What is a conjunction?

1. What is a conjunction? • Short words that each have a distinct meaning and use • Coordinating conjunctions imply that the two elements being connected are of equal standing

2. The most common conjunctions are • And (which means addition):“This and that” • But (which means exception): “Not this but that” • Or (which means choice): “This or that” • Other conjunctions are • Nor (meaning negative choice or further negative information): “Not this but that” • For (meaning cause): “This for that” • Sometimes “so” and “yet” are also considered conjunctions

3. Coordinators can combine individual words or groups of words • Words • my friends and family • Phrases • tired of running but afraid of stopping • Clauses • what I wanted and what I got • Sentences • We asked for no special favors, nor did we receive any.

4. What is subordination? • Like coordinators, subordinators combine elements in a sentence. However, instead of implying that the elements are of equal importance, subordination communicates that one element is more important than the other. • Used to express relationships such as time, causation, condition, contrast, and location

5. Time: after, before, while, since, when • Causation: because, since, as • Condition: if, when, unless • Contrast: although, while • Location: where, wherever

6. Paragraph written using only coordination • This suggests that every detail of the story is equally important

7. Improvement using subordination • Subordinating conjunctions help us identify key details • The details outside of the subordinating clause are most important • “we went to the park” • “[my brother] had to wait on the bench” • “[my parents] joined in on the fun”