Conjunction Rules - English Grammar

What is Conjunctions?

A conjunction is a word which merely joins together sentences or clauses, and sometimes words. For example:

A good and intelligent girl.

 A new coat as well as an old coat.

Classes of Conjunctions

Conjunctions are divided into two classes:

1) Co-ordinating and

2) Sub-ordinating.

1. Co-ordinating conjunction :

It joins together clauses of equal ranks. For example:

 He is slow, but he is sure.

2. Sub-ordinating conjunction :

It joins together clauses in which one is dependent on the other. For example:

 Since you wish to excel in life, you must learn English.

Rule I: Scarcely should be followed by when, not by than. For example:

                                                                                                

Incorrect: Scarcely had he arrived than he had to leave again.

 Correct: Scarcely had he arrived when he had to leave again.

Rule II: No sooner is followed by than, not by but. For example:

Incorrect: No sooner had we reached the station but the train left.

 Correct: No sooner had we reached the station than the train left.

Note: "No sooner A ... than B" is very similar to "Scarcely A... when B" and has almost the same meaning.

Rule III: Do not use seldom or ever in place of seldom or never. For example:

Incorrect: The national network seldom or ever telecasts good programes.

 Correct: The national network seldom or never telecasts good programes.

Rule IV: Correlative conjunctions should be followed by the same part of speech. For example:

Incorrect: He neither agreed to my proposal nor to his.

 Correct: He agreed neither to my proposal nor to his.

Rule V: Neither is followed by nor, not by or. For example:

Incorrect: The phone neither went dead or worked properly.

 Correct: The phone neither went dead nor worked properly.

Rule VI: The conjunction that is not used before

i) a sentence in direct narration.

ii) an interrogative adverb or interrogative pronoun in the indirect narration. For example:

Incorrect: He said that, "it is none of my business".

 Correct: He said, "It is none of my business."

Incorrect: He asked me that which was the way to the station.

 Correct: He asked me which was the way to the station.

Rule VII: Although goes with yet or a comma (,) in the other clause. For example:

Incorrect: Although Manohar is hardworking, but he does not get a job.

 Correct: Although Manohar is hardworking, yet he does not get a job.

 Note: Though/Although is used with contradictory sentences (sentences expressing opposite views).

Incorrect: Since she was sick, she attended the party.

 Correct: Though she was sick, she attended the party.

Rule VIII: Nothing else should be followed by but, not by than. For example:

Incorrect: Mr Bureaucrat! This is nothing else than red-tapism.

 Correct: Mr Bureaucrat! This is nothing else but red-tapism.

Rule IX: The correlative conjunctions indeed... but are used to emphasis the contrast between the first and the second parts of the statement. For example:

Incorrect: I am indeed happy with my school but it produces famous men.

 Correct: I am indeed happy with my school that it produces famous men.

Rule X: In a "not only ... but also ... "sentence, the verb should agree with the noun or pronoun mentioned second, that is, the one after but also because this is the part being emphasized. For example:

Incorrect: Not only the students but also the teacher were responsible for what happened in the class.

 Correct: Not only the students but also the teacher was responsible for what happened in the class.

Rule XI: Not only ... but also always comes before the same part of speech. For example:

Incorrect: They not only gave me standing ovation but also a cash prize of `1000.

 Correct: They gave me not only standing ovation but also a cash prize of `1000.

Rule XII: Such...as is used to denote a category whereas such...that emphasises the degree of something by mentioning its consequence. For example:

Incorrect: Each member of the alliance agrees to take such action as it deems necessary.

 Correct: Each member of the alliance agrees to take such action that it deems necessary.

Rule XIII: The conjunction “lest” is followed by “should”. For example:

Incorrect: Work hard lest you would fail.

 Correct: Work hard lest you should fail.

Note:  “Lest” is a negative word. There should be no use of “not”, “nothing”, “never”, “no” with lest”.

Incorrect: Word hard lest you should not fail.

 Correct: Word hard lest you should fail.

Rule XIV: The conjunction so—as is used for comparison in a negative sentence whereas—as is used in a positive or affirmative sentence. For example:

Incorrect: He is not as tall as his brother.

 Correct: He is not so tall as his brother.

Rule XV: The conjunction, “both” is followed by “and” and not by “as well as” or “along with”. For example:

Incorrect: Both the boys as well as the girls were absent.

 Correct: Both the boys and the girls were absent.

Rule XVI: The conjunction “unless” denotes condition whereas “until” denotes time. For example:

Incorrect: Until you work hard, you will not succeed.

 Correct: Unless you work hard, you will not succeed.

Note: “Unless” and “Until” are negative words. There should be no use of “not” “nothing”, “never” with unless and until.