Conjunctions: Adverbial (Conjunctive Adverbs)
There are four types of conjunctions:
Coordinating, Subordinating, Adverbial (Conjunctive adverbs),
and Correlative.
Conjunctive adverbs join independent
clauses only. An independent clause can stand alone as a
sentence. These are two independent clauses:
I studied very
hard last week. I got an A on my test.
Sometimes, the second independent clause
has an introductory word or phrase, which must be set off with
a comma.
I studied very hard last
week. Therefore, I got an A on my test.
It’s possible to connect independent
clauses with a semicolon to show that the two ideas are
closely related.
I studied very
hard last week; I got an A on my test.
When the semicolon is used along with the
introductory word, that word is used like a conjunction—to
join ideas together—so it’s called an adverbial conjunction,
or a conjunctive adverb. That is, an
adverb or adverb phrase is being used as a conjunction.
Almost any introductory word or phrase can be used as a
conjunctive adverb.
I studied very hard last
week; therefore, I got an A on my test.
Here are commonly-used conjunctive
adverbs:
|
accordingly |
Indeed |
Moreover |
|
also |
In fact |
nevertheless |
|
besides |
Instead |
otherwise |
|
consequently |
however |
on the other hand |
|
for example |
likewise |
then |
|
furthermore |
meanwhile |
therefore |
I waited for you
for two hours; moreover, I called the police.
Stanley stopped at
the market; then, he went bought gas on the way
home.
Bush is popular
with voters; however, some people question his
record.
Pets are a lot of
trouble; nevertheless, I love my cats and dogs.
Christina is very
creative; for example, she paints beautiful
pictures.
I missed the party
because I was studying; on the other hand, I got
an A.
|