Conjunctions & Interjections

What is a conjunction? A conjunction is a word that joins words or groups of words in a sentence. The most common conjunctions are and, but and or. A comma should be placed before the conjunction in a compound sentence. When a conjunction is used for a compound subject or a compound predicate, no comma is used.

Coordinating Conjunctions A coordinating conjunction is the most common type of conjunction. And and or are used to form compound subjects. And, but and or are used to form compound predicates and compound sentences.

What do they mean? And is used to introduce an additional idea. Ex. My books and pencils fell on the floor. But is used to introduce a contrasting idea. Ex. I would go to the movies, but I didn’t earn any allowance this week. Or is used to introduce a choice or second possibility. Ex. You can play basketball or football next year.

Correlative Conjunctions Correlative conjunctions are a pair of conjunctions such as either, or; neither, nor; both, and. Ex. Either Mary or Jan will bring snack today.

Subordinating Conjunctions Subordinating conjunctions join a subordinate clause with a main clause. It comes at the beginning of the subordinate clause.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions after although because before if if only once rather than since so that than that though till unless until when whenever where whereas wherever while

Interjections An interjection is a word or group of words that expresses strong feeling. Common interjections: Great Oh Oh, no Wow Well Oops Ouch Yes

Punctuating Interjections An interjection with very strong emotions will be followed by an exclamation mark, and it will stand alone either before or after a sentence. Ex. Oh, no! My grade was lower than I wanted. An interjection with a milder feeling is a part of the sentence and is separated by a comma. Ex. Oh, I wanted to go to the park instead.