Conjunctions are connecting words. They connect words, phrases or clauses together. Examples are: and, but, or, so, when, while, before, after, as, since, because, though, although, if, whether, unless and until.

Note that we use just one conjunction to connect two clauses.

• She works hard. She does not earn enough.

We can connect these two clauses using the conjunction though or although.

• Though / Although she works hard, she does not earn enough.

We can also connect these two clauses using the conjunction but.

• She works hard but she does not earn enough.

There are mainly two types of conjunctions – coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions.

Coordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions connect two clauses of equal rank. Examples are: and, or, but, yet, for, so, nor etc.

• My husband eats fish and meat but I am a vegetarian.
• You can come with me or stay at home.
• She works hard yet she is not able to pass the test.

Subordinating conjunctions

A subordinating conjunction connects a subordinate or dependent clause to an independent clause.

• If you are busy now I will come tomorrow.
• As I was too busy at work, I had to skip my lunch.

Worksheet 1

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate conjunction.

1. ………………………. it was raining, I still felt hot. (As / Although / Because)

2. She may be the most deserving candidate, ………………………… that doesn’t mean that she will get the job. (as / so / but)

3. She can’t walk ……………………… she has broken her leg. (so / because / though)

4. …………………….. it was a hot afternoon, I did manage to do some work. (Although / Despite / However)

5. ……………………… you like it or not, I am going to invite Rohit to my party. (If / Whether / Unless)

6. ………………………….. it was a busy day, I couldn’t even take a coffee break. (As / So / Though)

7. Everyone loved her ………………………. she was an unassuming woman with pleasant manners. (because / though / if)

8. I donate to animal rights groups ……………………… I am passionate about it. (because / whether / if)

9. You are going to help me in the kitchen ……………………….. you like it or not. (if / whether / unless)

10. She was upset ………………………. she had failed her test. (because / so / hence)

11. ………………………. the movie lacked an interesting plot, I still liked it. (Although / As / If)

12. You have to work hard ……………………… you want to succeed in life. (if / unless / whether)

Answers

1. Although, 2. but, 3. because, 4. Although, 5. Whether, 6. As, 7. because, 8. because, 9. whether, 10. because, 11. Although, 12. if,

Worksheet 2

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate conjunction.

Conjunctions are words used to connect two clauses. Examples of common conjunctions are: when, while, as, before, if, though, although, as soon as, even if, even though, whether, unless, until etc.

1. The bag was heavy ………………………. I could not lift it.

2. I waited ……………………………. the train arrived.

3. Cats can climb trees ……………………….. dogs cannot.

4. She was yelling at everyone, ………………………….. she was mad.

5. ………………………. we played well, we could not win.

6. They had gone ……………………….. I reached their place.

7. ………………………….. I were you, I would consult a doctor.

8. ……………………….. he was busy, I could not talk to him.

9. …………………………… he is my friend, I cannot confide in him.

10. ………………………… you were playing, I was working.

11. I enjoyed the movie …………………………. I did not understand the language.

12. ………………………….you mend your ways, you will be in trouble.

Answers

1. so, 2. until, 3. but, 4. as if, 5. Although, 6. before, 7. If, 8. As, 9. Although, 10. When, 11. even though, 12. Unless

Worksheet 3

1. He does not study well …………………… he is lazy.

2. ……………. he is old, he walks slowly.

3. He is very busy, ……………………………… he will not attend the party.

4. …………………. I drop this vase, it will break.

5. The juice was so tasty …………………… I couldn’t stop drinking it.

6. ………………… you invite them, they will come.

7. He will ……………………. buy a car or invest the money in property.

8. …………………. you or I am mistaken.

9. ………………….. you or your brother has to pay up.

10. He ………………….. eats nor let others eat.

11. You should neither visit his house ……………………. speak to him.

12. Trees give us not only fruit …………………….. shade and firewood.

Answers

1. because, 2. as, 3. so, 4. If, 5. that, 6. if, 7. either, 8. Either, 9. Either, 10. neither, 11. nor, 12. but also

Worksheet 4

Combine the following sentences using as well as.

