Types of Conjunctions and Its Explanation

A word that joins sentences, words, phrases and clauses​ is a conjunction. 

And, for, because, neither, nor, as, yet, so, but​are some of the most commonly used conjunctions in English. 

Now, read the following sentences: 

• Children like park and children like rollercoaster ride. 
• Would you like tea or would you take coffee?​ 
• Max was wealthy, but Max was miser.   
• Peter ran fast for the sake of prize​. 

If you break each of the sentences, it will be possible to use each of the clauses on their own, like: 

• Children like park(Independent Clause) ​ 

and ​ 

• Children like rollercoaster ride. (Independent Clause) ​ 
• Would you like tea (Independent Clause) ​ 

or  

• Would you take coffee?​ (Independent Clause) ​ 
• Max was wealthy(Independent Clause) ​ 

but  

• Max was miser. (Independent Clause) ​ 

• Peter ran fast (Independent Clause) ​ 

for  

• The sake of prize​.(Independent Clause) 

The independent clause makes meaning on its own, e.g.Children like park and Children like rollercoaster ride.​ 

We know that it is a complete thought. 

The coordinating conjunction is used to connect two independent clauses. [the clauses make sense even if they are on their own]. 

E.g.: and, for, nor, but, or, yet, so. 

Examples: 

• Can you visit the hospital because I need the tablets.​ 
• Peter was walking fast as if he had to catch the bus.​ 
• Mary ran to park after the school got over. 
• Mother asks Max to behave properly once he reached the church.​ 

If you break each of the sentences, it will be possible to use each of the clauses on their own, like: 

• Can you visit the hospital? 

because 

I need the tablets.​ 

• If he had to catch the bus. 

as 

Peter was walking fast.​ 

• Mary ran to park. 

after  

The school got over. 

• Mother asks Max to behave properly. 

once 

He reached the church.​ 

The subordinate clause supports the independent clause.​Subordinate clause is dependent on the independent clause. The subordinating conjunction is generally used to introduce a subordinate clause ​ 

E.g.: after, before, once, although, as if, as, because.​ 

Coordinating conjunctions are used to connect two independent clauses. They connect two ideas. They place a comma before the conjunction.   

Examples: Yet,for, and, nor, but, so,or. 

The subordinating conjunctions are generally used to introduce a subordinate clause. They give different meaning to the sentence. They also give the sentence cause and effect relationship. 

Examples: After, before, once, although, as if, as, before.