Conjunctions | Exam Fusion Prep

3 Kinds of Conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating Conjunctions
Correlative Conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunctions — FANBOYS

Used to connect items that are grammatically equal: two words, two phrases, or two independent clauses.

FANBOYS = For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

Connecting Words

I don't like to run or swim.
He was clever but lazy.

Connecting Phrases

The dog wagged his tail and panted excitedly.
She usually studies in the library or at a cafe.

Connecting Independent Clauses

I wanted to go shopping, but my friend wants to go to a movie.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Includes words like because, if, although, since, until, while. A subordinating conjunction is used to introduce a dependent clause.

I will clean the house after the relatives are gone.
She wrote my article even though it is assigned to me.
My father always inspires me because he believes in me.
When he was washing my car, I went to the store.

Correlative Conjunctions

A kind of tag-team conjunction — they come in pairs, used in different places in the sentence, to show a contrast or to compare equal parts of a sentence.

not only – but also · either – or · neither – nor · both – and · not – but · whether – or

He ate not only the ice cream but also the chocolate.
She likes neither tea nor coffee.
Raja is both the CEO and Managing Director of the company.

Although / Though … Yet (never "but")

Although / Though … ✓ Yet / ✗ but

⚠ EXAM TRAP Although/Though already sets up a contrast — pairing it with "but" creates a double-conjunction error. Only yet (or nothing at all) can complete the clause. Same logic applies to Because/Since/As with Therefore/So/Thus — see the next tab.

Although/though he is well off, yet he is greedy.
Although/though he worked hard, yet he did not succeed.

Sentence	Correction
Although I am not so rich as you are, but I have the ability to donate more money than you can.	yet
Although he has two big eyes, but he cannot see these types of bigger things even in the light of the day.	yet

Q. Although she was responsible for the accident, nobody blamed her — best replacement for the underlined part:

Option	Text
(A)	Yet nobody blamed her
(B)	Still nobody blamed her
(C)	Nevertheless nobody blamed her
(D)	No error ✓ (correct as it stands)

Lest … Should

Lest … should (ऐसा न हो कि / ताकि ... न)

⚠ EXAM TRAP We cannot use "not" with the "lest" structure — "lest" already carries the negative meaning built in.

Wrong	Correct
Work hard, lest you should not fail.	Work hard, lest you should fail.
Run fast, lest you may not miss the train.	Run fast, lest you should miss the train.

A mother said to her children, "Walk carefully, lest you should fall down or hurt yourself."
Make haste lest you should miss the train.
You should not be so quick in giving advice, lest you should be perceived as interfering in others' affairs.

Supposing / If

⚡ QUICK RECALL "Supposing" and "If" mean the same thing (both introduce a hypothetical condition) and cannot be used together. Use either "Supposing" OR "If" — never both in the same clause.

Sentence	Correction
Supposing if a number of ghosts meet us in the forest, will we be able to get rid of them easily without that magical wand?	Remove "Supposing" — keep only "If"
Supposing if you become a govt. officer in the next a few months, what will you do next?	Remove "Supposing" — keep only "If"

Wonder / Not sure / Not know + If / Whether

Wonder / Not sure / Not know + if / whether (NOT "that")

I am not sure if/whether he will join the company.
I don't know if/whether she has committed a crime.

⚠ EXAM TRAP If "or not" appears in the clause, only whether can be used — never "if" or "that".

I am not sure whether she will join the company or not.
I don't know whether she has committed a crime or not.

Doubt / Doubtful

Doubt/Doubtful … if/whether (Affirmative sentence)
Doubt/Doubtful … that (Interrogative / Negative sentence)

I doubt if she will marry me.
I don't doubt that she will marry me.
It is doubtful if she will marry me.
Is it doubtful that she will marry me?

