Why Do Conjunctions Matter Ep 707

English Grammar: Learn Conjunctions & Enhance English Fluency

🎓 Today we are going to help you with keeping your English speaking fluent as we take simple conjunctions and level them up! With clear, practical examples, you'll master the art of seamless communication. Ready to elevate your English? Tune in now and experience the change!

Why Choose This Lesson?

• 📚 Comprehensive Grammar Guide: Master conjunctions for better flow in speaking & writing.
• 🗣️ Boost Speaking Skills: Learn practical uses in everyday conversation.
• ✍️ Enhance Writing Ability: Dive into advanced conjunctions for impressive English writing.
• 🎧 Engaging Podcast Format: Easy listening for on-the-go learning.
• 🌍 For All Levels: Beginner, intermediate, or advanced, we've got you covered.
• 🧠 Effective Learning: Absorb English naturally through our listen & learn method.

✔Lesson transcript: https://adeptenglish.com/lessons/grammar-english-conjunctions-explained/

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⭐ B.B. King

Conjunctions are crucial in linking your ideas smoothly, both in speech and writing. This understanding will enhance the flow and coherence of your English, making your communication more fluent and clear.

Understanding conjunctions adds depth to your sentences, allowing you to express complex ideas more naturally. This skill is essential for clear and effective communication in English. Discover how 'and', 'but', and 'so' can transform your English conversations and writings. Join us for an insightful #englishlesson

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More About This Lesson

Enhance your English fluency and writing skills with Adept English by mastering the use of conjunctions. Discover the simple yet powerful impact of words like 'and', 'but', and 'because' in our engaging lesson. This journey into the world of conjunctions will transform your communication skills, making your English flow smoothly and naturally.

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Enhance English fluency and clarity, this lesson will help you with:

1. Conjunctions for Fluent Speech: Learn how conjunctions enhance speech flow.
2. Practical Examples: Real-world examples make learning relevant.
3. Grammar in Context: Understand grammar in everyday use.
4. Writing Skill Enhancement: Learn conjunctions for better writing.
5. Variety in Use: Differentiate spoken and written conjunctions.
6. Complex Idea Expression: Express complex ideas more clearly.
7. Understanding Nuance: Grasp subtle meanings in English.
8. Improved Comprehension: Better understand written and spoken English.
9. Argument Development Skills: Learn to develop arguments effectively.
10. Expanded Vocabulary: Broaden your English vocabulary.

Benefits of our listen & learn approach to learning

We cover several important aspects in this lesson:

• Grammar Confidence: Overcome the fear of errors by learning how to use conjunctions correctly.
• Simplicity in Complexity: Understand that starting with basic conjunctions can lay a strong foundation for complex grammar.
• Fluency in Conversation: Learn how conjunctions can make your spoken English flow better.
• Writing Mastery: Enhance your writing skills with advanced conjunctions for more sophisticated expression.
• Retention Strategies: Tips on remembering and applying new grammar rules in everyday use.
• Progress in Learning: Embrace the non-linear journey of language learning with every lesson being a valuable step.
• Engagement in Learning: Recognize the importance of actively participating in language learning activities.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Conjunctions in English

Learning conjunctions in English is like weaving a beautiful tapestry. Each thread of words, intertwined with the skilful use of conjunctions, creates a seamless and captivating picture of fluency and skill, much like the lessons offered by Adept English.

1. What are Conjunctions and How Do They Enhance English Fluency? Conjunctions are words that join sentences or clauses together, like "and", "but", and "because". They help in creating a smoother flow in both spoken and written English. By using conjunctions effectively, you can link ideas logically, making your English more fluent and coherent.
2. What's the Difference Between Simple and Advanced Conjunctions? Simple conjunctions, such as "and", "but", and "so", are commonly used in everyday speech to connect basic ideas. Advanced conjunctions like "however", "nevertheless", and "although" are often found in written English. They add complexity and nuance to your writing, helping in developing arguments or contrasting ideas.
3. Can Conjunctions be Used at the Start of a Sentence? Yes, it's grammatically correct. Starting sentences with conjunctions like "however" or "nevertheless" can emphasize contrast or continuation from the previous point. It's a stylistic choice that can make your writing more dynamic and engaging.
4. How Do Conjunctions Impact the Style of Writing? Conjunctions greatly influence the style and clarity of writing. They can create complex sentences, provide clarity, and help in structuring arguments or ideas logically. Effective use of conjunctions can make writing more persuasive, coherent, and stylistically varied.
5. Are There Any Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Conjunctions? A common mistake is using the wrong conjunction, which can alter the intended meaning of a sentence. Another mistake is overusing conjunctions, leading to long, convoluted sentences that are hard to follow. It's important to choose the right conjunction and use them sparingly for maximum impact and clarity.

