INTRODUCTION TO CONJUNCTIONS – linking ideas

CONJUNCTIONS link words and phrases together. There are different types of conjunctions.

Co-ordinating conjunctions

• and, but, however, or, so, yet

These join list of items or clauses that can also stand alone and still make sense.

EXAMPLES

• I work with children and athletes. (I work with children. I work with athletes.)

• Emergency medicine is very stressful but very rewarding when you can save a life. (Emergency medicine is very stressful. Emergency medicine is very rewarding when you can save a life)

• I grew up around healthcare professionals, so I have a lot of insight about what the field is like. (I grew up around healthcare professionals. I have a lot of insight about what the field is like.)

Subordinating conjunctions 

• although, because, as, once, since, while, when, if

These introduce one idea (the dependent clause) that depends on another main idea (the main clause) and which explains the main idea.

EXAMPLES

• If I get a job in the teaching hospital, I will apply to do my specialty there. (“Applying to do a specialty” depends on “getting a job at the teaching hospital”.)

• Since I am in a residency programme, I can apply for the study fellowship. (“Applying for a study fellowship” depends of “being in a residency programme”.)

• I became a physiotherapist because I saw how much they helped my brother to walk again after his car accident. (“Becoming a physiotherapist” is the result of “the therapist helping the brother to walk again)

• Once I finish my basic training, I plan to work with professional athletes. (“working with professional athletes” depends on “finishing basic training”.)

Correlative conjunctions

• “both…and”         “either…or”         “neither…nor”            “not only…but also”

The two parts of a correlative conjunction always appear together.

EXAMPLES

• Both my grandmother and my mother are doctors.

• I want to specialise in either anesthetics or cardiology.

• Neither psychiatry nor internal medicine interests me.

• He is not only a children’s physiotherapist, but also the therapist for the national basketball team.

SPEAKING PRACTICE – VERY IMPORTANT SPEAKING PATTERNS

Practice repeating aloud each example sentence above, running the words together until they flow smoothly and naturally.