English Grammar: CONJUNCTION
(समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
Definition (परिभाषा)
Conjunction is a word that joins words, phrases, or clauses and shows the relationship between them.
It is an indeclinable word (it does not change its form).
(Conjunction / समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय) वह अव्यय है जो शब्दों, वाक्यांशों या उपवाक्यों को आपस में जोड़ता है और उनके बीच संबंध स्पष्ट करता है।
यह रूप-परिवर्तन नहीं करता।
Examples (उदाहरण)
- Ram and Shyam came.
(राम और श्याम आए।) - He wanted to study, but he had no time.
(वह पढ़ना चाहता था, लेकिन समय नहीं मिला।)
**Main Types of Conjunctions
(Conjunction के प्रमुख प्रकार)**
Conjunctions are mainly of three types—
- Coordinating Conjunctions
(समन्वयबोधक अव्यय) - Correlative Conjunctions
(सहसंबंधी समुच्चयबोधक) - Subordinating Conjunctions
(अधीनस्थ समुच्चयबोधक)
1. Coordinating Conjunctions
(समन्वयबोधक अव्यय)
These conjunctions join words or clauses of equal importance.
(ये समान महत्व वाले शब्दों या उपवाक्यों को जोड़ते हैं।)
FANBOYS Rule
| Conjunction | Meaning / Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| for | reason / cause | He did not come, for he was ill. |
| and | addition | She came and sat down. |
| nor | negative addition | He did not call, nor did he write. |
| but | contrast | He is intelligent, but careless. |
| or | choice | Tea or coffee? |
| yet | strong contrast | He was tired, yet he continued. |
| so | result | It rained, so the match was cancelled. |
2. Correlative Conjunctions
(सहसंबंधी समुच्चयबोधक)
These conjunctions are used in pairs to join balanced ideas.
(ये युग्म में प्रयुक्त होते हैं और समान संरचना को जोड़ते हैं।)
Common Correlative Conjunctions
| Pair | Example |
|---|---|
| either…or | He is either a teacher or a writer. |
| neither…nor | Neither he came nor he sent a message. |
| both…and | He is both brave and honest. |
| not only…but also | She is not only intelligent but also hardworking. |
| whether…or | Whether you come or not, I will go. |
📌 Rule (महत्वपूर्ण नियम):
After both, either, neither, the grammatical structure on both sides must be parallel.
3. Subordinating Conjunctions
(अधीनस्थ समुच्चयबोधक)
These conjunctions join a dependent clause to an independent clause.
They express time, cause, condition, contrast, purpose, etc.
(ये आश्रित उपवाक्य को प्रधान उपवाक्य से जोड़ते हैं और समय, कारण, शर्त आदि का बोध कराते हैं।)
Common Subordinating Conjunctions
after, before, because, although, if, unless, when, while, since, until, that
Examples (उदाहरण)
- Because he was ill, he did not come.
(वह नहीं आया क्योंकि वह बीमार था।) - If you work hard, you will succeed.
(यदि तुम मेहनत करोगे, तो सफल होओगे।) - When it rains, we will stop.
(जब बारिश होगी, हम रुकेंगे।) - Although he is poor, he is honest.
(यद्यपि वह गरीब है, फिर भी ईमानदार है।)
4. Conjunctions of Time
(कालबोधक संयोजक)
These conjunctions show time relationship.
(ये समय का संबंध बताते हैं।)
Common Time Conjunctions
after, before, when, while, until, as soon as
Examples
- We will go after you arrive.
(तुम्हारे आने के बाद हम चलेंगे।) - Wait until the bus comes.
(बस आने तक रुको।)
Comma and Conjunction (विराम-चिह्न के नियम)
Rule 1: Coordinating Conjunction
When two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction, a comma is used before it.
(दो स्वतंत्र उपवाक्य यदि coordinating conjunction से जुड़ें, तो conjunction से पहले comma आता है।)
Example:
He went home, but returned soon.
Rule 2: Subordinate Clause First
When a subordinate clause comes first, a comma follows it.
(यदि आश्रित उपवाक्य पहले आए, तो उसके बाद comma लगता है।)
Example:
After I arrived, the work started.
Important Exam Notes (परीक्षा हेतु महत्वपूर्ण तथ्य)
✔ Conjunction is an indeclinable word (अव्ययी)
✔ Equal level → Coordinating Conjunction
✔ Used in pairs → Correlative Conjunction
✔ Dependent relation → Subordinating Conjunction
✔ A sentence may begin with a conjunction (and, but, so)
CONJUNCTION – 50 MCQs (School + Competitive)
A. Basic Identification (Q1–10)
1. Identify the conjunction:
Ram and Shyam are friends.