Sentence	Correction
Their director doubt that the new machinery is really necessary.	if/whether
Her father was doubtful that one of his colleagues was involved in his shameful embezzlement.	if/whether
Economists doubt if interest rates will fall in the near future or not.	whether
Can you any longer be doubtful if you are mistaken?	that
To the men of both sides alike, worn out by want of food and rest, it began to appear equally doubtful if they should continue to slaughter one another or sign a peace treaty.	whether

Because, Since, As … never with So / Therefore / Thus

Because, Since, As … ✗ So, Therefore, Thus

⚠ EXAM TRAP Because/Since/As already introduce a reason clause. Pairing them with So/Therefore/Thus in the same sentence is a double-conjunction error — same trap as Although...but.

Wrong	Correct
Because he came late, therefore he failed.	Because he came late, he failed.

Because he has been bed-ridden for more than two months, you must not force him to do much work now.
As everyone already knows each other, there's no need for introductions. We'll get straight into the business of the meeting.
Because he has been very good and supportive to all of us during the period of struggle and strife, we must help him always.
Since everything can be done from home with computers and telephones, there's no need to dress up for work anymore.
Because breathing is something we do automatically, we rarely think about it.

Correlative Conjunctions — Practice

Either…or · Neither…nor · Not only…but also · Both…and These connect the same type/part of speech on both sides of the pair

Sentence	Correction
Either the action was right or wrong.	either (position corrected before "the action")
He neither visited Jaipur nor Udaipur.	neither (position corrected before "visited")
He is not only famous in India but also in abroad.	not only (position corrected before "famous")
He is both a writer as well as teacher.	and
We had not only helped them with money but also with new machinery and raw material.	not only (position corrected before "helped")
Not only did he criticise the party's policies but also the leader's personal matters.	He not only criticised the party's policies but also the leader's personal matters.
In the fall, either Phillip will start classes at the community college as his mother wishes or join the Navy, his father's hope.	either (position corrected before "start")
Most of the popular tele-serials are not only illogical in their story line but also crude in their presentation.	No Error
Money not only satisfies the basic physiological needs but also the higher psychological needs.	No Error (structure already correct)
The films were both enjoyable to watch and to discuss.	both (position corrected before "enjoyable")

⚡ QUICK RECALL — Correlative Position Rule The correlative word (either/neither/not only/both) must sit immediately before the exact part of speech being compared — not before an unrelated word earlier in the sentence. This is the single most common correlative-conjunction error type.

Not Either … Nor (never "or")

Not either … ✓ nor / ✗ or

He is not either good or wise.
She was not either tall or short.

Seldom or never · Seldom if ever

Sentence	Correction
Language policies for education are highly charged political issues and seldom or ever decided on educational grounds alone.	never
Seldom if never there was any training or instructions in such tactics for either the tank crews or the infantry formations.	ever was there
These goods are made for export and seldom if ever sold in the country.	No Error

Since — 4 Different Roles

1. Conjunction — Time (जब से)

Connects two clauses, showing a starting point in time.

Rahul has had several different jobs since he left school.
They haven't seen each other since they graduated.

2. Conjunction — Reason (क्योंकि)

Connects two clauses, giving a reason.

Since it's raining, we should take an umbrella.
Since there's no more business, we can all go home.

3. Preposition (उस समय से)

Followed directly by a noun — no clause.

I have been studying since morning.
She hasn't spoken to him since last year.

4. Adverb (के बाद से)

Used alone, without a following noun or clause.

She left home in 1993 and hasn't been seen since.
He started working for the company in 1995, and has been there ever since (= and is still there).

⚡ QUICK RECALL Identify "since" by what follows it: clause with time meaning → conjunction (time); clause with reason meaning → conjunction (reason); noun/noun phrase → preposition; nothing follows → adverb.

Unless — Denotes Condition

Unless = except if (denotes condition)

You can't get a job unless you have experience.
Most wild animals won't attack unless they are provoked.

Until — Denotes Time

Until = up to the point in time (denotes time)

The audience listened carefully until he spoke.
No one is allowed to leave the classroom until the exam was over.

Unless and Until — Used Together for Emphasis

You can't get a job unless and until you have experience.
No one is allowed to leave the classroom until and unless the exam was over.

