjunction is a word (or pair of words) that connects clauses, phrases, or individual words. The connection it creates tells the reader how the ideas relate: are they equal? Does one explain the other? Do they contrast?
I was tired and I went to bed early. → addition
I was tired but I stayed up late. → contrast
I went to bed early because I was tired. → reason
I went to bed early although I was not tired. → concession
Same context, four different conjunctions, four different meanings. That is why choosing the right conjunction is a core writing skill.
Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)
There are exactly seven coordinating conjunctions in English, and the mnemonic FANBOYS covers them all:
| Letter | Conjunction | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | for | reason (formal) | She left early, for she had a long journey. |
| A | and | addition | He reads and writes in three languages. |
| N | nor | negative addition | I cannot sing, nor can I dance. |
| B | but | contrast | She studied hard but failed the test. |
| O | or | alternative | Tea or coffee? |
| Y | yet | contrast (formal) | It was cold, yet he wore no coat. |
| S | so | result / consequence | I was hungry, so I made a sandwich. |
Comma Before FANBOYS
When a coordinating conjunction joins two independent clauses (each with its own subject and verb), place a comma before the conjunction.
I wanted to go out, but it was raining heavily.
I wanted to go out but it was raining heavily. ← missing comma
No comma is needed when the conjunction joins single words or short phrases:
She is smart and kind. (no comma — joining two adjectives)
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions introduce a dependent (subordinate) clause — a clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence. The dependent clause adds information about time, reason, condition, concession, or purpose.
| Category | Common subordinators |
|---|---|
| Time | when, while, before, after, since, until, as soon as, once |
| Reason / Cause | because, since, as |
| Condition | if, unless, provided that, as long as, in case |
| Contrast / Concession | although, even though, though, whereas, while |
| Purpose | so that, in order that |
| Result | so…that, such…that |
Dependent Clause First or Second?
A subordinate clause can come before or after the main clause. The meaning stays the same but punctuation changes:
Because she was tired, she went to bed. ← comma needed when dependent clause comes first
She went to bed because she was tired. ← no comma when main clause comes first
Dependent clause first → comma. Dependent clause second → no comma (usually).
Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions work in pairs. The two parts frame the connected elements and must be followed by grammatically parallel structures.
| Pair | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| both…and | include two things | Both the teacher and the students enjoyed the game. |
| either…or | one of two options | You can have either tea or coffee. |
| neither…nor | exclude two things | Neither the map nor the GPS worked. |
| not only…but also | emphasise addition | She is not only talented but also hardworking. |
| whether…or | present alternatives | I don't know whether to stay or leave. |
| as…as | comparison | She runs as fast as her brother. |
Keep the Structure Parallel
Each part of a correlative pair must be followed by the same grammatical structure (noun + noun, verb + verb, etc.):
She likes both reading and writing. (gerund + gerund)
She likes both to read and writing. (infinitive + gerund → not parallel)
Because, So, and Therefore — Easy to Confuse
These three words all express cause and effect, but they work very differently:
| Word | Type | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| because | subordinating conjunction | introduces a dependent clause | She left because she was tired. |
| so | coordinating conjunction | joins two independent clauses | She was tired, so she left. |
| therefore | conjunctive adverb | usually after semicolon or at start | She was tired; therefore, she left. |
Common Mistakes with Conjunctions
Although it was raining, but we went for a walk.
→ Never use although and but together. Choose one: Although it was raining, we went for a walk. or It was raining, but we went for a walk.
Despite although it was expensive, she bought it.
→ Despite is a preposition, not a conjunction. Say: Despite the high price, she bought it. or Although it was expensive, she bought it.
I will call you when I will arrive.
→ After time conjunctions (when, before, after, as soon as), use present simple for future meaning: I will call you when I arrive.
Because of she was late, she missed the bus.
→ Because of is followed by a noun phrase, not a clause. Say: Because she was late, she missed the bus. or Because of her lateness, she missed the bus.
Practise English Conjunctions
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Frequently Asked Questions
A conjunction is a word or pair of words that connects clauses, phrases, or words. Conjunctions show the logical relationship between ideas: addition (and), contrast (but), reason (because), condition (if), time (when), and more. Without conjunctions, writing would consist of short, disconnected sentences. There are three main types: coordinating (FANBOYS), subordinating, and correlative.
The seven coordinating conjunctions are remembered with the mnemonic FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So. They join two independent clauses (or single words and phrases) of equal grammatical weight. When they join two independent clauses, a comma is placed before the conjunction: She studied hard, but she still found the exam difficult.
'Although' is a subordinating conjunction that introduces a dependent (subordinate) clause. It shows concession — acknowledging one fact while asserting another: Although it was raining, we enjoyed the walk. 'But' is a coordinating conjunction that joins two independent clauses of equal weight: It was raining, but we enjoyed the walk. The critical rule: never use 'although' and 'but' in the same sentence to express the same contrast — "Although it was raining, but we enjoyed the walk" is wrong. Choose one.
The rules differ by conjunction type. For coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS): use a comma before the conjunction when it joins two independent clauses — "I was tired, so I left early." No comma is needed when joining single words or short phrases — "tea and coffee." For subordinating conjunctions: use a comma when the dependent clause comes first — "Because it was late, I went home." No comma when the dependent clause comes second — "I went home because it was late."
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that work together to connect grammatically equal elements: both...and, either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also, whether...or, as...as. The most important rule is parallelism: both parts of the pair must be followed by the same grammatical structure. "She is not only talented but also works hard" is wrong (adjective vs verb phrase). The correct form is "She is not only talented but also hardworking" (adjective + adjective).
Yes — this is perfectly acceptable in modern English, including formal writing. Starting a sentence with 'And' or 'But' can add emphasis and create a more conversational or dramatic rhythm. Many published authors and journalists do this. The old school rule prohibiting it has largely been abandoned. However, use it sparingly in formal academic or business writing, where a more integrated sentence structure is generally preferred.
'Because' is a subordinating conjunction and must be followed by a subject + verb (a clause): "She was late because the train was delayed." 'Because of' is a prepositional phrase and must be followed by a noun or noun phrase (not a clause): "She was late because of the train delay." A common ESL mistake is mixing the two: "Because of she was nervous, she forgot her lines" is wrong. Correct versions: "Because she was nervous..." or "Because of her nerves..."
After time conjunctions — when, before, after, as soon as, once, until, by the time — English uses the present simple (not will) to refer to future events. "I will call you when I will arrive" is incorrect. The correct form is "I will call you when I arrive." This rule applies even though the event is clearly in the future. Other time conjunction examples: "Let me know as soon as you finish." / "We'll leave before it gets dark."
Both 'while' and 'although' can express contrast, which is where the confusion arises. 'Although' clearly signals contrast or concession: "Although she is young, she is very experienced." 'While' can mean contrast, but it also means 'at the same time as' (time meaning). In writing, 'while' for contrast can sometimes be ambiguous: "While she is young, she is experienced" — is this temporal or contrastive? To avoid ambiguity, prefer 'although' or 'whereas' when expressing contrast, and reserve 'while' primarily for time.
'Unless' means 'if not' and introduces a conditional exception. It is followed by a positive verb form (not negative), because the negativity is already built into 'unless'. "Unless you study, you won't pass" = "If you don't study, you won't pass." Common mistakes: (1) Adding 'not' — "Unless you don't study" is double negative and wrong. (2) Using 'unless' with a would-clause — "Unless you would study..." is incorrect. Use: "Unless you study, you won't pass" or "Unless I hear otherwise, I'll assume the meeting is on."