Grammar (The Use of Connectives)

 

English Grammar

  Connectives

Connective is a word or a phrase that joins two or more than two words, phrases, clauses or sentences.

1. Reason connectives

Reason connectives are used to join reason and result.

If the result is expected, we can use the following connectives:

a.    because/as /since /for 

Result + Reason (Both clauses should have verb)

          S+V+O because/as/since/for S+V+O

He passed the exam because he studied hard.

I didn’t speak to him for he didn’t speak to me.

She drank a lot of water since she was thirsty.

b. So/therefore

Reason + Result (Both clauses should have verb)

          S+V+O so/therefore S+V+O

He studied hard therefore he passed the exam.

She was thirsty therefore she drank a lot of water.

He didn’t speak to me so I didn’t speak to him. 

c. Because of

Result + Reason (if there is noun phrase)

          S+V+O because of Noun phrase (NP)

He passed the exam because of his hard study.

The school was closed because of the strike.

 

If the result is unexpected, we can use the following connectives:

a.    although/ even though/ though

Unexpected Result + reason (Both clauses should have verb)

          S+V+O although/ even though/ though S+V+O

The school was not closed although there was a strike.

She drank a lot of water though she was not thirsty.

Hari was accused of theft even though he was honest.

b.    however/ nevertheless

Reason +Unexpected Result + (Both clauses should have verb)

          S+V+O however/nevertheless S+V+O

There was strike however the school was not closed.

She was not thirsty nevertheless she drank a lot of water.

c. in spite of/ despite

Unexpected Result + Reason (if there is noun phrase)

          S+V+O in spite of/ despite Noun phrase (NP)

He failed the exam in spite of his hard study.

The school was not closed despite the strike.

The match continued in spite of the rain.

2. Purpose connectives

     Purpose connectives are used to join action and purpose.

a.    So that

If the purpose has S+V(+O) structure, we can use so that:

          Action + purpose (Both clauses should have verb)

          S+V+O so that S+V+O

I went to the bank so that I can cash the cheque.

Ramesh went to the cinema so that he could watch movie.

She practiced hard so that she could win the race.

 

b.    To/ in order to

If the purpose has V+O structure, we can use so that:

          Action + purpose (Both clauses should have verb)

          S+V+O to/ in order to V+O

I went to the bank to cash the cheque.

Ramesh went to the cinema in order to watch movie.

She practiced hard to win the race.

c.     for

If the purpose has V₄/ V_ing (+O) structure, we can use so that:

          Action + purpose (Both clauses should have verb)

          S+V+O for V_ing+O

I went to the bank for receiving the cash.

Ramesh went to the cinema for watching movie.

She practiced hard for winning the race.

3. Relative pronouns as conjunctions

          who, whom, whose, which/that, what/that, where, when

          These relative connectives are used before relative clause.

 

S.No.	Relative pronoun (connective)	used in relation to
1.	who	person subjective case
2.	whom	person objective case
3.	whose	possessive
4.	which/that	thing/object choice
5.	what/that	thing/object
6.	where	place
7.	when	time
8.	why	reason
9.	how	manner

 

Some examples:

There was a boy in the ground who is wearing a red cap.

Samita whom everybody likes works in hospital.

She is the girl whose ornament was stolen yesterday.

Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini which/that is a lovely place.

You will be punished for what you have done.

This is the house where I was born.

We plant rice seedling when it rains.

You should tell me the rule how they solved the problem of algebra.

I don’t know why Bishnu is absent.

4.     Coordinating conjunctions

A coordinating conjunction is a word that joins two elements of equal grammatical rank and syntactic importance. They can join two verbs, two nouns, two adjectives, two phrases, or two independent clauses. Some of them are and, but, or, nor, yet etc.

 Some examples:

My two favorite games are football and cricket.

I want to go to the market but my father refused.

I am allergic to dogs, yet I have three of them.

Jennifer does not like to swim, nor does she enjoy cycling.
Do you like tea or coffee?

 

5.     Correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions connect the words/ phrases/ clauses are that carry equal weight in the sentences like coordinating conjunctions. They come in pairs, and you have to use both of them in different places in a sentence to make them work. They get their name from the fact that they work together (co-) and relate one sentence element to another. Correlative conjunctions include pairs such as “both/and,” “either/or,” “neither/nor,” “not/but” and “not only/but also.”

Some examples:

I am not only reading books but also writing notes.

She wants either the Coke or the Dew.

Bimal liked both the poems and the stories.

Playing volleyball is not as fun as playing football.

He didn’t know whether she’d want biscuit or chocolate.

Neither the boys nor the girls completed their task.

I see you’re in the mood not for volleyball but for football.

He’d rather play the harmonium than sing.

6.    Time connectives

Before, when/ whenever, after, as soon as, while, till/until, then, by the time

All these connectives are written before time clause. The actions are first and second action.

When, after, as, since, as soon as, while etc. are used before first action.

Before, by the time, till/until etc. are used before second action.

 Before first action

          ……….. First action + Second action (When, After, As, Since, As soon as)

          Second action………. First action. (When, after, as, since, as soon as, while)

Before second action

          ……….. Second Action + First action (Before, By the time, Till/Until)

          First action………. Second action. (before, by the time, till/until)

 

Some examples:

Samikshya finishes revision of her lesson before she goes to bed.

I was doing my homework when the telephone rang.

The police came after the thieves had run away.

They all laughed as soon as he cracked jokes.

He knocked at the door while she was washing her clothes.

I have to wait for him at the park till/until he comes there.

By the time the doctor came, the patient had already died.

 

7.  Conditional connectives

                   if, whether, unless

All these connectives are used to make conditional sentences.

Unless you study hard, you won't pass the exam.

If it rains, we won't go out.

I would go there whether he called me.

For Causative Verbs CLICK HERE.

For Reported Speech CLICK HERE.

For EXERCISE CLICK HERE.

For testing the competency of students on connectives visit the blog

https://devprasadpandit.blogspot.com/2021/05/exercise-of-articles.html