Conjunctions & Interjections_13.1

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13.1 Conjunctions

13.1.1 Definition

Conjunctions are words that connect two words, phrases or clauses together. This definition can also be extended to idiomatic phrases that behave as a unit with the same function as a single-word conjunction (as well as, provided that, etc.).

13.1.2 Types of Conjunctions

There are 3 types of conjunction: coordinating conjunction, subordinating conjunction and correlative conjunction.

13.1.2.1 Coordinating Conjunction

13.1.2.1.1 Coordinating conjunctions, also called coordinators, are conjunctions that join two or more parts of a sentence that are grammatically equal. They always come between the words or clauses that they join. The most common coordinating conjunctions are: and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so (many of these simple words also belong to other parts of speech, eg., but can be a conjunction, a preposition, an adverb, a pronoun and a noun—complicated, isn’t it?)

13.1.2.1.2 Examples:

I like tea and orange juice, but I don’t like coffee.
I could do the homework tonight, or I could leave it till Friday night.
The story is not interesting nor instructive.
We must start early, for it will take two hours to drive to the airport.
I don't know Jane, yet I can get her help.
You have to go to bed early so you could get up early tomorrow.

13.1.2.1.3 When a coordinating conjunction joins independent clauses, it is always correct to place a comma before the conjunction. Eg.

I want to work as an interpreter in the future, so I am studying Russian at university.

However, if the independent clauses are short and well-balanced, a comma is not really essential. Eg.

She is kind so she helps people.

13.1.2.1.4 When and is used with the last word of a list, a comma is optional:

He drinks beer, whisky, wine, and rum.
He drinks beer, whisky, wine and rum.
1. Subordinating Conjunctions

13.1.2.2.1 Subordinating conjunctions, also called subordinators, are conjunctions that introduce a subordinate dependent clause, and join it to a main independent clause. Subordinating conjunctions usually come at the beginning of the subordinate clause. However, a subordinate clause can sometimes come after and sometimes before a main clause.

The majority of conjunctions are “subordinating conjunctions.” The most common ones include: after, although, as much as, as long as, as soon as, because, before, if, in order that, lest, since, so that, than, that, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, whether, and while.

13.1.2.2.2 Examples:

I will tell you after they leave.
Although he was not feeling well, he worked hard.
She is absent because she is sick.
I'll meet him where I first met you.
I like tea while she likes coffee.

13.1.2.3 Correlative Conjunctions

13.1.2.3.1 Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that work together to coordinate two items. They include both…and, either…or, neither…nor, and not (only)…but (also), whether...or.

13.1.2.3.2 Examples:

Either do your homework now or do it tomorrow.
Not only is he good looking but he is also smart.
Neither the basketball team nor the football team is doing well.
Both the Japanese and the Pakistani restaurants are full.
Whether you stay or go is your decision.

13.1.3 When, while, as

13.1.3.1 We usually use while and as to talk about two situations or actions which develop or change or take place together. Eg.

While you were reading the paper, I was working.
As I get older I get more optimistic.
1. With two progressive forms, we usually use while. Eg.
While I was having dinner, Mom was watching TV.

13.1.3.3 With two simple tenses, while / when can both be used. Eg.

I had lunch in the restaurant while she studied in the library.
I had lunch in the restaurant when Jojo studied in the library.

13.1.3.4 When is preferred when referring to ages and periods of life. Eg.

When I was a child we lived in London.
Mary's mother died when she was 12.

13.1.3.5 We can use as / when / while to introduce a longer 'background' action or situation, which is/was going on when something else happens/happened. Eg.

As I was walking down the street I saw Joe driving a Porsche.
When I was walking down the street, I saw Peter drive a Volvo passing by.
While I was walking down the street, I saw a girl fall down the steps in the rain.
The telephone always rings when you are having a bath.
While they were playing cards, somebody broke into the house.

13.1.3.6 Use when / while for an action that was taking place (progressive form), and simple past tense for another shorter action that intervened. Eg.

While I was playing cards, David came in.
When I was watching TV, Phillip called.

