Lesson Introduction
Part 1
Three Ways of Connecting Sentences
In English grammar, there are three different ways of connecting two different sentences: using coordinating conjunctions, using subordinating conjunctions, and using conjunctive adverbs.
In English grammar, a complete sentence must be followed by a "period" to continue a complete sentence, such as the following example:
I left on time. I arrived late.
We can connect the above two sentences with "coordinating conjunctions", "subordinating conjunctions", or "connecting adverbs".
▶️ Using coordinating conjunctions
There are seven coordinating conjunctions: “for”, “and”, “nor”, “but”, “or”, “yet”, “so” (Memory formula: FANBOYS, which is the first letter of the seven equivalent conjunctions). If you use the coordinating conjunction to connect two complete sentences, the two sentences will become one sentence, with a comma in the middle of the sentence.
I left on time, but I arrived late.
▶️ Using subordinating conjunctions
There are many subordinating conjunctions, including: 'although', 'even though', 'because', 'since', 'unless', 'when', 'while', 'before', and 'after, etc. The clause introduced by the subordinating conjunction is called the "subordinating clause or subordinate clause ", and the remaining clause is called the "independent clause". An independent clause is also called the main clause. It expresses a complete thought, and it can stand alone as a sentence.
Taking the previous two sentences as an example, we can use the subordinating conjunction “although” to combine them.
Although I left on time, I arrived late. = I arrived late although I left on time.
The blue bolded text is the main clause or independent clause.
The red bolded text is
the subordinate clause.
“although” is a subordinating conjunction.
There are three types of subordinate clauses: adjective clauses, noun clauses, and adverb clauses. Most of the subordinating conjunctions are used to introduce adverb clauses, while a few are used to introduce noun clauses and adjective clauses. In Lessons 18, 19, and 20, we will further explain the noun, adjective, and adverb clauses. Below is a chart listing common subordinating conjunctions, using A WHITE BUS as the mnemonic.
▶️ Using conjunctive/linking adverbs.
Commonly used linking adverbs are “moreover”, “however”, “consequently”, “additionally”, etc. When using linking adverbs, remember to use a period or semicolon after the first independent clause, then the linking adverb, then a comma, and finally the second independent clause.
I left on time.
However, I arrived
late.
I left on time;
however, I arrived
late.
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions can be used to connect equivalent words, equivalent phrases, and equivalent clauses. There are only seven coordinating connectives: “for”, “and”, “nor”, “but”, “or”, “yet”, “so” (memory formula: FANBOYS, which is the first letter of the seven coordinating connectives).
✦ Coordinating connectives. for 、and 、nor 、but、or、yet、so (FANBOYS)
“and” is used to connect equivalent words, phrases, and
clauses.
“or” is used to connect equivalent words, phrases, and
clauses.
“but” is used to connect words, phrases or clauses with a
contrasting meaning before and after.
“so” is used to connect two sentences that have a causal
relationship.
“for” is used to connect two causally related sentences, usually
preceded by a comma.
“yet”, similar in meaning to “but”, is used to connect clauses that
are compared before and after, and is used to express surprise or
unexpected things.
“nor”, is a negative word, so the sentence after “nor” needs to be
inverted.
▶️ Connecting equivalent words
Kevin is hard-working, responsible, proactive, and methodical. As for Jason, he is smart but lazy.
We are looking for someone who has over 3 years of experience in finance and marketing. So far, few candidates are qualified.
Most job applicants weren’t qualified nor experienced. Some are competent yet inexperienced.
We need someone who has worked in a big firm before and is experienced with C++ or Java.
▶️ Connecting equivalent phrases
Please turn in your test now
and remember to hand in your
assignment tomorrow.
This cake is delicious to eat
but/yet difficult to
digest.
Tim is passionate about engineering
and looks like a self-starter.
However, he doesn’t have related job experience
nor a
bachelor degree in engineering.
You can pay in cash or by
credit card.
Our company is looking to hire someone who is proficient in Adobe
Photoshop and can work well
with others.
▶️ Connecting equivalent sentences
A: What are you guys up to today?
B: I am going grocery shopping this afternoon, and John is going to the gym later.
Go to bed early, or you will oversleep again.
They've been together for years,
but/yet he still hasn't
proposed.
The weather forecast said it would rain tonight,
so we should stay home.
The weather was sunny but chilly,
so we had to bundle up before
going outside.
I don’t like chocolate,
nor does my sister.
Kevin won’t attend the meeting tomorrow,
nor will I.
TOEIC Example: Mr. Moshifield phoned his mobile company to grumble about the service, _____ the counterpart claimed that he did not bear his phone costs punctually.
(A) yet
(B) or
(C) so
(D) and
The correct answer is
(A) yet.
The
conjunction "yet" is used to introduce a contrast or contradiction
between two ideas. In this context, Mr. Moshifield is complaining
about the service from his mobile company (the first idea), but
the representative from the company responds with a different
perspective, saying that Mr. Moshifield didn't pay his phone bills
on time (the second idea). There is a clear contrast between these
two ideas – Mr. Moshifield thinks the problem is with the
company's service, while the company representative thinks the
problem is with Mr. Moshifield's payments. Therefore, "yet" is the
appropriate conjunction to use here.
(B) "Or" is
incorrect because it is used to introduce an alternative or
choice, not a contrast or contradiction. In this context, there is
no alternative or choice being presented.
(C) "So" is
incorrect because it is used to indicate a result or consequence
of something. In this context, the company representative's claim
is not a direct result or consequence of Mr. Moshifield's
complaint.
(D) "And" is incorrect because it is used to
add information or express a relationship of similarity or
equality between two ideas. In this context, there is a contrast
rather than a similarity or equality between the two ideas.
TOEIC Example: Leah is looking forward to the upcoming conference and _____ the emergent issue so as to get ready for introducing the new technique.
(A) discuss
(B) discussion
(C) discussing
(D) to discuss
The correct answer is (C) discussing.
Explanation: For this question, students should be able to see at a glance that the phrase to is a preposition + Ving (gerund) or N. (noun), so delete the verb option (A) and to V option (D), option (B) is a noun, but before the space is the equivalent conjunction and (and), and after the space is the noun the emergency issue, there is no noun + the noun usage in English grammar, so choose the Ving gerund option ( C).
Word explanations：look forward to；the upcoming conference；emergent issue； so as to = in order to (both in the sentence and at the beginning of the sentence)；introduce new technique
In addition to coordinating conjunctions, there are other connectives that can be used to connect equivalent words and phrases. The commonly used connectives are listed below.
▶️ Both A and B + base verb
Both Helen
and her boss
agree to give each worker 20 days off a year.
Both the cafeteria
and the
library
have internet access.
I went to both the bakery
and the butcher shop.
▶️ Either A or B + the verb agreeing to the subject B
Either my uncle or my grandparents are coming.
Either the cafeteria
or the library
has internet access.
We will meet up on
either Monday
or Tuesday.
▶️ Neither A nor B + the verb agreeing to the subject B
Neither the swimming pool
nor the gym
is open
on Sundays.
Neither the bread
nor cakes
are ready yet.
▶️ Not only A but also B… = B as well as A + the verb agreeing to the subject B
Not only Ken’s parents
but also Ken
likes to swim on weekends. = Ken,
as well
as his parents,
likes to swim on weekends.
The scheme is designed to strengthen domestic demand
as well as create more job opportunities.
The inspectors as well as I
were surprised at the horrible scene at that time.