Most Unusual Words:

• Conjunction: A word that joins sentences together.
• Nuance: A subtle or small difference in meaning or feeling.
• Fluency: The ability to speak or write smoothly and easily.
• Context: The situation or background information that helps explain something.
• Argument: A reason or set of reasons given to support an idea.
• Contrast: To show how two things are different.
• Nevertheless: Despite what has just been said or referred to.
• Preposition: A word used before a noun or pronoun to show place, position, time, or method.
• Conjunctions: Plural of conjunction, words that join sentences together.
• Freelance: Working for different companies at different times rather than being permanently employed by one company.

Most Frequently Used Words:

Listen To The Audio Lesson Now

Transcript: Why Do Conjunctions Matter

Speaking Clearly and Writing Fluently: Using Conjunctions in English

Hi there. Today, let's discover how conjunctions bring sentences together, enhancing the flow of your English speech and your writing. In our Spotify polls, you tell us that you like grammar podcasts. So I thought we could kick off the new year together, with some good old-fashioned grammar learning.

Today, we're having a look at conjunctions and how to use them, and at the particular meanings that they add when we use them to join sentences.

Conjunctions help with your fluency when you use them and they add nuance, extra meaning too. So, I'm going to talk about the use of some simple conjunctions that you'll probably know and that are used in English conversations all the time.

Conjunctions - good for speaking and writing!

But also, do you want to boost your English writing skills? If you stick around for the second half of this podcast, I'll also cover some more advanced conjunctions. ones that you're more likely to meet in written English. And as usual, I'll give you lots of examples along the way. So, plenty of value for English language learners in this podcast.

Hello, I’m Hilary, and you’re listening to Adept English. We will help you to speak English fluently. All you have to do is listen. So start listening now and find out how it works.

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What are conjunctions and simple examples that you'll know

Conjunctions are words which join sentences together and which help both your written and your spoken English to make more sense and to sound more fluent. So that's 'conjunction'. C O N J U N C T I O N. That's its grammatical name.

So, first of all, let's go through some simple conjunctions. See if you've heard these in everyday English conversations. Then I'll talk about some conjunctions, which tend to be used more in the written context, in written English. But you can say them as well, of course.

Often, in written English, like an essay or a newspaper article, conjunctions are used a lot because you're developing an argument. You're developing a line of thought. You're combining several sets of ideas, in other words. Conjunctions are important and necessary, so that your ideas and your meaning flow. And your English is more understandable.

Let's start with some simple conjunctions. Are these familiar to you?

• and
• because
• while
• after
• so
• until
• but

I'll give you an example of each.

1. Dogs come in all sizes and there's a big difference between the largest and the smallest.
   • So, the 'and' in that sentence just joins together two sentences. It doesn't really add any meaning.
2. The weather is better because we are further south.
   • So, here the conjunction 'because' adds more meaning. It's saying that the reason the weather is better is because we're further south. So 'because' is used when we're talking about 'cause and effect'.
3. Something I might say to my son. You can play games on your computer after you've completed your homework.
   • Here, the conjunction 'after' joins the two sentences, but it links them in time. Homework first, gaming after. That's pretty clear. So it does add, again, extra meaning, this conjunction 'after'.
4. I like to drink coffee. while writing the podcast.
   • So the word 'while' is being used as a conjunction here. It's also a preposition, of course. And it gives more meaning. It tells you that the coffee drinking and the podcast writing are happening at the same time.
5. I drove my car slowly so I wouldn't skid in the snow.
   • Here the word 'so' is used as a conjunction. And it's indicating the intention, the reason behind an action. So, I drove slowly so that, I didn't skid. I didn't want to slip in the snow, in other words.
6. I can't make an appointment until I've returned from my holiday.
   • Here again, 'until' is used as a conjunction, and it tells you that one action is going to follow the other in time. The appointment making won't happen until I'm back from my holiday. So again, it's giving you more information. It's conditional. It's a bit like 'if' and 'unless', which are also conjunctions. There are conditions, things that must happen first.
7. You might think of a tomato as a vegetable, but it's actually a fruit.
   • So here the word 'but' is the conjunction, and 'but' as a conjunction shows that another idea is coming that potentially contradicts the first.

It contrasts with the first part of the sentence. So this kind of conjunction like 'but' is useful when you're building up an argument or a set of ideas. 'This, but also that as well'.

OK, so those were some basic examples of conjunctions. Were they familiar to you? I presume they were?

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More advanced conjunctions

So now, how about some conjunctions that are used more in written English?

