1. Parts of Speech: Conjunction
With Help from Lenny and Carl

2. What is a Conjunction?
A conjunction is a word that joins words or groups of words:
“We call each other by number but not by name. Carl is number 14, and I’m number 12.”

3. Types of Conjunctions
There are three kinds of conjunctions: COORDINATING conjunctions, CORRELATIVE conjunctions, and SUBORDINATING conjunctions.

4. Coordinating Conjunctions
For Coordinating Conjunctions
And can combine subjects, predicates,
Nor objects, or sentences (to make
compound sentences).
But Only if they are used in a list or
Or to combine sentences do they
Yet need a comma (,) before them. So

5. Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative Conjunctions are always used in pairs:
Example:
Homer cannot decide whether Carl or Lenny is his best friend.
Correlative Conjunction Pairs:
Either…or, neither…nor, both…and,
not only…but (also), and whether…or.

6. Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions are used to begin subordinate clauses, usually adverb clauses.
Example:
Lenny hurt his eye when he took the rubber band off his newspaper because he did not have goggles to protect his face.

7. Subordinating Conjunctions (Cont.)
A subordinating conjunction need not come between the sentence part that it joins. It may come at the beginning of the sentence:
Because he did not have goggles, Lenny hurt his eye when he took the rubber band off his newspaper.
Note: When a subordinating conjunction begins a sentence, a comma must separate the subordinate clause and the independent clause.

8. Commonly Used Subordinate Conjunctions
After, although, as, as much as, because, before, how, if, in order that, inasmuch as, provided, since, than, that, though, unless, until, when, where, while
Some of these words may be used as prepositions: after, before, since, until.
Others may be used as adverbs: how, when, where.
That is often a relative pronoun.

9. Practice
Combine the following sentences using the conjunctions indicated:
Coordinating: Mr. Burns knows Lenny by name. He knows Carl’s name. He can never remember Homer’s name.
Correlative: Lenny works at the power plant. Carl works there too.
Subordinate: Lenny loses hope in his and Carl’s friendship. Carl tries to save the friendship.

10. Practice (Corrected)
Coordinating: Mr. Burns knows Lenny and Carl by name, but he can never remember Homer’s name.
Correlative: Both Lenny and Carl work at the power plant.
Subordinate: Although Lenny loses hope in their friendship, Carl tries to save it.