Conjunctions & Interjections - Deep Mastery

Conjunction = Joiner. Joins words, phrases, clauses, sentences. Without conjunction, ideas broken. With conjunction, flow.

Types: Coordinating (FANBOYS) joins equal rank: Ram and Shyam, I tried but failed. Subordinating joins unequal (main + dependent): Although it rained, we played. Correlative pairs: Either...or, Neither...nor, Both...and, Not only...but also, Whether...or, No sooner...than, Hardly...when, Such...that, So...that, Lest...should.

Why Deep? Traps: Either...or nearest subject verb, No sooner...than not then, Hardly...when not than, Lest...should not will, Although...yet not but (although + yet/both okay but although + but is wrong in formal), Both...and plural, Not only...but also nearest subject. Also confusion: since as conjunction vs preposition vs adverb.

FANBOYS = 7 Coordinating Conjunctions. For And Nor But Or Yet So.

For = Reason/Cause formal because: I was tired, for I stayed up late (for = because). Comma before for when joining clauses.

And = Adds Information: Ram and Shyam are friends, I bought fruit and bread. And joins similar. With clauses: He studied and he passed.

Nor = Negative Addition with neither: She doesn't like tea, nor does she like coffee (nor needs inversion). Neither he nor she is present (nearest subject rule).

But = Contrast: It is cold, but it is sunny. He is rich, but unhappy. But shows opposite.

Or = Choice: Do you want coffee or tea? Study or fail. Either...or is correlative version of or.

Yet = Contrast/Surprise like but: He is small, yet he is strong. Yet = but still.

So = Result/Effect: It rained, so we stayed indoors. So = therefore.

Comma Rule: When FANBOYS joins two independent clauses (subject+verb both sides), comma before FANBOYS: It was raining, so we stayed. I tried, but I failed. If joins words/phrases, no comma: Ram and Shyam, cold but sunny.

Subordinating Conjunction = Introduces dependent clause, makes it dependent on main clause.

Time: when, while, before, after, as soon as, till, until, by the time, since, as, once. Rule: No future in time clause (when he comes not will come, I will call). When he comes, I will call you. While I was sleeping, he came. Before you leave, call me. After he finishes, he will go. As soon as it stops, we will go. Till/until he comes, I will wait. Since he came, I am happy (since as time and reason both).

Reason/Cause: because, as, since, for (for as reason formal), as long as? Reason. Because it rained, we stayed. Since you are tired, rest. As it was late, we left. Because shows direct cause, as/since shows known reason.

Contrast: although, though, even though, whereas, while (contrast), in spite of? Actually although/though + clause. Although it was raining, we played. Though he is rich, he is unhappy. Even though he tried, he failed. Whereas shows comparison: Ram is tall, whereas Shyam is short. While contrast: While Ram likes tea, Shyam likes coffee (while = whereas for contrast).

Condition: if, unless (if not), provided/providing that, as long as, in case, supposing. If it rains, I will stay. Unless you work hard, you will fail (unless = if not, no not with unless). Provided you study, you will pass. As long as you are here, help me. In case it rains, take umbrella (precaution).

Purpose/Result: so that, in order that, such...that, so...that, lest...should. I work hard so that I can pass. He ran fast so that he could catch bus. Such...that result: It was such a hot day that we stayed inside. So...that: It was so hot that we stayed. Lest...should: Work hard lest you should fail (lest = for fear that, always should + V1, no will/would).

Correlative = Paired Conjunctions, Always in Pair, Must Keep Parallel.

Either...or = One of two: Either coffee or tea is fine. Either Ram or his friends are coming (nearest subject friends plural => are). Either his friends or Ram is coming (Ram nearest singular => is). Verb follows NEAREST subject. Either...or + singular/plural depends nearest.

Neither...nor = Not either, Negative of either: Neither coffee nor tea is fine. Neither he nor his friends are present (friends nearest plural => are). Neither his friends nor he is present (he nearest singular => is). Neither...nor same nearest subject rule. Neither...nor negative, so no not with it: Neither he nor she does not come => Neither he nor she comes.

Both...and = Two together, Always Plural: Both Ram and Shyam are coming (always plural). Both coffee and tea are fine. Both...and + plural verb always.

Not only...but also = Adds Emphasis, Verb Nearest: Not only he but also his friends are guilty (friends nearest plural => are). Not only his friends but also he is guilty (he nearest singular => is). Not only...but also needs parallel structure: Not only tall but also intelligent (both adjectives), Not only he but also his friends were there (both pronouns). Inversion when Not only starts sentence: Not only did he come, but he also helped (did inversion).

Whether...or = Choice between two: Whether you come or not, I will go. Whether it rains or shines, we will play.

Parallelism Rule: Words after either/neither/both/not only must be same type as after or/nor/and/but also. Either tall or intelligent okay both adj but Either to go or staying not parallel => Either to go or to stay.

Such...that = Such + Noun + That Result: It was such a hot day that we stayed inside. Such a beautiful girl that everyone liked. Structure Such + a/an + adj + noun + that + result. Such...that needs noun.

So...that = So + Adj/Adv + That Result: It was so hot that we stayed inside. He ran so fast that he won. So + adj/adv + that + result. So...that vs Such...that: Such + noun (such a hot day), So + adj (so hot). Both show result.