1. She is greedy. She is dishonest.

2. God made small things. God made great things.

3. She is pretty. She is intelligent.

4. Vijay is tall. His brother is tall.

5. The victim was present in the court. Her assailants were present in the court.

6. Animals are useful. Plants are useful.

7. The cow gives us milk. The buffalo gives us milk.

8. Lions are found in India. They are also found in Africa.

9. Animals breathe. Plants breathe.

10. The mother is waiting in the lobby. Her children are also waiting in the lobby.

11. He was at the party. His family was at the party.

12. The manager is on leave today. His secretary is on leave today.

13. The thief was arrested. His accomplices were arrested.

14. Rohan passed the test. Sania passed the test.

Answers

1. She is greedy as well as dishonest.

2. God made small things as well as great things.

3. She is pretty as well as intelligent.

4. Vijay as well as his brother is tall.

5. The victim as well as her assailants was present in the court.

6. Animals as well as plants are useful.

7. The cow as well as the buffalo gives us milk.

8. Lions are found in India as well as in Africa.

9. Animals as well as plants breathe.

10. The mother as well as her children is waiting in the lobby.

11. He as well as his family was at the party. (When we connect two nouns with as well as, the verb agrees with the former noun.)

12. The manager as well as his secretary is on leave today.

13. The thief as well as his accomplices was arrested. (When we connect a singular and a plural noun with as well as, the verb agrees with the noun going before as well as.)

14. Rohan as well as Sania passed the test.

Worksheet 5

Combine the following sentences using as.

1. He was not feeling well. He didn’t go to work.

2. We arrived early. We decided to go shopping.

3. The sky was overcast. I took my umbrella.

4. The lights have gone out. Let’s light some candles.

5. He was not selected. He did not have the required qualifications.

6. He was very hungry. He ate all the food.

7. The dress was beautiful. I bought it.

8. The servant was honest. The master trusted him.

9. He is suffering from viral fever. He should not go to school.

10. Everybody liked the teacher. He was quite knowledgeable and patient.

Answers

1. As he was not feeling well, he didn’t go to work.

2. As we arrived early, we decided to go shopping.

3. As the sky was overcast, I took my umbrella.

4. As the lights have gone out, let’s light some candles.

5. He was not selected as he did not have the required qualifications.

6. As he was very hungry, he ate all the food.

7. As the dress was beautiful, I bought it.

8. As the servant was honest, the master trusted him.

9. As he is suffering from viral fever, he should not go to school.

10. Everybody liked the teacher as he was quite knowledgeable and patient.

Worksheet 6

Combine the following sentences using enough.

1. The book is easy. Anyone can read it.

2. The hall is not big. It cannot accommodate all the people.

3. Are the bananas ripe? Can they be eaten?

4. The car has petrol. It can run a hundred miles or more.

5. He is rich. He can buy a car.

6. He was quick. He finished it early.

7. The fruit is ripe. I can eat it.

8. She is intelligent. She can solve any puzzle.

9. The cakes are cheap. We are able to buy them.

10. There is plenty of time. We can play one more game.

Answers

1. The book is easy enough for anyone to read.

2. The hall is not big enough to accommodate all the people.

3. Are the bananas ripe enough to be eaten?

4. The car has enough petrol to run a hundred miles or more.

5. He is rich enough to buy a car.

6. He was quick enough to finish it early.

7. The fruit is ripe enough for me to eat.

8. She is intelligent enough to solve any puzzle.

9. The cakes are cheap enough for us to buy.

10. There is enough time for us to play one more game.

Combine the following sentences using too…to…

1. He is very arrogant. He will not apologize.

2. She is very short. She cannot become a soldier.

3. His ideas are very complex. I cannot understand them.

4. You speak very fast. I cannot follow you.

5. He is very feeble. He cannot work.

6. The car is very expensive. We cannot buy it.

7. The room was very noisy. I could not concentrate on my work.

8. I am very tired. I cannot walk home.

9. The tree is so tall. I cannot climb it.

10. She is very young. She cannot take care of a baby.

11. The table is very heavy. I cannot move it.

12. He was very weak. He could not even sit up.

13. She is very shy. She cannot become a public speaker.

14. The room is very dark. I cannot see anything.

Answers

1. He is too arrogant to apologize.

2. She is too short to become a soldier.

3. His ideas are too complex for me to understand.

4. You speak too fast for me to follow.

5. He is too feeble to work.

6. The car is too expensive for me to buy.

7. The room was too noisy for me to concentrate on my work.

8. I am too tired to walk home.

9. The tree is too tall for me to climb.

10. She is too young to take care of a baby.

11. The table is too heavy for me move.

12. He was too weak to even sit up.

13. She is too shy to become a public speaker.

14. The room is too dark for me to see anything.