問： Mr Wong was absent that night and hence he was unaware of the incident（黃先生當晚不在場，因此不知道這件事）一語，把 hence之後 he字或 he was兩字刪去，可以嗎？

答：用 and、 but、 or連接的子句（ clause），只要文法結構相同，重複的字一般可以略去。所以，讀者示下那一句，可以略去 he，也可以略去 he was，但假如要強調「他不知道這件事」，則不省略會較好。

當然，假如前後子句用了不同的輔助動詞（ auxiliary verb），則輔助動詞不可省略，例如： He was absent that night and hence（ he） could not be aware of the incident（他當晚不在場，不可能知道這件事）。

13.1.4 List of Conjunctions

13.1.4.1 Coordinating conjunctions:

13.1.4.2 Subordinating conjunctions:

after
although
as
as how
as if
as far as
as long as
as soon as
as though
as well as
because
before
even if
even though
how
however
in case (that)
in order that
if
if only
in case
in order that
now that
once
only if
provided
rather than
since (cause + effect)
since (time)
so
so that
than
that
though
till
unless
until
what
when
whenever
where
wherever
while (opposition)
while (time)
whereas

13.1.4.3 Correlative conjunctions:

both...and
either...or
neither...nor
not only...but also
whether...or not
13.2 Interjections

13.2.1 Definition

Interjection is a big name for a little word. Interjections are short exclamations like Oh!, Um or Ah! They have no real grammatical value but we use them quite often, usually more in speaking than in writing. When interjections are inserted into a sentence, they have no grammatical connection to the sentence. An interjection is sometimes followed by an exclamation mark (!) when written.

13.2.2 Interjections and examples:

The table below shows some interjections with examples.

interjection

meaning

example

expressing pleasure

“Ah, that feels good.”

expressing realization

“Ah, now I understand.”

expressing resignation

“Ah well, it can't be helped.”

expressing surprise

“Ah! I've won!”

alas

expressing grief or pity

“Alas, she's dead now.”

dear

expressing pity

“Oh dear! Does it hurt?”

expressing surprise

“Dear me! That's a surprise!”

asking for repetition

“It's hot today.” “Eh?” “I said it's hot today.”

expressing enquiry

“What do you think of that, eh?”

expressing surprise

“Eh! Really?”

inviting agreement

“Let's go, eh?”

expressing hesitation

“Lima is the capital of...er...Peru.”

hello, hullo

expressing greeting

“Hello John. How are you today?”

expressing surprise

“Hello! My car's gone!”

hey

calling attention

“Hey! Look at that!”

expressing surprise, joy, etc.

“Hey! What a good idea!”

expressing greeting

“Hi! What's new?”

hmm

expressing hesitation, doubt or disagreement

“Hmm…I'm not so sure.”

oh, o

expressing surprise

“Oh! You're here!”

expressing pain

“Oh! I've got a toothache.”

expressing pleading

“Oh, please say ‘yes’!”

ouch

expressing pain

“Ouch! That hurts!”

expressing hesitation

“Uh...I don't know the answer to that.”

uh-huh

expressing agreement

“Shall we go?” “Uh-huh.”

um, umm

expressing hesitation

“85 divided by 5 is...um...17.”

well

expressing surprise

“Well I never!”

introducing a remark

“Well, what did he say?”

“Interjection” taken from http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/interjections.htm.

13.2.3 List of Interjections

absolutely, achoo, ack, agreed, ah, ahh, aha, ahem, ahoy, alack, alas, alright, alrighty, amen, anyhow, anytime, arg, argh, attaboy, attagirl, aw, awww, awful

bam, bah humbug, behold, betcha, bingo, bitch, blah, bless you, boo, bravo, brrr, bull, bullshit

cheers, congratulations

damn, dang, dear, drat, darn, doh, duh

eek, eh, encore, er, eureka

fiddlesticks, fuck

gadzooks, gee, gee whiz, geepers, golly, goodbye, goodness, goodness gracious, good grief, gosh, gotcha

ha, ha-ha, hallelujah, hello, hey, hi, hmm, holy buckets, holy cow, holy smokes, hot dog, huh?, hullo, humph, hurray

indeed

jeez, Jesus, Jesus Christ

my gosh

no, now, nah

O, oh, oh dear, oh God, oh my God, oh my, oh no, oh shit, oh well, ooops, ouch, ow

phew, phooey, please, pooh, pow

rats

shh, shit, shoo, shoot, shucks, son of a bitch, son of a gun

thanks, there, tut, tut-tut

ugh, uggh, uh, uh-huh, uh-oh, um, umm,

waa, wahoo, well, what, whoa, whoops, woah, woops, wow

yay, yeah, yes, yikes, yippee, yo, you betcha, yuck

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