Conjunctions are words used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause, such as "and," "but," and "if."
6
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2answers
756 views
“Though” vs. “although”
Can we use though and although interchangeably? Somebody told me that the difference is that though cannot be used at the beginning of a sentence. Is that the rule?
-1
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2answers
60 views
Comma before “As if”
In which of the following cases would a comma be used before the as if clause? Does this follow the restrictive/non-restrictive rule?
"Hmmm," giggled the girl as if hearing the funniest joke ...
1
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1answer
5k views
“'n'” as an abbreviation for “and” as in “rock 'n' roll”
I wonder if there are other cases where and is abbreviated in writing as in rock 'n' roll.
4
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4answers
194 views
What’s the role of ‘because’ in this conversation?
I’ve lost track of the logical flow of the following conversation between Lucius Malfoy and Harry.
And still, behind his back, Dobby was pointing, first to the diary, then to Lucius Malfoy, then ...
2
votes
2answers
64 views
Using “and” with numbers [duplicate]
I'm a computer programmer and I'm working about this problem. I must say that I'm not very familiar with British English and I'd like to know when the word and is used in the numbers. The perfect ...
2
votes
2answers
94 views
Conjunction Puzzle: Is this clause dependent or independent?
Third grade teacher here. I plan to teach students to distinguish between simple, compound and complex sentences — but only if I can demonstrate a clear and meaningful difference between the latter ...
1
vote
3answers
402 views
Use of the word “that” in formal tone, technical writing
I need help settling a disagreement. I have read many posts about the word "that" — probably too many, since I have gotten myself confused! In this first example, there are two subordinate clauses, ...
2
votes
3answers
9k views
What does “if and when” mean, and is it the same as “when and if”?
Rather than trying to describe my beef with this idiom, I will give a bunch of successively objectionable examples. None of these are taken from real life.
As I see it, if (and when) both "if" and ...
7
votes
4answers
8k views
Using “nor” in a list without “neither”
This is the classic usage of neither/nor:
I would neither hide nor run away.
But is the following construction grammatical? (More than two choices, no neither)
I wasn't going to play dead.
...
2
votes
2answers
34 views
Singular or plural usage for ellipsis in direct object
Suppose I have the following sentences:
There should be an X and a Y chromosome.
There should be an X and a Y chromosomes.
Is the second grammatically correct? If the last word had to be plural for ...
0
votes
4answers
353 views
Confusion with Use of “Though” [closed]
Today I came across this sentence:
Though I don't sell photos taken by me it still makes me feel good/appreciated/wanted
I want to know exactly what this sentence means. I assumed two possible ...
30
votes
7answers
16k views
Are there rules about using “that” to join two clauses?
He will understand that I was not joking.
He will understand I was not joking.
Which of the sentences is correct? Are there any specific rules about the use of "that" in the sentences I ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Singular or plural noun in a sentence after using both in a related conjunction?
Occasionally when I am writing a sentence, I end up in a situation where I do not know whether to use the singular or plural form of a noun because I used both just prior to it in a conjunction.
For ...
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votes
2answers
57 views
“Only for A, B, and C”: Includes cases where not all are present? [closed]
After submitting the report, changes can be made only for the font
size, margins, and line spacing.
Does this sentence imply that changes can be made only if all three types of changes are ...
-1
votes
1answer
69 views
Using multiple coordinating conjunctions “ … , and … , but … ” [closed]
Is it ever acceptable to use multiple coordinating conjunctions?
"It was never my intention to become wealthy, but opportunities seemed to just happen, and I was not about to refuse them."
2
votes
1answer
120 views
“Still” and “Yet” as Conjunctions
I know there are already many posts on still and yet, but I really find it difficult to use them as conjunction as in following sentences:
It's a small car, yet/still it's surprisingly ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
A function of “that” in “who are you that you are afraid of man”
I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass,
(Isaiah 51:12 , English Standard Version ©2001)
How to express the ...
1
vote
1answer
81 views
Is it good style to factor out the common root word of two (or more) prefixed compound words?
I see sometimes in conjunciton or disjunction, the common root of two or more compound words are factored out, for example, "super- and sub-script" (maybe bad example, but it suffices to describe the ...
13
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6answers
8k views
Using a comma before “but”
I was once told by an English professor that a comma should never be used before but in a sentence. For years, I have followed her advice but sometimes I just feel like it just needs to be there. On ...
2
votes
0answers
150 views
Use of “any more than” to relate two different situations [closed]
In the following quote by Billy Sunday “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.” can anyone pls explain/elaborate the usage and meaning of ...
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votes
1answer
102 views
Fill in the blanks question problem (Conjunctions) [closed]
Question:
Fill in the blanks with best fitting answers.
No single country owns Antarctica. (22)----, countries
wishing to have a say in how the Antarctic (both the
continent itself and the ...
13
votes
6answers
2k views
Sentence Construction: “Just Because … Does Not Mean”
I've already found an entry on this here.
However, it does not solve my problem:
I just read an entry on "cross platform" from Wikipedia, in which it was written:
Just because a particular ...
1
vote
1answer
98 views
Usage of 'and' as a noun
I am reading The day that changed the world by Stephen King and in the beginning he mentions that there is a correct usage of and as a noun. Unfortunately, he only mentions it.
I Googled for a long ...
11
votes
5answers
17k views
When do we need to put a comma after “so”?
I noticed that most of the times when the conjunction "so" is used at the beginning of a sentence, it is followed by a comma:
So, this gets published but the fact that it is inaccurate gets ...
