There are 9 parts of speech or word classes in English language:
– nouns
– pronouns
– determiners
– verbs
– prepositions
– adjectives
– adverbs
– conjunctions
– interjections

We use conjunctions to connect words, phrases or clauses.

Jack and Jill went to the cinema last night.
– and = conjunction
– The conjunction ‘and’ connects 2 words (Jack and Jill)

I met my teacher and her husband yesterday.
– and = conjunction
– phrase = a combination of 2 words or more
– The conjunction ‘and’ connects 2 phrases (my teacher and her husband)

He knocked on the door and we went in.
– and = conjunction
– clause = a group of words that consists of at least 1 subject and 1 verb
– The conjunction ‘and’ connects 2 clauses
– 1st clause: He knocked on the door (subject= he, verb = knocked)
– 2nd clause: We went in (subject= we, verb = went in)

Independent Clauses

There are 2 types of clauses:
– Independent clauses
– Dependent clauses

Independent clause is a clause that can stand on its on (can be understood on its own).

He knocked on the door and we went in.
– ‘He knocked on the door’ = independent clause
If it is not combined with ‘we went in’, we can still understand the clause.
– ‘We went in’ = independent clause
If it is not combined with ‘he knocked on the door’, we can still understand the clause.

It’s an old car, but it’s very reliable.
– ‘It’s an old car’ = independent clause
If it is not combined with ‘it’s very reliable’, we can still understand the clause.
– ‘It’s very reliable’ = independent clause
If it is not combined with ‘it’s an old car’, we can still understand the clause.

We use subordinating conjunctions to connect a dependent clause and an independent clause.

He was angry because he missed the bus.
– ‘He was angry’ = independent clause
– ‘he missed the bus’ = dependent clause
– because = subordinate conjunction

Dependent clauses usually give additional information to independent clauses.

He was angry because he missed the bus.
– Dependent clause ‘he missed the bus’ explains the reason for the independent clause ‘he was angry.’

There are several types of subordinating conjunctions:
– Conjunctions of Cause and Effect
– Conjunctions of Purpose
– Conjunctions of Time
– Conjunctions of Place
– Conjunctions of Condition
– Conjunctions of Contrast

We use conjunctions of time to:
– connect an action or an event to a point in time.

Conjunctions of time:
– when
– after
– before
– until
– since
– while
– once
– as
– as soon as

I loved history when I was at school.
– ‘I loved history’ = an action
– ‘when I was at school’ = a point in time
– when = conjunction of time
– when = at or during the time that something happens

I’ll call you after I’ve spoken to them.
– ‘I’ll call you’ = an action
– ‘after I’ve spoken to them’ = a point in time
– after = conjunction of time
– after = at a time later than something; when something has finished

She left a message before she went.
– ‘She left a message’ = an action
– ‘before she went’ = a point in time
– before = conjunction of time
– before = earlier than a particular event or action

We are not going out until we have finished this.
– ‘We are not going out’ = an action
– ‘until we have finished this’ = a point in time
– until = conjunction of time
– until = happening or done up to a particular point in time, and then stopping

It’s twenty years since I’ve seen her.
– ‘It’s twenty years’ = an event
– ‘since I’ve seen her’ = a point in time
– since = conjunction of time
– since = from a particular time or event in the past until the present

You can go swimming while I’m having lunch.
– ‘You can go swimming’ = an action
– ‘while I’m having lunch’ = a point in time
– while = conjunction of time
– while = during the time that something is happening

Once I get him a job, he’ll be fine.
– ‘he’ll be fine’ = an event
– ‘Once I get him a job’ = a point in time
– once = conjunction of time
– once = from the moment when

He sat watching her as she got ready.
– ‘He sat watching her’ = an action
– ‘as she got ready’ = a point in time
– as = conjunction of time
– as = while something else is happening

I’ll come over to your place as soon as I can.
– ‘I’ll come over to your place’ = an action
– ‘as soon as I can’ = a point in time
– as soon as = conjunction of time
– as soon as = immediately after something happens, without delay

When the independent clause comes first, we do not need a comma after the independent clause.

I loved history when I was at school.
I loved history, when I was at school. (wrong)

You can go swimming while I’m having lunch.
You can go swimming, while I’m having lunch. (wrong)

We can reverse the order of the clause.
When the dependent clause comes first, we put a comma after the dependent clause.

When I was at school, I loved history.
When I was at school I loved history. (wrong)

While I’m having lunch, you can go swimming.
While I’m having lunch you can go swimming. (wrong)

We use conjunctions of place to:
– connect an action or an event to a place, location or situation.

She was standing where you are standing now.
– ‘She was standing’ = an action
– ‘where you are standing now’ = a location
– where = conjunction of place
– where = at a certain place

Children will play wherever they happen to be.
– ‘Children will play’ = an action
– ‘wherever they happen to be’ = a location
– wherever = conjunction of place
– wherever = at any place

When the independent clause comes first, we do not need a comma after the independent clause.

She was standing where you are standing now.
She was standing, where you are standing now. (wrong)

Children will play wherever they happen to be.
Children will play, wherever they happen to be. (wrong)

We can reverse the order of the clause.
When the dependent clause comes first, we put a comma after the dependent clause.

Wherever they happen to be, children will play.
Wherever they happen to be children will play. (wrong)