Understanding Conjunctions: Part 1

Introduction to Conjunctions

• This lesson explores conjunctions, building upon a prior lesson about prepositions.
• The lesson focuses on understanding conjunctions, their use in sentences, their types, and their applications.
• Being labeled "Part One" implies this video is the first in a series exploring conjunctions.
• The series provides thorough coverage, adding insights beyond textbooks while excluding outdated details.
• The series is well-received, suggesting approval of the teaching methods.
• The presenter intends to complete the series, given continued audience support, despite a break to prepare others for exams.

Understanding Conjunctions Through Examples

• Conjunctions are primarily explained through examples initially.
• The approach favors practical understanding rather than rote memorization.
• Example 1: "I like tea" and "I like coffee" combine into one sentence using "and".
• The concept of connectors uniting two parts is likened to electrical connectors.
• "And" connects the sentences in the example, showing its role as a connector.

Connecting Similar Ideas with "And"

• When both sentences share the same subject and verb, such as "I" and "like," combining them avoids repetition.
• Combining these two sentences forms the concise sentence "I like tea and coffee."
• The use of 'and' hinges on connecting similar ideas, showing its ability to join related concepts.
• Both activities involve something similar, like enjoying a beverage, so 'and' connects them.

Contrasting Ideas with "But"

• The sentences "I invited him" and "He did not come" exemplify the conjunction "but."
• Unlike previous examples, these sentences present contrasting ideas.
• Opposing ideas are best linked with a contradiction such as "but".

Advanced uses of "AND"

• The sentences "I love reading books" and "I love watching movies" are presented to describe more advanced uses.
• Because both activities are similar, the logical conjunction is "and."
• Because the subject/verb is the same, there is no logical need to connect another clause so instead joins 2 phrases using and.
• "I love reading books and watching movies."

Defining Conjunctions

• Conjunctions are defined as words joining or linking parts of a sentence.
• As a connector, conjunctions link words, phrases, and sentences.
• Conjunctions can consolidate sentences.

Conjunctive overlap

• Some conjunctions may also function as a relative pronoun, a relative adverb, or a preposition.
• Some conjunctions are 'only' conjunctions
• Some conjunctions primarily serve one function but can overlap with other word classifications.
• This information is important to avoid confusion.

Combining sentences with "WHO"

• "I fed the man" and "The man was hungry" combine to create "I fed the man who was hungry."
• "Who" connects the sentences, acting as a conjunction.
• The subject of the combined sentence is "man".
• "Man" can be considered a pronoun because the subject isn't repeated, and because the statement relates to the man, it is also a relative pronoun.

"WHERE" conjunctions in complex combined sentences

• "I know the place" and "He lives" can be combined using "where".
• The resulting sentence is "I know the place where he lives".
• "Where" connects the two sentences.
• "Where" functions as an adverb because a place is related to the sentence.
• By providing context, "where" also acts a relative subject, functioning as both an adverb and a relative pronoun/adjective.
• Thus, "where" is functioning as a conjunction as well.

The shifting role of Prepositions to Conjunctions

• A preposition can function as a conjunction depending on how the phrase works.
• In "He will return after an hour," "after" shows a relationship and acts as a preposition.
• Combining "I will go" and "He returns" into "I will go after he returns" casts "after" as a conjunction.

Discussing some paired conjunctions like "EITHER"

• Different types of conjunctions exist, including pair conjunctions.
• Certain conjunctions appear in pairs, showing a relationship between clauses or parts of a sentence.
• Examples of paired conjunctions: either, neither, both, though, whether, and, not only...
• Aligning pair conjunctives is critical to maintain consistency, especially for tests.

Discussing improper pairings

• In the phrase "I will fly both the blue or the black pens" we see an improper pairing.
• Because the speaker will buy more than one pen, "and" should connect the items instead of "or."
• An equal connection is mandatory.

Talking about something called "CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS"

• Pair conjunctives can also be called "correlative conjunctions".

Example of correlative connections

• "He not only visited Agra But also Delhi" demonstrates correlative conjunctions.
• Checking for validity is the first step.
• Although "but also" suggests a proper pairing, the sentence is invalid due to a "POSITION" problem.
• The first pair must precede the verb while the second pair follows a noun.
• "He is not only a visitor from Agra, but also Delhi" is an incorrect construction.
• To resolve the positioning error we need to focus on which word is being modified
• He Not Only Visited Ahra but Also Delhi should be rewritten as He Visited Not Only Ahra, But also Dheli
• Arranging the words this way ensures both elements appear before the noun.

Other ways to think about CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

• The phrase "you should either wait for leave," showcases the importance of placement.
• The conjunctive pair is "either – or."
• "Or" precedes "leave," which is a verb.
• "Either" precedes the subject "you," which is what makes the statement incorrect, so we must REARRANGE the sentence.
• The key is to find the verb-to-verb or subject-to-verb parallel structure.
• The correct sentence is "You should either wait or leave," because they both appear before a verb.

Compound Conjunctions

• Compound conjunctions consist of more than one word.
• So far, the focus has been on single-word conjunctions, with multi-word versions classified as "compound conjunctions".
• Some compound conjunctions are so that, on condition that, even if, and so that.

Compound conjuctions in sentences and action

• "We eat, so that we may live" exemplifies these conjunctions.
• Here, "so that" connects cause and effect.
• The sentence "Nobody will believe you, even if you are right" also demonstrates this type of conjunction".
• Both sentences are being connected to the action that will follow.
• This lesson serves as an introduction to conjunctions.