Conjunction Examples & Definitions

Why should you look at an example of conjunctions, or joining words? The more you study these words, the easier it will be for you to use them, making your sentences easier for your audience to understand. Plus, looking at examples of conjunctions and, more specifically, subordinating conjunction examples will help you build complex sentences. Let’s look at a few sentences to show how joining words promote clarity in speaking and writing.

Before you move on, you should have some background on joining words already. If you want to build your foundation on this part of speech, then click to read more.

• Sentence one: I like cheese.
• Sentence two: I like crackers.
• Sentence three: I don’t like fish.

Without joining words, you would always speak in short sentences like the ones above. Your speech or writing would always sound repetitive and choppy. Joining words allow you to string all three ideas together into the complex sentence seen below:

• I like cheese and crackers, but not fish.

This example of conjunctions in action is much better for a few different reasons. First, it’s not choppy like the three individual sentences are. Second, it flows a lot better from one idea to the next. Third, it uses two different joining words. This sentence shows you how to form complex sentences with one or more joining words. These joining words are known as conjunctions and have been used throughout the English language to convey detailed messages. Which is why subordinating conjunction examples and coordinating conjunction examples, amongst others, are so important to learn.

Now that you understand why reviewing an example of conjunctions will help you become a better writer and speaker, let’s look at the examples of conjunctions known as coordinators.

Together or Not Together: Coordinating Conjunction Examples

There aren’t many coordinators in the English language, which makes examples of coordinating conjunctions simple enough to learn. In addition, each word is less than four letters long. Chances are you use them often in your everyday speech. The words in this group include and, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet. Use them whenever you want to join equally important words, phrases, and clauses into one sentence.  

Here are some examples of coordinating conjunctions:

For

For explains the reason or purpose for doing something.

Without the word “for” and other joining words, expressing purpose would be done with two individual sentences. You might say:

• I went to sleep. I had been awake for over 24 hours.

With for as the joining word, you can combine these sentences together. Here’s what it looks like in another example of conjunctions at work:

• I went to sleep, for I had been awake for over 24 hours.

You use the word for as you would the word because. However, the word for is a lot more formal and is grammatically correct.

But

But creates a contrast and shows exceptions when it acts as an example of a conjunction.

Without but and many other joining words acting as coordinating conjunction examples, it would be difficult to connect two ideas and show contrast. Take these two sentences, for instance:

• My mom doesn’t think my dad is funny.
• My mom loves my dad.

By using the word but, you could combine both ideas into one sentence to form another example of a conjunction and add to your examples of coordinating conjunctions.

• My mom doesn’t think my dad is funny, but she loves him regardless.

In this one sentence, you get a better understanding of the contrast that relates the two ideas and how coordinating conjunction examples should work.

If you want an easy way to remember all of the coordinating conjunction examples, use the famed acronym “FANBOYS”.

• For
• And
• Nor
• But
• Or 
• Yet
• so

This list provides only some of the more common examples of conjunctions and makes it a little easier and useful for when writing or thinking on the fly. The words in these examples of conjunctions are simple enough, right? If you want to take a quick break, look at these resources on APA format and more styles of formatting your academic papers. Your teacher would be so proud! Once you’re ready, let’s move on to subordinating conjunction examples.

Let’s Progress: Subordinating Conjunction Examples

These are different from coordinating words because they show differentiation or progression from one idea to the next. As a result, these words are more complex to learn. But don’t worry! You can learn these words in groups, as many have similar meanings. Here are some joining words that fit into the examples of subordinating conjunctions group:

• Although
• As
• Because
• Since
• Through
• Whereas
• While

Although and other examples of subordinating conjunctions such as though, whereas, and while all have a similar function. Their purpose, like the word but, is to show that two or more ideas are contrasting.

• Bill is tough, although he’s small.
• Though he’s tall, George can’t lift weights.
• Whereas George can’t lift weights, his cousin Andrew is a professional weightlifter.
• I usually finish my food before you because I enjoy eating, while you prefer talking over dinner.

The second group of subordinating conjunction examples include as, because, and since. All three of these words explain cause and effect.

• I can’t go to the concert as I have too much homework to do.
• He skipped a grade since his test scores were off the charts!
• She won a gold medal at the Olympics because she’s such a great snowboarder.

Think you’ve mastered examples of subordinating conjunctions? Now that you’ve seen an example of a conjunction, why not take a quick break? Check in with a friend to get the hang of subordinating conjunction examples and continue reading. Here’s a helpful essay checker to help you spot potentially troublesome text. Use it to double-check your next writing assignment! There’s also a tool that can create citations in MLA format. Once you check these tools out, let’s move on to correlative conjunction examples.

Working Together: A Correlative Example of Conjunctions

What’s an example of a conjunction that’s correlative? This group contains connecting words like either/or, both/and, and so/as. Are you noticing something unique about this group of words? Yes, the words in this list come in pairs. They work together to help you connect ideas in a sentence.

As/As shows comparison.

• He’s as funny as a comedian.
• She’s as tall as a tree.

Either/Or helps you explain two options.

• You can either have chocolate or vanilla ice cream, but not both.
• Either you go to bed or you’re grounded for a month!

Not only/But also continues and adds onto the original sentence or clause.

• Brett went shopping yesterday. Not only did he get the bread but also the soda, too.

As you can see, these pairs of words make it easy to show different relationships between words in your sentences. These are just to name a few examples of conjunctions that are correlative. See if you can add any more conjunction examples to this list from what you’ve gathered so far.

Conjunctions have various functions, but as long as you understand the context of a sentence or a clause, you can figure out which example of conjunctions is which. Now that you’ve covered examples of subordinating conjunctions and coordinating conjunction examples, there’s still one more conjunction function to cover: Adverb conjunction examples.

Similar but Not the Same: Adverb Conjunction Examples

Adverb conjunction examples include words like however, instead, and accordingly. Although these words are adverbs, they still connect ideas in a sentence like a joining word does.

Here are some examples of conjunctions that are really adverbs.

• I went to sleep early; last night; however, I kept waking up throughout the night.

It rained during my whole trip to Iowa; nonetheless, it was a fun vacation.

How do subordinating conjunction examples compare to adverb conjunction examples?

Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference between different joining words. The main difference between joining words is that some join two main ideas together. That’s what coordinates and adverb joining words do. Subordinates, on the other hand, connect a dependent and independent clause together and show the importance of one over the other.

Another difference is how you format words from the various groups. Whereas adverbs often require semicolons, words in other joining categories may require a comma, or no punctuation at all. By studying the above sentences, you should have a better understanding of how joining words work! Below you will find some practice questions to test your knowledge on what you’ve just learned. See if you still have questions on examples of coordinating conjunctions, examples of subordinating conjunctions, or a general example of a conjunction.

Conjunction Examples Review

1. Explain and list what falls under the subordinating conjunction examples:
2. Define and give examples of coordinating conjunctions:
3. What’s the difference between subordinating conjunction examples and examples of coordinating conjunctions?
4. Identify the sentence that is a correct example of a conjunction?
   1. He is as cool as a cucumber.
   2. He doesn’t know where he is.
5. Give an example of a conjunction that acts as an adverb.

Published March 7, 2019. Updated May 22, 2020.