English Grammar

Coordinating conjunctions

The chief coordinating conjunctions are: and, but, yet, or, nor, for, so, either…or, neither…nor. Coordinating conjunctions generally connect words or phrases of the same grammatical class. For instance, a coordinating conjunction connects nouns with nouns, adverbs with adverbs or clauses with clauses.

Jack and Jill went up the hill. (The coordinating conjunction and connects the two nouns Jack and Jill.)
He worked diligently and patiently. (Here and connects the two adverbs diligently and patiently.)
He went across the fields and into the woods. (Prepositional phrases)

Kinds of coordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions which merely add one statement to another are called cumulative or copulative conjunctions. Examples are: and, both…and, as well as, not only…but also.

He got up and slowly walked away.
He is both clever and handsome.
Tom as well as John reached the finals.
He was not only praised but also rewarded.

Some coordinating conjunctions express opposition or contrast between two statements. They are called adversative conjunctions. Examples are: but, still, yet, whereas, while, nevertheless etc.

He is rich but he is unhappy.
He is poor yet he is happy.

Some coordinating conjunctions present two alternatives sometimes indicating a choice between them. Examples are: or, either…or, neither…nor, neither, nor etc.

You can have tea or coffee.
He neither drinks nor smokes.
He does not smoke, neither does he drink.

Coordinating conjunctions which express an inference are called illative conjunctions. Examples are: for, so.

He has been working hard, so he will pass.

Some conjunctions are used in pairs. They are called correlative conjunctions. Most correlative conjunctions are of the coordinating type.

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