0
votes
1answer
145 views
Please provide me correct interpretation of this sentence [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How does negation affect the use and understanding of “or” and “and”
A's girlfriend doesn't like movies or Roses.
What would be the correct ...
2
votes
1answer
100 views
When a sentence contains both “not” and “or”, which one has priority?
I am changing a piece of text which current reads:
Payment not deducted
to also include the situation where payments are withheld. The suggested revision of text given to me is
Payment not ...
2
votes
3answers
176 views
Does “or” mean both conditions?
We are ordinary Russian folks playing an English board game and came across this sentence:
You may splay your green or blue cards left.
We expected that it meant you must choose only one card ...
0
votes
1answer
120 views
Is 'that' necessary for this sentence? [duplicate]
My friend and I were playing this game, in which we were complimenting others.
For example, she said, "You're so pretty, all the boys want to 'holla' at you."
Then I said, "You're so pretty, that all ...
1
vote
2answers
127 views
Can I start a text with “While”?
I know it’s OK to start sentences with While, but is it OK to start a text with it? For example:
While electron-electron correlations and interactions are crucial in the descriptions of atoms and ...
1
vote
2answers
190 views
“Where” as a conjunction
There were two sentences I wrote:
We did a science experiment where we dissected frogs.
This is the last day where I'll be waiting for you by your locker.
I'm not sure if where can be used as a ...
1
vote
3answers
86 views
When to use the words “how” and “that”
I wrote this sentence:
Tyray also thought about how he would see Darrell’s dead face.
However, I remember my teacher telling us the distinction between how and that, and that how is often used ...
1
vote
1answer
191 views
Use of “what” vs “that”
The following sentence was on one of the tests:
What would you like to do that others have told you is impossible.
Students have asked why that could not be replaced with what. I.e.,
What ...
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0answers
34 views
The verb “should” as a conjunction [duplicate]
Here is the phrase from Wikipedia:
CFO Peter Klein has said that Microsoft has no alternate plan should its current mobile strategy fail.
Another example:
Should Microsoft’s tablet and phone ...
3
votes
3answers
133 views
How to join two phrases sharing a common ending
One of my professors asked me if I would be working on an assignment alone or in a group. I responded by saying:
I was looking at the assignment and I feel that I am capable of, and therefore ...
1
vote
1answer
357 views
“so long as” vs. “as long as”
I just googled the difference between as long as and so long as. The difference has alredy been discussed here. There are, it seems, two contexts for these expressions:
lengths and physical ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
“So long as” vs. “as long as”
Which phrase is more formal — "so long as" or "as long as"?
Example:
So long as Google Voice allows free long distance in North America, I will use it.
As long as Google Voice allows free ...
21
votes
3answers
10k views
When to use & instead of “and”
Are there rules of usage when using the ampersand "&" instead of "and"?
Are they completely interchangeable?
The ampersand seems more casual, but I'm not sure.
0
votes
1answer
64 views
Pluralization of nouns left out with conjunction
Can a repeated noun be left out in a conjunction? The particular example I am thinking of is a sentence that starts:
Element A and element B....
Which I would shorten as:
Element A and B...
...
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votes
2answers
91 views
Is there any nice conjunction which fits the meaning of “as a continuation of”?
I want to use it in my thesis. Like secondarily, but I don't want to use that one or similar words, as these specify an order.
6
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3answers
4k views
Use of “so as not to”
Which is correct?
The thief carried the knife carefully so as not to cut himself.
The thief carried the knife carefully not to cut himself.
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1answer
58 views
“Bridging X and Y” or “bridging X with Y”?
Which is the correct (or more correct) version of this phrase and why?
Bridging ancient wisdom with contemporary science
Bridging ancient wisdom and contemporary science.
66
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8answers
3k views
1
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2answers
672 views
Use of a semicolon before and comma after “however”
Several years ago, a previous boss told me to use a semicolon and comma with the word "however". I've always questioned this and would like to know if the following random sentences are using the ...
0
votes
2answers
133 views
Must the verb tense following “prior to” always be in the past? [closed]
I’m writing a paper in present tense. However, I am wondering whether using prior to requires me to change my sentence to be in the past tense instead. For example:
Thus, prior to their visit, ...
10
votes
2answers
5k views
How do you make the possessive form with “He and I”-style subjects?
Despite being a native speaker of American English, I cannot find a construction that sounds natural when trying to form a possessive from coordinated subjects including a first person pronoun, like ...
2
votes
5answers
1k views
Can “as” ever properly mean “because”?
We often encounter as used to mean because. As we know, as is not merely ambiguous: it’s hexiguous or octiguous.
I’m especially uncomfortable when I find the usage in a technical paper1, where ...
1
vote
1answer
153 views
Is this a relative pronoun or conjunction?
I want to know everything (that) there is to know about you.
I chanced to come across ‘expletive there’ in a syntactic textbook. It says in this type of sentences: there is an expletive, to know ...
3
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4answers
220 views
Can “as soon as” ever mean “immediately after”?
Does as soon as mean "immediately after" in the following sentence?
He got home as soon as 2 hours.
I know that this could be a tad messy without context, but I found it as an example with the ...
2
votes
2answers
5k views
Use of 'as' instead of 'because'
Is the use of 'as' in place of 'because' considered to be poor grammar/style? For example
I cannot come with you as I am too busy
instead of
I cannot come with you because I am too busy
0
votes
1answer
172 views
Meaning of “either”: “not /A or B/” = “not /either A or B/”?
In a positive sentence, "either . . .or" is sometimes used to express an exclusive disjunction.
However, what happens when “either” is used in negation, as in sentence two below? Is the meaning the ...
