Colgate University Writing Center: Handouts

COLGATE UNIVERSITY
WRITING CENTER
212 ALUMNI HALL


CLAUSES, CONJUNCTIONS, AND PUNCTUATION

by Rebecca Moore Howard, Department of Interdisciplinary Writing, Colgate University and Bruce Pegg, Director, Colgate University Writing Center

ABBREVIATIONS: s=subject, v=verb, c=complement, cc=coordinating conjunction, ca=conjunctive adverb, sc=subordinating conjunction, MC=main clause, SC=subordinate clause

COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

are placed between main clauses, and they are preceded by a comma (like this sentence). Coordinating conjunctions also separate the last two items in a series, producing a construction that is simple, elegant, and brief (and punctuated like this sentence). Note that, in a short series, the comma before the 'and' is optional.

MC, cc MC

x, y, and z

CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS

on the other hand, can be placed between the subject and verb of a main clause (as in this clause); however, they are more usually placed at the beginning of a main clause (like this clause). Note that when they are placed at the beginning of a main clause that follows another main clause, as in the last example, they are preceded by a semi-colon and followed by a comma. Similarly, the comma is used when the conjunctive adverb appears at the beginning of the sentence (like this example).

s, ca, v c

MC; ca, MC

ca, MC.

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

are used to begin subordinate clauses.

Because it expresses the conditions under which the action of the verb takes place, the ADVERB CLAUSE is very useful (this sentence is an example of one). It is constructed by adding a subordinating conjunction to a main clause.

sc s v c
If (like this and the first sentence in this section) adverb clauses are placed before a main clause, they are separated from that clause by a comma. They can also appear at the end of sentence, especially when you want to place emphasis on them (as in this example). Here, because the sentence is somewhat complex, the subordinate clause is separated from the main clause by a comma.

SC, MC

MC (,) SC

Adverb clauses can never stand on their own as a sentence. Because they create sentence fragments (like this one). They should be joined to main clauses like the examples above.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSES, which modify nouns (like this), are always placed after the nouns they modify. Unlike an adverb clause, they are constructed by adding a subordinating conjunction (which, in this case, is also called a relative pronoun) to a verb and complement; in other words, they become the subject of the clause as well as the conjunction.

sc v c
Some adjective clauses, which are also known as NON-RESTRICTIVE CLAUSES, are separated from the rest of the sentence by commas (as in this example). Adjective clauses that are important to the meaning of the sentence are called RESTRICTIVE CLAUSES and do not require commas (like this example). The difference lies in whether the information contained in the clause is essential in defining the noun. In the first example, the information is supplemental (it gives us information about adjective clauses that is additional but which does not alter the meaning in any way); in the second, the information restricts the meaning of "adjective clauses" so that it is clear that we are talking about only those adjective clauses that are important to the meaning of the sentence, and not those which are not. One key to recognizing restrictive clauses lies in the choice of subordinating conjunction; most authors will use "that" rather than "which."

Coordinating ConjunctionsConjunctive AdverbsSubordinating Conjunctions
and
or
for
nor
so
but
yet
 consequently
for example
for instance
furthermore
hence
henceforth
however
in addition
in contrast
in fact
indeed
moreover
nevertheless
nonetheless
on the other hand
similarly
then
therefore
thus
 For Adverb Clauses
after
although
as long as
because
before
especially if/when
even though
how
if
since
though
unless
until
when
where
whereas
whether
while
why

For Adjective Clauses
that
who
which

For further information about this or any other writing-related issues, consult The Bedford Handbook for Writers or one of the Writing Center tutors.

Back to the Colgate University Writing Center page.

http://www2.colgate.edu/diw/conjunctions.html
Revised: March 19, 1996.
Questions to: bpegg@center.colgate.edu
Copyright 1996 © Bruce Pegg. All rights reserved.