Conjunctions are the glue that holds sentences together. These small yet powerful words help connect ideas, making your sentences clearer and more meaningful. If you’re a beginner learning English, understanding a list of conjunctions is essential for improving both your speaking and writing skills.
With years of experience helping English learners, I know how important it is to grasp the role of conjunctions in sentence structure. This list of conjunctions is carefully categorized to make learning easier and more organized for you. Whether you want to join words, phrases, or entire clauses, conjunctions are your go-to tools for creating smooth and logical sentences.
In this post, we’ll explore different types of conjunctions—like coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions—with plenty of examples to help you use them confidently. Let’s dive into the world of conjunctions and see how they can transform your English skills!
List of Conjunctions
1. Coordinating Conjunctions
These join equal parts of a sentence (words, phrases, or clauses).
- And
- But
- Or
- Nor
- For
- Yet
- So
Examples:
- She likes apples and oranges.
- He was tired, but he finished the work.
- Would you like coffee or tea?
- He didn’t study, nor did he attend the class.
- I stayed home, for it was raining.
- I wanted to help, yet I felt unsure.
- They were late, so they missed the meeting.
2. Subordinating Conjunctions
These join a dependent clause to an independent clause, showing relationships like time, cause, or condition.
- Because
- Although
- Since
- Though
- Unless
- While
- Before
- After
- Until
- As
- If
- Even though
- Whereas
- Whenever
- As soon as
Examples:
- I stayed home because it was raining.
- Although she was tired, she kept working.
- I haven’t seen her since last week.
- He kept running until he reached the finish line.
- As soon as the bell rang, the students left.
- You can go out if you finish your homework.
- Whenever he calls, she answers immediately.
3. Correlative Conjunctions
These come in pairs and join equal elements in a sentence.
- Either…or
- Neither…nor
- Not only…but also
- Both…and
- Whether…or
- As…as
Examples:
- Either you call me or I’ll call you.
- Neither John nor Mary was available.
- Not only did she sing beautifully, but also she played the piano.
- Both the teacher and the students were excited.
- He will go whether it rains or shines.
- She is as tall as her brother.
4. Conjunctive Adverbs
These connect independent clauses and show relationships like contrast, cause, or time.
- However
- Therefore
- Moreover
- Consequently
- Otherwise
- Furthermore
- Nevertheless
- Likewise
- Similarly
- Meanwhile
Examples:
- I was tired; however, I finished the task.
- She worked hard; therefore, she got the promotion.
- The food was delicious; moreover, the service was excellent.
- He forgot his homework; consequently, he got a bad grade.
- You need to leave now; otherwise, you’ll miss the train.
- The new phone is expensive; nevertheless, many people are buying it.
5. Temporal Conjunctions
These show a time relationship between two events.
- When
- While
- After
- Before
- As soon as
- By the time
- Whenever
Examples:
- I’ll call you when I arrive.
- She was reading while he was cooking.
- We’ll leave after we finish our breakfast.
- They arrived before the show started.
- As soon as I saw her, I smiled.
- By the time we got there, the event had ended.
6. Cause-and-Effect Conjunctions
These indicate a reason or result.
- Because
- Since
- So
- As
- Therefore
- Hence
Examples:
- I’m staying home because I’m not feeling well.
- Since it’s raining, we’ll stay inside.
- He was late, so he missed the meeting.
- As it was getting late, we decided to leave.
- She forgot her ID; therefore, she couldn’t enter.
- He didn’t study; hence, he failed the test.
7. Contrast Conjunctions
These highlight differences between ideas.
- But
- Although
- However
- Though
- Yet
- Whereas
- Even though
Examples:
- She is friendly, but sometimes shy.
- Although it was raining, we went out.
- I like the plan; however, I think it needs adjustments.
- He failed the test, though he studied hard.
- It’s cold outside, yet it’s sunny.
- He prefers coffee, whereas I like tea.
- Even though it was difficult, she didn’t give up.
Conclusion
Mastering a list of conjunctions is a key step in improving your English fluency. Conjunctions make your sentences flow naturally by connecting ideas, showing relationships, and adding depth to your language. Whether you’re writing a story or having a conversation, using the right conjunctions ensures your message is clear and effective.
From coordinating conjunctions like “and” and “but” to subordinating ones like “because” and “although,” this list of conjunctions offers everything you need to build better sentences. Practice regularly, and don’t hesitate to revisit this guide whenever you need a refresher. Remember, every conjunction you learn is a building block for stronger communication.
Keep practicing, stay curious, and enjoy the journey of learning English. You’re on the path to success!