Conjunctions and Interjections
A conjunction is a word that connects phrases, words, or clauses. Conjunctions are often used as transitions. An interjection is an exclamatory word (or words) that shows strong or sudden feeling and has no grammatical function in the construction of a sentence, such as "Ah ha!".
Conjunctions
A conjunction is a word that connects phrases, words, or clauses. Conjunctions are often used as transitions. There are two kinds of conjunctions: Coordinating and Subordinating.
| COORDINATING: connects words, phrases, or clauses | |
|
and, but, or, for |
Gallaudet teachers communicate in American Sign Language and English. |
|
either... or; neither... nor; both... and; not only... but also |
Most students use either ASL or English. |
|
hence, therefore, moreover, however, besides, consequently |
I like to read; however, I hate to write. |
| SUBORDINATING: introduces subordinate clauses and connects them with the main clause | |
|
who, which, that |
People who live in glass houses don't like children to play catch in front of their houses. |
|
although, because, since, through, if, as if |
Although I work hard, I'm still broke. |
Interjections
An interjection is an exclamatory word (or words) that shows weak, mild, or strong feeling and has no grammatical function in the construction of a sentence.
The table below shows some interjections with examples.
| interjection | meaning | example |
| ah | expressing pleasure | "Ah, that feels good." |
| expressing realization | "Ah, now I understand." | |
| expressing resignation | "Ah well, it can't be heped." | |
| expressing surprise | "Ah! I've won!" | |
| alas | expressing grief or pity | "Alas, she's dead now." |
| dear | expressing pity | "Oh dear! Does it hurt?" |
| expressing surprise | "Dear me! That's a surprise!" | |
| eh | asking for repetition | "It's hot today." "Eh?" "I said it's hot today." |
| expressing enquiry | "What do you think of that, eh?" | |
| expressing surprise | "Eh! Really?" | |
| inviting agreement | "Let's go, eh?" | |
| er | expressing hesitation | "Lima is the capital of...er...Peru." |
| hello, hullo | expressing greeting | "Hello John. How are you today?" |
| expressing surprise | "Hello! My car's gone!" | |
| hey | calling attention | "Hey! look at that!" |
| expressing surprise, joy etc | "Hey! What a good idea!" | |
| hi | expressing greeting | "Hi! What's new?" |
| hmm | expressing hesitation, doubt or disagreement | "Hmm. I'm not so sure." |
| oh, o | expressing surprise | "Oh! You're here!" |
| expressing pain | "Oh! I've got a toothache." | |
| expressing pleading | "Oh, please say 'yes'!" | |
| ouch | expressing pain | "Ouch! That hurts!" |
| uh | expressing hesitation | "Uh...I don't know the answer to that." |
| uh-huh | expressing agreement | "Shall we go?" "Uh-huh." |
| um, umm | expressing hesitation | "85 divided by 5 is...um...17." |
| well | expressing surprise | "Well I never!" |
| introducing a remark | "Well, what did he say?" |
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