You sure are wondering whether the conjunction words is the same as the preposition one. After all, both connect parts of the sentence and define a situation. But they have different characteristics that you should know. Keep on reading to know more about conjunctions and where to use them.

Why Conjunction Matters

As the name implies, a conjunction connects words, clauses, and phrases in a sentence. The roles depend on the context and the conjunction you choose. It also helps you to connect sentences and avoid using comma splices. Needless to say, conjunction is one thing that can do a lot to get your point across.

Types of Conjunctions

There are three types of conjunctions that you need to know. They are coordinating, subordinating, and correlative. Each type bears a different function in the sentence. Of course, you can always choose to memorize the conjunction words list. But you also need to understand each type to help you work with more variety of sentences.

Coordinating

This type of conjunction connects two parts of the sentence that is equal. For example, “I ordered a burger and fries.” As the conjunction, “and” connects two nouns in the sentence. Both burgers and fries are nouns.

But coordinating conjunction also connects two independent clauses. A good example here is “She drives a Volkswagen Beetle, and still wants the BMW.”

Subordinating

A subordinating conjunction connects the dependent clause with the independent one. While it may not be adding a new meaning to the sentence, but gives an explanation or additional context.

For example, “We had to walk here because my car broke down.” You can end the sentence with “We had to walk here.” But adding the information about the car gives context to the sentence.

Correlative

The difference between this type of conjunction is that it connects concepts almost exclusively. Unlike other types of conjunctions that only works to connect phrases and clauses, the correlative conjunction adds context by showing both clauses have equal importance.

See also

5 Free resources for teachers and students

An example of correlative conjunction is “Either you stop running or you’re getting tired.” The “either” and “or” gives context to the situation.

Conjunctions vs Prepositions

Now we come to the issue, what is the difference between conjunctions and prepositions? Can you use them interchangeably?

The primary difference is in the function. You need to remember that a preposition shows the context or relationship between the words in the sentence. And a conjunction connects the clauses and sentences.

Another difference is you can’t use prepositions independently in a sentence, but you can do that with a conjunction. Several words can act as both conjunction and preposition. But most of the time, you cannot use conjunction as a preposition and vice versa. You may like this article about linking words.

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Conclusions

You can memorize the whole conjunction words list. But you should remember that it may not mean a thing if you can’t use them properly. However, you can brush up your skill and familiarity with conjunctions by continuing to practice.