A Dictionary of Cont..

elative pronouns and true conjunctions. In fhe
man that sells balloons has left, the first word
in the clause, that, is the subject of the verb
sells and represents or means “the man.” It is
therefore a relative pronoun. But in Z believe
that he has left, the that has neither of these
functions and merely introduces the clause. In
this construction, it is a true conjunction.
An adverb that introduces a clause is classed
as a conjunction, although it does not lose any
of its adverbial functions. An isolated adverb,
such as before in it has happened before, is a
true adverb. If an adverb brings a full clause
with it, it has ceased to be an adverb and become
a conjunction, as in it happened before Z
arrived. If it forms a phrase with a noun or noun
equivalent, it has ceased to be an adverb and
become a preposition, as in it happened before
dinner. See adverbs.
The difference between a preposition and a
conjunction is sometimes important. A subjective
pronoun cannot be used as an object
following a preposition. We say he did it for me
and not he did it f,or I. But a pronoun following
a conjunction may be subjective or objective depending
upon its function in the sentence. If it is
functioning as the subject of a following verb,
an objective form cannot be used. For example,
the subjective form Z is required in he works
faster than Z do. When no verb actually follows,
there is a difference of opinion as to which form
of the pronoun is required. Some grammarians
claim that certain words, such as than, are
always conjunctions and imply a relation to the
verb, and that an objective pronoun should not
be used where the word is functioning as the
subject of a verb. According to these grammarians
we are required to say he works faster *than
I, whether the verb follows or not. In practice,
we often do say he works faster than me. ‘This
means that we are treating the word than :3s if
it were a preposition rather than a conjunction.
The construction is more acceptable for some
words than it is for others. (See the individual
prepositions or conjunctions.) When a following
pronoun is functioning as the object of a verb,
a subjective form cannot be used. We say Z know
her better than (I do) him. In a case like this
there is no need to say whether than is being
used as a preposition or as a conjunction since
we have the same result with either interpretation.
Pronouns, adverbs, and nouns used adverbially
may serve as conjunctions. In addition,
there are certain words that are used merel:y as
connectives. These pure conjunctions are: and,
or, nor, bat, for, than, as, because, if, Jest,
the@ or although, unless, whether, while, and
that.
COORDINATING AND SUBORDINATING
CONJUNCTIONS
Conjunctions are classified as coordinating
or subordinating. A coordinating conjunction
stands between two elements and indicates that
they are grammatically equivalent. The elements
may be words, phrases, or clauses. In he arrived
and Z left, the coordinating conjunction ,and
113 conjunctions
stands between two complete and independent
statements, called principal clauses. In Jack or
Jill, the coordinating conjunction or stands between
two nouns. A subordinating conjunction
always joins two clauses and shows that the one
which immediately follows the conjunction is
functioning as an element in the other. In he
arrived as Z left, there is only one independent
statement, he arrived. The subordinating conjunction
as shows that Z left is functioning as an
adverb of time in the other clause.
The words and, or, and nor, are always coordinating
conjunctions and always stand between
similar elements. Nothing as clear cut as this can
be said about any of the other conjunctions.
Bzct is sometimes coordinating and sometimes
subordinating. There is a difference of opinion
as to whether it may also be used as a preposition.
The word for is ordinarily a preposition
but it is sometimes used as a conjunction. When
it is there is a difference of opinion as to whether
it is coordinating or subordinating. The words
than and as are usually subordinating but are
considered coordinating in certain constructions
by some grammarians. (For a further discussion
of these problems, see the individual words.)
At one time it was customary to use a comma
between clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction,
but this is no longer required.
The remaining conjunctions are subordinating.
Coordination is a much simpler relationship
than subordination and the subordinating conjunctions
have a variety of functions. (For this,
see the individual words.) A subordinating conjunction
is always the first word in the subordinate
clause but the position of the clause itself
in the sentence depends upon its function. (See
clauses.) As a rule, a clause that is the subject
or the object of a verb is not set off from the
rest of the sentence by a comma. Adjective and
adverb clauses sometimes are and sometimes are
not, In general, a clause has the same punctuation
that a single word with the same function
would have.
Conjunctions are sometimes paired with another
word, such as not only . . . but, either . . .
or, if . . . then. These are called correlative conjunctions.
They may be coordinating or subordinating,
depending upon the conjunction itself.
For a discussion of the word order in clauses of
this kind, see parallel constructions.
SENTENCE CONJUNCTIONS
Words which indicate that an inference or
conclusion is to follow, such as therefore, consequently,
accordingly, then, are called “conjunctive
adverbs” or “illative conjunctions.”
They are conjunctions in the sense that they
show a relation between sentences. But grammatically,
they are treated as adverbs. That is,
these words do not have a fixed position in relation
to the statement they introduce. The clause
in which they appear is not, as a rule, joined to
another, but is separated by a period or a semicolon.
See sentence adverbs.
Coordinating conjunctions, such as and, or.
but, may also be used to show a relation between
independent sentences. Actually, this is only a