A. Ram
B. Shyam
C. and
D. are
✅ Answer: C
2. Which word is a conjunction?
A. Quickly
B. But
C. Very
D. Tall
✅ Answer: B
3. She wanted to go, ___ she was ill.
A. because
B. and
C. so
D. but
✅ Answer: D
4. He is poor ___ honest.
A. but
B. or
C. so
D. because
✅ Answer: A
5. Which sentence contains a conjunction?
A. He is a boy
B. She sings well
C. I tried but failed
D. This is a pen
✅ Answer: C
6. ‘Or’ is used to show —
A. addition
B. contrast
C. choice
D. reason
✅ Answer: C
7. Which is NOT a conjunction?
A. And
B. But
C. Because
D. Quickly
✅ Answer: D
8. He worked hard, ___ he failed.
A. and
B. yet
C. so
D. for
✅ Answer: B
9. FANBOYS does NOT include —
A. For
B. And
C. Because
D. So
✅ Answer: C
10. ‘Nor’ is generally used after —
A. affirmative sentence
B. interrogative sentence
C. negative sentence
D. imperative sentence
✅ Answer: C
B. Coordinating Conjunctions (Q11–20)
11. He did not come, ___ he was sick.
A. but
B. for
C. yet
D. or
✅ Answer: B
12. She is intelligent ___ careless.
A. so
B. and
C. but
D. for
✅ Answer: C
13. Work hard ___ you will fail.
A. and
B. or
C. so
D. yet
✅ Answer: B
14. It was raining, ___ we stayed inside.
A. but
B. for
C. so
D. yet
✅ Answer: C
15. He neither called ___ wrote.
A. or
B. and
C. but
D. nor
✅ Answer: D
16. Which conjunction shows result?
A. yet
B. so
C. but
D. nor
✅ Answer: B
17. ‘Yet’ expresses —
A. reason
B. addition
C. strong contrast
D. choice
✅ Answer: C
18. She sang ___ danced.
A. or
B. but
C. and
D. for
✅ Answer: C
19. He was tired, ___ he continued working.
A. but
B. yet
C. and
D. so
✅ Answer: B
20. Which conjunction joins negative ideas?
A. and
B. nor
C. so
D. yet
✅ Answer: B
C. Correlative Conjunctions (Q21–30)
21. ___ Ram ___ Shyam was present.
A. Either, nor
B. Neither, or
C. Either, or
D. Both, and
✅ Answer: C
22. She is ___ beautiful ___ intelligent.
A. neither, nor
B. both, and
C. either, or
D. not only, or
✅ Answer: B
23. ___ he comes ___ he calls me.
A. Both, and
B. Whether, or
C. Either, nor
D. Neither, or
✅ Answer: B
24. He is ___ a poet ___ a singer.
A. both, and
B. neither, nor
C. either, or
D. not only, and
✅ Answer: C
25. ___ she was late, ___ she finished the work.
A. Either, or
B. Neither, nor
C. Not only, but also
D. Both, and
✅ Answer: C
26. Which is a correlative conjunction pair?
A. and–but
B. because–so
C. either–or
D. when–then
✅ Answer: C
27. Neither the teacher ___ the students were present.
A. or
B. and
C. but
D. nor
✅ Answer: D
28. He not only sang ___ danced.
A. but
B. or
C. and
D. so
✅ Answer: C
29. Both the boys ___ the girls were punished.
A. or
B. but
C. and
D. nor
✅ Answer: C
30. Whether you agree ___ not, I will go.
A. and
B. but
C. or
D. nor
✅ Answer: C
D. Subordinating Conjunctions (Q31–40)
31. He did not come ___ he was ill.
A. but
B. so
C. because
D. or
✅ Answer: C
32. ___ it rains, we will stay at home.
A. And
B. But
C. If
D. Or
✅ Answer: C
33. She waited ___ he arrived.
A. so
B. until
C. but
D. or
✅ Answer: B
34. ___ he is poor, he is honest.
A. Because
B. Although
C. Since
D. If
✅ Answer: B
35. I will call you ___ I reach home.
A. but
B. when
C. for
D. yet
✅ Answer: B
36. Subordinating conjunction joins —
A. equal clauses
B. dependent to independent clause
C. words only
D. phrases only
✅ Answer: B
37. Which is NOT a subordinating conjunction?
A. Because
B. If
C. Although
D. And
✅ Answer: D
38. He will fail ___ he works hard.
A. unless
B. because
C. if
D. when
✅ Answer: A
39. ___ you finish your work, you may go.
A. And
B. But
C. When
D. So
✅ Answer: C
40. She stayed ___ her mother arrived.
A. until
B. but
C. or
D. and
✅ Answer: A
E. Error Spotting (Q41–50)
41. He is poor but honest and hardworking.
A. He
B. is
C. but
D. honest
✅ Answer: C (parallelism error)
42. Although he is rich but he is unhappy.
A. Although
B. is
C. but
D. unhappy
✅ Answer: C
43. Neither he nor his friends was present.
A. Neither
B. nor
C. was
D. present
✅ Answer: C (were)
44. She is not only intelligent and hardworking.
A. not only
B. intelligent
C. and
D. hardworking
✅ Answer: C (but also required)
45. Because he was ill so he did not come.
A. Because
B. was
C. so
D. come
✅ Answer: C
46. Either you work hard and you will fail.
A. Either
B. work
C. and
D. fail
✅ Answer: C (or)
47. He is poor yet honest but kind.
A. yet
B. honest
C. but
D. kind
✅ Answer: C
48. When he will come, we will start.
A. When
B. will come
C. we
D. start
✅ Answer: B (simple present: comes)
49. She studied hard so she failed.
A. studied
B. hard
C. so
D. failed
✅ Answer: C
50. Both Ram as well as Shyam came.
A. Both
B. as well as
C. Shyam
D. came
✅ Answer: B (Both…and)