You do hear them spoken, of course. But they're useful to you in written English. So for those of you who need to write essays, these conjunctions are useful when you're trying to develop an argument or put together a set of ideas.

So the ones I'm going to cover are:-

• however
• nevertheless
• although
• on the other hand
• since and
• in addition

So, all of these words can be used as conjunctions which join two sentences. But note also, most of them can be used on their own. And they might be at the beginning of a sentence. So, they're perhaps relating to the previous idea that was spoken about or written about in the previous sentence.

'However' as a conjunction

So 'however' is used in a couple of ways.

' However' can be at the start of a sentence. And it indicates that the idea you're about to talk about contrasts with what you've just said. So it might be a different side of the argument.

And of course, 'however' can be a conjunction joining two sentences. So an example might be:-

Cats make good pets, however their personalities vary a great deal.

So this 'however' moderates the statement that 'cats make good pets', suggesting there's more to it. It's more complex. They're all a bit different. Which is true, I think!

And of course you could make this two sentences:-

Cats make good pets. Full stop. However, their personalities vary a great deal.

Still the same sense there.

'However' as an adverb - for contrast

The other way we use the word 'however', an example?

You still need to revise for your exams, however intelligent you are.

So this use of 'however' is as an adverb. And it's telling you the first part of the sentence is true, 'even if' you're intelligent, 'despite' your intelligence. So again, two contrasting ideas. 'Even if' and 'despite' are also conjunctions, a bit like 'however'. Two aspects, two contrasting aspects of a situation are being talked about here.

Another example of this use of 'however'?

We still have enough food, however hungry you are.

OK. What about 'although', 'nevertheless', and 'on the other hand'? They're all a bit similar.

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'Although' as a conjunction, with 'nevertheless' and 'on the other hand'

' Although', you might use it, 'Although this first fact is true, this second fact, which contrasts with the first fact, is also true'.

So, an example might be:-

Although I've saved up a lot of money, house prices have risen.

And you could reverse the order there:-

House prices have risen, although I've saved up a lot of money.

Meaning is the same. So I've saved up money - good. But house prices have risen - bad. So two contrasting ideas joined with an 'although'.

You could say 'instead' here:-

I've saved up a lot of money, nevertheless house prices have risen.

Or...

I've saved up a lot of money, on the other hand house prices have risen.

The meaning is very similar.

The last couple of conjunctions - 'since' and 'in addition'?

'Since' as a conjunction

Well, the first one 'since', S I N C E is a little bit like 'because' in its meaning, when you're using it as a conjunction. We're talking again about 'cause and effect':-

Since you're shouting at me, I'm going to walk away.

So I'm giving a reason for my action - I'm going to walk away - I'm doing it since you're shouting at me. Or I could say, 'Because you're shouting at me'. Notice the order? 'Since you're shouting at me, I'm going to walk away' - the conjunction is again at the beginning of the sentence. But you could reverse it and say, 'I'm going to walk away, since you're shouting at me'. Meaning is exactly the same.

Another example of this conjunction, 'since', as a 'cause and effect' conjunction?

Since his job doesn't pay very much, he has to live with his father.

Notice the word 'as' would do just as well here:-

As his job doesn't pay very much, he has to live with his father.

So if you can substitute 'as' for 'since' and the meaning doesn't change, then 'since' is being used as a conjunction.

'Since' as a preposition, for contrast

The more common use of the word 'since' is as a preposition, of course, and you may have met it like this. It's used where there's been time passed.

So a couple of examples of time-related 'since' as a preposition?

Since I left my last job, I've been working freelance. Or...

It's been six months since I've been to that shop.

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'In addition' as a conjunction

Lastly, the conjunction 'in addition'. So yes, conjunctions can sometimes be expressions, more than one word.

And 'in addition' is working in the opposite way to 'however' and 'nevertheless' and 'on the other hand'. If you hear the conjunction 'in addition', it means the speaker or the writer is about to give more reasons for the same argument they just made.

They're going to say more things that support the ideas they've just expressed. So:-

House prices have risen, in addition, fuel costs have gone up too.

On top of that, fuel costs have risen too.

Another way of saying 'in addition' - 'furthermore'. That's another conjunction that you could use. You're unlikely to say that, but you could put it in written English.

Examples of phrases that are conjunctions

Other examples of conjunctions that are more than one word?

' Even if'. 'Provided that'. ' Rather than'. 'Just in case'.

Those may be good examples for you to look up yourself, if you don't know them.

Give us feedback!

We'd love to hear from you. Did you find this lesson useful? Was there something new in it for you? Or did you know it all already? Please share your thoughts and your feedback with us. We love to hear from you!

Goodbye

Enough for now. Have a lovely day. Speak to you again soon. Goodbye.

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