A conjunction is a word that links words, phrases, or clauses. There are three types of conjunctions: coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions.

Coordinating Conjunctions - Join single words, or they may join groups of words, but they must always join similar elements.

They are: For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Examples:

We have tickets for the symphony and the opera.

The orchestra rehearses on Tuesday, but the chorus rehearses on Wednesday.

Have you seen or heard the opera by Scott Joplin?

I wanted to sit in the front of the balcony, so I ordered my tickets early.

This television is for Paola.

I haven't finished the project yet.

Correlative conjunctions - also connect sentence elements of the same kind: however, unlike coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions are always used in pairs.

They are:

Examples:

Both my sister and my brother play the piano.

Tonight's program is either Mozart or Beethoven.

Neither the orchestra nor the chorus was able to overcome the terrible acoustics in the church.

Not only does Sue raise money for the symphony, but she also ushers at all of their concerts.

I think the Chinese will go to the moon whether the Americans do or not.

Subordinating Conjunctions - The largest class of conjunctions, connect subordinate clauses to a main clause.

Types of Subordinating Conjunctions and examples

Examples:

Time

We are going out to eat after we finish taking the test.

I think Kyle will learn English before Paola.

I will wake up when my alarm goes off.

We were in the pool while they were fixing the lights.

I have beleived in ghosts since I was twelve.

I won't go skiing until it snows.

Cause and effect

I love Matisse's works because he uses color so brilliantly.

Since you don't like Mexican food, we won't go to Taco Bell.

Now that the car is finally fixed we can go for a drive.

We can't go to the mueseum as the car doesn't have gas.

We will all stay together in order that nobody gets lost.

I have a car so I don't think you will have to drive everybody.

Opposition

Although the line was long and the wait over two hours, the exhibit was well worth it.

You could ride your bike to Mendoza in one day, though it may be difficult

A 1986 Ferrari could out race a new Fiat even though it's 20 years old.

The Brazilian soccer team is better than the Chileans because the Brazil has 150 million people whereas Chile only has 15 million.

I should pay the ticket because I have 50 bucks while you only have 20.

Condition

I will only to to the beach if you come with me.

I won't go to the beach unless you go.

I will only go to the beach if you go.

I will go to the beach whether you go or not.

Even if you have already bought your ticket, you will still need to wait in line.

I will bring my Jacket in case it rains.

Translation practice:

Coordinating Conjunctions

1) Me gusta las manzanas y las naranjas.

I like Apples ________ Oranges.

2) Me gusta hacer cosas para la gente.

I like doing things _______ people.

3) Ni Kyle ni Paola se gustan comer las hamburguesas.

Neither Kyle ___________ like eating hamburgers.

4) Hay dos personas quien pueden ayudarte, Kyle o Paola.

There are two people who can help you, Kyle _________ Paola.

5) Yo puedo hacerlo, pero no voy a hacerlo.

I can do it, ____________ I am not going to do it.

6) Me gusta lavar las losas, entonces voy a lavar los losas.

I like doing the dishes, ______________ I am going to do the dishes.

Correlative Conjunctions

7) Ambos Perros y Gatos se gustan carne crudo.

____________ dogs ____________ cats like raw meat.

8) Me gustan Santiago en el invierno porque se puede no solo esquiar pero tambien esurfir.

I like Santiago in the winter because you can _______________ ski but _______________.

9) Kyle o Paola se pueden hacerlo.

_____________ Kyle ____________ Paola can do it.

10) Ni Kyle ni Paola se pueden hacerlo.

_____________________ Kyle ____________ Paola can do it.

11) Voy a ir si tu gustas o no.

I am going _________ you like it or __________.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Time

12) Santiago fue hecho por Pedro de Valdivia despues de los Espanoles cruzaron los Andes.

Santiago was built by Pedro de Valdivia ___________ the Spanish crossed the Andes.

13) Ricardo Lagos fue presidente antes que Michelle Bachelette fue presidente.

Ricardo Lagos was president _____________ Michelle Bachelette was president.

14) Todos de los autos empezaron de irse cuando el luz puso verde.

All of the cars started to go ______________ the light turned green.

15) El terremoto ocurro cuando estaba dormiendo.

The earthquake happened ______________ I was sleeping.

16) Yo he sabia que el Viejo Pascua no existia hace que tuve 12 anos.

I have known that Santa Clause doesn't exist ____________ I was twelve years old.

17) I creia en el Viejo Pascua hasta que tuve 12 anos.

I believed in Santa Clause ______________ I was twelve years old.

Cause and effect

18) Estoy feliz porque acabo de ganar el lottoria.

I am happy ______________ I just won the lottery.

19) Tenemos que comer bistek porque Juan no come pescado.

We have to eat steak ____________ John doesn't like fish.

20) Por fin podemos manejar a la playa ahora que el auto funciona de nuevo.

We can finally drive to the beach _______________ the car is working again.

21) Tenemos que cerrar la ventana en clase de Ingles porque (asi como) los trabajadores de construcion estan afuera.

We have to shut the window during English class _____________ the construction workers are outside.

22) Lugares de estacionar los autos son pintado por lineas para que los autos estacionan en una forma organizada.

Parking lots are painted with lines ____________ the cars park in an orderly way.

23) Voy a dibujarte una mapa asi que puedes encontrar tu camino.

I will draw you a map _________ you can find your way.

Opposition

24) Jaime no quiere comprar un auto, aunque el tiene mucho dinero.

James doesn't want to buy a nice car, ___________ he has a lot of money.

25) Va ser bastante comido a la fiesta aunque talvez quieria llevar algo de todas formas.

There will be plenty of food at the party ___________ you may want to bring some anyway.

26) Voy a esquiar contigo aunque no me gusta esquiar.

I will go skiing with you _____________ I don't like skiing.

27) Chile es mas guay que Brasil porque Brasil solo tiene la selva mientras que Chile tiene montanas grandes

Chile is cooler than Brazil because Brazil just has jungle ____________ Chile has big mountains.

28) No se quien vive in un lugar mejor.  Tu vives mas cerca al centro mientras yo vivo mas cerca al metro.

I don't know who lives in a better place. You live closer to the center __________ I live closer to the metro.

Condition

29) Santiago es un gran ciudad porque la gente se pueden ir a la playa si quieren.

Santiago is a great city because people can go to the beach _________ they want to.

30) Voy a la playa a menos que no quieres que voy.

I will go to the beach _________ you don't want me to.

31) No me gusta la playa, entonces solo voy si tu vas.

I don't like the beach, so I will __________ go ____ you go.

32) Me encanta la playa entonces yo ire si tu vas o no.

I love the beach so I will go __________ you go _________.

33) Me encanta la playa entonces yo ire aun asi quieres que me voy o no.

I love the beach so I will go ____________ you don't want me to go.

34) Puedes por favor cuidar mi gato en el caso que yo nunca vuelvo de la playa?

Will you please take care of my cat _____________ I never come back from the beach?