No sooner...than = Immediate Past No sooner had + Subject + V3 + than + Subject + V2: No sooner had he arrived than he left. No sooner did he arrive than he left. Always than after no sooner, not when, not then. Inversion when No sooner starts: No sooner had he come than he left. Never No sooner...then.

Hardly...when / Scarcely...when / Barely...when = Almost Not + When: Hardly had he arrived when it started raining. Scarcely had he finished when he was called. Always when after hardly/scarcely/barely, not than. No sooner...than vs Hardly...when: No sooner + than, Hardly + when.

Lest...should = For Fear That Always Should + V1 No Will/Would Negative Meaning So No Not: Work hard lest you should fail (lest = for fear that you should fail). Lest...should always should + V1, never will/would, and lest itself negative so no not: Lest you should not fail wrong => Lest you should fail.

Other Pairs: As...as for comparison as tall as Ram, not so tall as? Both okay but as...as positive, so...as negative: as tall as Ram (positive), not so tall as Ram (negative). Whether...or for choice: Whether you come or not. As if / As though for imaginary: He talks as if he were king (were subjunctive).

Interjection = Sudden Emotion, No Grammar Connection, Stand Alone, Followed by ! or ,

Joy/Excitement: Hurrah! Yay! Yippee! Wow! We won! Hurrah! We won the match! Yay! It is holiday! Function: Express joy.

Surprise: Oh! What? Wow! Really? Oh! I forgot my umbrella. Wow! What a beautiful girl! Oh expresses surprise/realization.

Pain/Shock/Sorrow: Ouch! Ah! Alas! Ouch! That cut is painful. Alas! He is no more (alas sorrow). Ah! I am tired? Actually Ah can be surprise/pain.

Greeting/Approval/Calling: Hi! Hello! Hey! Well! Hi! How are you today? Hello! Is anyone there? Hey! Look here. Well! That is good plan (well approval). Bravo! Well done! Bravo for appreciation.

Attention/Order: Hush! Silence! Listen! Hush! Don't make noise. Behold! Look! Lo! (old).

Punctuation: Interjection followed by ! for strong emotion: Hurrah! Wow! Ouch! Or , for mild: Oh, I forgot. Well, that is good. Comma after interjection when mild emotion, exclamation when strong.

Grammar: Interjection has no grammatical relation to rest of sentence. It stands alone. No subject-verb relation. Wow, that is cool! Wow is interjection, that is cool is sentence.

Same Word Different Roles Based on Use - Most Confusing:

Since: As conjunction (since + clause): Since he came, I am happy (conjunction joins clause). As preposition (since + noun): Since Monday I am here (since + noun Monday preposition). As adverb (since then): I have not seen him since (since at end adverb).

Because / Because of: Because = conjunction (because + clause): I stayed because it rained (because + it rained clause). Because of = preposition (because of + noun): I stayed because of rain (because of + rain noun). Because takes clause, Because of takes noun.

As: As conjunction (as + clause): As it was raining, we stayed (as = because/since conjunction). As preposition (as + noun): As a teacher, I teach (as = in role preposition). As adverb? As...as comparison: as tall as Ram (as...as conjunction for comparison).

Before/After: As conjunction (before/after + clause): Before he comes, call me (before + he comes clause). As preposition (before/after + noun): Before Monday, call me (before + Monday noun). As adverb (before at end): I have seen him before (before at end adverb).

Till/Until: As conjunction (till/until + clause): Wait till he comes (till + he comes clause). As preposition (till/until + noun): Wait till Monday (till + Monday noun).

While: As conjunction time (while + clause): While I was sleeping, he came. As conjunction contrast (while = whereas): While Ram likes tea, Shyam likes coffee (while = whereas contrast).

Rule to Identify: If word + clause (subject+verb) = conjunction. If word + noun/pronoun = preposition. If word at end or modifies whole sentence alone = adverb.

Most Common Errors in Exams - Mug Them:

1. No sooner...than not then/when: No sooner had he arrived than he left (not then, not when). No sooner...than only.

2. Hardly/Scarcely/Barely...when not than: Hardly had he arrived when it rained (not than). Scarcely had he finished when he was called.

3. Lest...should not will/would no not: Work hard lest you should fail (not will fail, not should not fail). Lest itself negative so no not.

4. Although/Though...yet not but: Although it rained, we played / Although it rained, yet we played (both okay). Although...but ❌ in formal: Although it rained, but we played ❌ => Although it rained, we played or Although it rained, yet we played.

5. Both...and plural: Both Ram and Shyam are coming (are plural) not is.

6. Either...or Neither...nor Not only...but also nearest subject: Either Ram or his friends are (friends nearest). Neither he nor his friends are. Not only he but also friends are.

7. Unless = if not no not with unless: Unless you work hard, you will fail (not Unless you don't work). Unless itself negative so no not.

8. Such...that noun So...that adj: Such a hot day that... (such + noun), So hot that... (so + adj). Such...that needs noun, So...that needs adj/adv.

9. As...as positive So...as negative: As tall as Ram (positive), Not so tall as Ram (negative) (as...as positive, so...as negative though both okay in modern).

10. Interjection punctuation: Wow! Strong ! Hurrah! Ouch! Well, mild , Well, that is good plan. No grammar relation.

11. Inversion: No sooner had he arrived than... Hardly had he arrived when... Not only did he come but also... Never have I seen... inversion when negative word starts sentence.