Conjunctions

Short sentences are safe, but an examiner is looking for sentences that carry two ideas and show the relation between them. Conjunctions are how you do that. There are three kinds.

1. Coordinating: joining two equal ideas

There are exactly seven, and their first letters spell FANBOYS. Both sides could stand alone as a sentence.

The seven coordinating conjunctions
Word	What it shows	Example	Urdu
For	gives the reason (formal, like because)	I stayed at home, for it was raining heavily.	کیونکہ
And	adds one idea to another	She studies English and she works part-time.	اور
Nor	adds a second negative	He did not call, nor did he send a message.	اور نہ ہی
But	shows a contrast	I was tired, but I finished the assignment.	لیکن
Or	gives a choice	You can take IELTS or PTE.	یا
Yet	a surprising contrast	He studied very little, yet he passed.	پھر بھی
So	gives the result	It was raining, so we cancelled the class.	اس لیے

2. Subordinating: one idea depends on the other

These start a clause that cannot stand alone. Because it was raining is not a sentence; it needs a main clause with it.

Subordinating conjunctions
Word	Relation	Example	Urdu
because	reason	I am learning English because I want to study in the UK.	کیونکہ
since	reason, or time from a point	Since you are free, please help me.	چونکہ / جب سے
as	reason	As it was late, we went home.	چونکہ
although / though	contrast	Although he was ill, he came to class.	اگرچہ
even though	strong contrast	Even though she studied hard, she failed once.	اس کے باوجود
whereas / while	direct comparison	He likes reading, whereas his brother likes sports.	جبکہ
if	condition	If you practise daily, your English will improve.	اگر
unless	negative condition (= if not)	You will not pass unless you practise.	جب تک نہ
when	time	When the bell rang, we left.	جب
while	two things at the same time	While I was cooking, she was studying.	جس دوران
before / after	order in time	Revise the words before you sleep.	سے پہلے / کے بعد
until	up to a time	Keep practising until you are confident.	جب تک
so that	purpose	I woke up early so that I could study.	تاکہ
as soon as	immediately after	Call me as soon as you reach.	جیسے ہی
in case	precaution	Take an umbrella in case it rains.	اس صورت میں کہ
that	introduces a reported idea	She said that she would come.	کہ

3. Correlative: conjunctions that work in pairs

Both halves must appear, and the words after each half should have the same grammatical shape.

Correlative conjunction pairs
Pair	Example
both … and	She is both intelligent and hard-working.
either … or	Either you call him or I will.
neither … nor	Neither Ali nor Sara was present.
not only … but also	He is not only a teacher but also a writer.
whether … or	I do not know whether to take IELTS or PTE.
no sooner … than	No sooner did I sit down than the phone rang.
as … as	This test is as difficult as the last one.

Five rules that keep conjunctions correct

1. Comma before a coordinating conjunction, only when it joins two full sentences.

I studied hard, and I passed the test. (two full sentences) · I studied hard and passed the test. (one subject, no comma)

2. Never use two conjunctions for one job.

Although he was tired, but he came. → Although he was tired, he came. This is the single most common conjunction error among Urdu speakers, because Urdu allows اگرچہ … لیکن.

3. A subordinating clause at the start takes a comma; at the end it does not.

Because it was raining, we stayed at home. · We stayed at home because it was raining.

4. Neither … nor and either … or take a singular verb when the second subject is singular.

Neither the students nor the teacher was informed.

5. After because, if, when and while you still need a full clause: a subject and a verb.

Because of he was late. → Because he was late. / Because of his lateness.

Check yourself

Join the ideas, or correct the sentence.

Join with although: He was ill. He came to class.
Show the answer
Although he was ill, he came to class.
Join with because: I left early. I had an appointment.
Show the answer
I left early because I had an appointment.
Join with so that: I woke up at five. I could revise.
Show the answer
I woke up at five so that I could revise.
Fix: Although he was tired, but he finished the work.
Show the answer
Although he was tired, he finished the work. (Never both.)
Fix: Because of he was late, we started without him.
Show the answer
Because he was late, we started without him.
Fix: Neither Ali nor Sara were present.
Show the answer
Neither Ali nor Sara was present.
Choose: You will not pass ___ you practise. (if not)
Show the answer
unless
Where does the comma go? I studied hard and I passed.
Show the answer
I studied hard, and I passed. (Two full sentences.)

More practice on this topic: 13 exercises →