Conjunction for Class 5

What Do You Mean by Conjunctions?

Conjunctions refer to use in a sentence to join two or more words, phrases, or sentences. It is useful for connecting ideas and demonstrating their relationship. They make sentences more interesting and help us express our thoughts more clearly.
For example, in the sentence "I like to play soccer and basketball," the word "and" is a conjunction because it connects two activities that the person likes to do.
Most common conjunctions include and, but or and because.

Let’s look into some more examples:

→ Harry likes ice creams and cakes.
→ The conjunction "and" joins two things Harry likes.
→ She wanted to play badminton but it started raining.
→ The conjunction "but" connects two contrasting ideas.
→ You both can have coffee or tea for snacks.
→ The conjunction "or" gives a choice between two options.

Conjunctions help to make sentences more engaging and understandable by connecting distinct sections of a sentence.

Uses of Conjunctions

1. And

“And” is used used to join words together in a sentence. For example: I like shopping and travelling.

2. Or

“Or” is used to join phrases in a sentence. For example: You can take a pen or a pencil.

3. But

“But” is used to connect two sentences to make a longer one. For example: He likes to read and write.

4. Because

“Because” is used to explain why something happened. For example: Stacy ate dinner early because she was hungry.

5. Though

“As” is used to show the contrast between. For example: Clara wanted to play outside, though it was raining.

Types of Conjunctions

Conjunctions can be classified into three categories:

1. Coordinating Conjunctions
2. Subordinating Conjunctions
3. Correlative Conjunctions

Let’s discuss it in brief:

1. Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are equal in importance. Some common coordinating conjunctions used on a regular basis are:

1. For - used to explain a reason
2. And - used to join two similar ideas
3. Nor - used to show a negative alternative
4. But - used to show contrast or an exception
5. Or - used to present alternatives
6. Yet - used to show a contrast
7. So - used to show a result or consequence

Examples:

→ Alice wanted to go to the park but it started raining.
→ He likes both chocolate and vanilla ice cream.
→ You can have tea or coffee in your breakfast.

2. Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions are used to connect an independent clause with a dependent clause. Some common subordinating conjunctions used on a regular basis are:

1. Because - indicates a cause-and-effect relationship
2. If - introduces a conditional clause
3. Although - shows contrast or a concession
4. When - indicates a specific time
5. While - indicates something happening at the same time
6. Since - indicates a time or reason
7. Unless - shows a condition that must be met

Examples:

→ Susan will go shopping if it stops snowing.
→ My mother stayed home because I was feeling sick.
→ My sister likes to read while she’s on the train.

3. Correlative Conjunctions

These conjunctions are used in pairs to connect words or phrases of equal importance. Some common correlative conjunction pairs used on a daily basis are:

1. Both...and - used to connect two similar things
2. Either...or - used to present alternatives
3. Neither...nor - used to show exclusivity
4. Not only...but also - used to emphasise additional information

Examples:

→ Harry is not only a great singer but also a talented dancer.
→ Both Nick and John attended the party.
→ She can either have chocolate or vanilla ice cream for dessert.