Interjections and Conjunctions

Mrs. Escobar

Interjections—Definition

An interjection is usually an exclamatory word that usually expresses strong emotion.

Where and When?

Interjections may stand alone

Hey!Help!

These are followed by an exclamation point.

Where and When?

Word may be followed by a related sentence.

Hooray! We won the championship!Wow! I never thought I could do that!

Where and When?

Word of strong emotion ends in exclamation point and is separate from the rest of the sentence.Word of mild emotion ends in a comma and is part of the sentence.

Say, are you busy?

Caution!

Interjections are rarely used in formal and academic writing!

Conjunctions

A conjunction is a joiner, a word that connects (conjoins) parts of a sentence.

Types of Conjunctions

Coordinating SubordinatingCorrelating

Coordinating Conjunctions

The simple, little conjunctions are called coordinating conjunctions And, or, for, but, yet, nor, soForAndNorButOrYetSo

Coordinating Conjunctions

When a coordinating conjunction connects two independent clauses, it is accompanied by a comma:

Ulysses wants to play for Georgia, but he has had trouble meeting the academic requirements.

Coordinating Conjunctions

A comma is also correct when and is used to attach the last item of a serial list

Ulysses spent his summer studying basic math, writing, and reading comprehension.

When a coordinating conjunction is used to connect all the elements in a series, a comma is not used.

Presbyterians and Methodists and Baptists are the prevalent Protestant congregations in Oklahoma.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions can join two sentence elements without the help of a comma.

Bob and Michelle sang and danced to the music.

Subordinating Conjunction

A Subordinating Conjunction (sometimes called a dependent word or subordinator) comes at the beginning of a Subordinate (or Dependent) Clause and establishes the relationship between the dependent clause and the rest of the sentence. It also turns the clause into something that depends on the rest of the sentence for its meaning.

Examples—Subordinating Conjunctions

He took to the stage as though he had been preparing for this moment all his life. Because he loved acting, he refused to give up his dream of being in the movies. Unless we act now, all is lost.

Subordinating Conjunctions

AfterAlthoughAsas ifas long asas thoughBecauseBeforeeven ifeven though

Ifif onlyin order thatnow thatoncerather thansinceso thatthanthat

thoughtillunlessuntilwhenwheneverwherewhereaswhereverwhile 

Correlative Conjunctions

Some conjunctions combine with other words to form what are called correlative conjunctions. They always travel in pairs, joining various sentence elements that should be treated as grammatically equal.

Correlating Conjunctions—Examples

She led the team not only in statistics but also by virtue of her enthusiasm. Polonius said, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be." Whether you win this race or lose it doesn't matter as long as you do your best.

Common Examples

both . . . andnot only . . . but alsonot . . . buteither . . . or neither . . . norwhether . . . oras . . . as