CORRECT USE OF SOME CONJUNCTIONS

CORRECT USE OF SOME CONJUNCTIONS

Conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases or clauses.
Note that you need only one conjunction to connect two clauses.
In this lesson, we will review the correct use of some conjunctions.

Except and unless

Except cannot be used as a conjunction equivalent to unless.

Incorrect: I will not come except you invite me.
Correct: I will not come unless you invite me.

Except is a preposition. It should be followed by a noun or noun-equivalent.

He ate everything on his plate except potatoes. (NOT He ate everything on his plate unless potatoes.)

Except and without

The preposition without also cannot be used as an equivalent tounless.

Unless you leave my house, I will call the police. (NOT Without you leave my house, I will call the police.)

Without is a preposition. It should be followed by a noun or noun equivalent.

Without your help, I would have failed. (NOT Except your help, I would have failed.)

The sentences given below express more or less the same meaning, but structures are different.

Compare:

I shall not go unless you do.
I shall not go without you.

Like and as

Like is a preposition. It cannot be used to connect two clauses. It should be followed by a noun or noun equivalent which acts as its object.

She looks like her mother.

As is a conjunction. It should be followed by a clause.

She walks as her mother does. (NOT She walks as her mother.)

NOUN CLAUSES TEST

NOUN CLAUSES TEST

A noun clause can act as the subject or object of the verb. It can also act as the object of a preposition.

Identify the noun clauses in the following sentences.

1. I wondered what he was doing there.

2. He replied that he would come.

3. She asked if I could help her.

4. That honesty is the best policy is a well-known fact.

5. I expected that I would get the first prize.

6. Do you know why he is late?

7. I don’t know what he wants.

8. Pay careful attention to what I am going to say.

9. That she should forget me so quickly hurts me.

10. That you should behave like this is strange.

Answers

1. I wondered what he was doing there. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the verb wondered.)

2. He replied that he would come. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the verb replied.)

3. She asked if I could help her. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the verb asked.)

4. That honesty is the best policy is a well-known fact. (Here the noun clause acts as the subject of the verb is.)

5. I expected that I would get the first prize. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the verb expected.)

6. Do you know why he is late? (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the verb know.)

7. I don’t know what he wants. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the verb know.)

8. Pay careful attention to what I am going to say. (Here the noun clause acts as the object of the preposition to.)

9. That she should forget me so quickly hurts me. (Here the noun clause acts as the subject of the verb hurts.)

10. That you should behave like this is strange. (Here the noun clause acts as the subject of the verb is.)

GRAMMAR TEST

GRAMMAR TEST

Complete the following sentences.

1. The boy held the box ……………….. even though him arm hurt ……………….

a) tightly, badly
b) tight, bad
c) tightly, bad
d) tight, badly

2. ………………. as fast as she could, she managed to arrive on time.

a) Being driving
b) Driven
c) Having driving
d) Driving

3. …………………. much blood, the driver struggled with the controls.

a) Being lost
b) Having lost
c) Losing
d) Lost

4. The man was charged with DUI. ………………., he was suspected of committing robbery in another state.

a) In addition
b) For instance
c) In the same way
d) Similarly

5. I believe that smoking is extremely injurious ………………… health.

a) to
b) for
c) with
d) on

6. You will greatly benefit ………………. the experience.

a) with
b) to
c) from
d) by

7. I have invited Alice and Rebecca. ……………….. Sally, I don’t care whether she comes or not.

a) As far as
b) As for
c) While
d) Whereas

8. The train was late. ………………….. I managed to arrive on time.

a) On the contrary
b) By contrast
c) Despite that
d) Incidentally

9. Why do you want to get a job as a typist? You won’t be able to work from 9 to 6. ……………….. you can’t type.

a) In any case
b) In general
c) For instance
d) Incidentally

Answers

1. The boy held the box tightly even though him arm hurt badly.

2. Driving as fast as she could, she managed to arrive on time.

3. Having lost much blood, the driver struggled with the controls.

4. The man was charged with DUI. In addition, he was suspected of committing robbery in another state.

5. I believe that smoking is extremely injurious to health.

6. You will greatly benefit from the experience.

7. I have invited Alice and Rebecca. As for Sally, I don’t care whether she comes or not.

8. The train was late. Despite that I managed to arrive on time.

9. Why do you want to get a job as a typist? You won’t be able to work from 9 to 6. In any case you can’t type.