Conjunctions in English - Shortcut Rules
Rule 1 : The co-relative conjunctions are used in pairs.
Please see that the pair is properly used.
- They will either do the work else return the money. ☓
- They will either do the work or return the money.✔
- Not only does he read but also writes.✔
- Though he is rich but he is economical. ☓
- Though he is rich yet he is economical.✔
Rule 2 : After the adverbs "Hardly / Scarcely", the conjunction 'when or before' should be used.
- Hardly had he left the place than the Bomb exploded. ☓
- Hardly had he left the place when the Bomb exploded.✔
Rule 3 : After 'Rather / Other, the subordinating conjunction 'Than should be used.
- He has no other object but to get a handsome job. ☓
- He has no other object than to get a handsome job.✔
- I would rather buy a scooter but not a cycle. ☓
- I would rather buy a scooter than a cycle.✔
Rule 4 : After the subordinating conjunction 'lest' the auxiliary 'should' is used.
Lest - for fear that / If it is not so.
- Work hard lest you fail. ☓
- Work hard lest you should fail.✔
Rule 5 : The connecting word 'that' is used with the adjective phrase 'the same/the only/superlative adjectives/all
- This is the same book which I wanted. ☓
- This is the same book that I wanted.✔
Rule 6 : The conjunction 'or' is used with not / never.
- I have never spoken to him nor written to him. ☓
- I have never spoken to him or written to him.✔
Rule 7 : With the word 'such' the connective 'that' may be used.
- There was such a noise what we could not hear ourselves. ☓
- There was such a noise that we could not hear ourselves.✔
Rule 8 :
> Until - Denotes Time
> Unless - Denotes Condition
> Unless - Denotes Condition
- You will not succeed until you work hard. ☓
- You will not succeed unless you work hard.✔
- I want to stay here unless she speaks the truth. ☓
- I want to stay here until she speaks the truth.✔
- You cannot do well until you prepare yourself. ☓
- You cannot do well unless you prepare yourself.✔
Rule 9 : After the connective 'because' the words ' so / therefore / as' are not used.
- Because he came late so he failed to see her. ☓
- Because he came late, he fail to see her.✔
Rule 10 : The adverb 'Not' should not be used with the connective 'Till/unless/lest/until' in that clause.
- Until he does not solve this problem, I will stay with him. ☓
- Until he solves this problem, I will stay with him.✔
- Unless they do not work sincere, they will not succeed. ☓
- Unless they work sincerely, they will not succeed.✔
Rule 11 : When 'since' is used as a conjunction should be
preceded by present perfect tense and followed by a verb in the past
tense to denote point of time.
- Many things have happened since I have left the school. ☓
- Many things have happened since I left the school.✔
Rule 12 : With the conjunction 'if' 'then' should not be used.
- If you work for 8 hours a day, then you will get through the examination. ☓
- If you work for 8 hours a day, you will get through the examination.✔
Rule 13 : When two objects are joined by 'as well/besides/along
with /together with / in addition to / except / including with, the verb
agrees with the first subject in number.
- He as well as his students have gone there. ☓
- He as well as his students has gone there.✔
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