⚡ QUICK RECALL Unlike the Although...but or Because...therefore double-conjunction traps, "unless and until" together is a valid, deliberate emphasis structure — not an error.

Unless vs Until — Practice

#	Sentence	Correct Choice
1	___ you are dedicated to your studies, you cannot expect success.	Unless
2	We will wait for Tanu, ___ she arrives.	until
3	He cannot withdraw all his money unless he ___ advance notice.	gives
4	I lived with my parents ___ I was 17.	until
5	You can't get admission in Delhi University ___ you have scored good grades in the higher secondary examination.	unless
6	Rahul can't vote ___ he turns 18.	until
7	Once Tanu starts playing badminton, she will continue ___ she wins.	until
8	No one can help you ___ you tell us the problem.	unless

⚠ EXAM TRAP Also note: "does not give" is wrong after "unless" (double negative) — correct is "unless he gives advance notice," since "unless" already means "if not."

Consolidated Error-Spotting Practice

#	Sentence	Correction
1	Although I am not so rich as you are, but I have the ability to donate more money than you can.	yet (instead of "but")
2	Although he has two big eyes, but he cannot see these types of bigger things even in the light of the day.	yet (instead of "but")
3	Supposing if a number of ghosts meet us in the forest, will we be able to get rid of them easily without that magical wand?	Remove "Supposing" — keep "If"
4	Work hard, lest you should not fail.	lest you should fail
5	A mother said to her children, "Walk carefully, lest you may fall down or hurt yourself."	lest you should fall down
6	I am not sure that he will join the company.	if/whether
7	I am not sure if she will join the company or not.	whether (because of "or not")
8	Their director doubt that the new machinery is really necessary.	if/whether
9	Economists doubt if interest rates will fall in the near future or not.	whether
10	Because he came late, therefore he failed.	Remove "therefore"
11	Either the action was right or wrong.	Move "either" before "the action"
12	He is not only famous in India but also in abroad.	Move "not only" before "famous"
13	He is both a writer as well as teacher.	and (instead of "as well as")
14	Language policies for education are highly charged political issues and seldom or ever decided on educational grounds alone.	never (instead of "ever")
15	Until you are dedicated to your studies, you cannot expect success.	Unless
16	He cannot withdraw all his money unless he does not give advance notice.	gives (remove double negative)

Master Table — Complete Chapter Revision

Topic	Key Rule / Fact
3 Kinds of Conjunctions	Coordinating, Subordinating, Correlative
Coordinating (FANBOYS)	For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So — connects grammatically equal words/phrases/independent clauses
Subordinating	because, if, although, since, until, while — introduces a dependent clause
Correlative	Tag-team pairs: not only-but also, either-or, neither-nor, both-and, not-but, whether-or
Although/Though	Pairs only with "Yet," never with "but" (double-conjunction error)
Because/Since/As	Never paired with So/Therefore/Thus (same double-conjunction trap)
Lest	Always followed by "should," never "not" (negative already built-in)
Supposing / If	Same meaning — cannot be used together in one clause
Wonder/Not sure/Not know	+ if/whether (not "that")
"or not" in clause	Forces "whether" — never "if" or "that"
Doubt/Doubtful — Affirmative	+ if/whether
Doubt/Doubtful — Interrogative/Negative	+ that
Correlative position rule	The correlative word must sit immediately before the exact part being compared, on both sides of the pair
Not either	… nor (never "or")
Seldom or never / Seldom if ever	Fixed emphasis phrases — do not substitute "ever" for "never" in the first, or "never" for "ever" in the second
Since — Conjunction (Time)	जब से — connects two clauses about a starting point in time
Since — Conjunction (Reason)	क्योंकि — connects two clauses giving a reason
Since — Preposition	उस समय से — followed directly by a noun
Since — Adverb	के बाद से — used alone, nothing follows
Unless	= except if; denotes CONDITION
Until	= up to the point in time; denotes TIME
Unless and Until	Valid emphasis structure when used together (not an error)
Unless + double negative	Never use "not" after unless (unless already means "if not")