Vocabulary and phrases for text interpretation

 (General) Conjunctions

Conjunctions are words that are used to join phrases and sentences together, and to show the relationship between the ideas in these phrases or sentences.

There are a lot of different types of conjunctions, as there may be very different relationships between the phrases or sentences that the conjunctions join together.

a) Some copulative conjunctions:

and, also, too, further, as well, both ... and, not only ... but also

The author says "X" and the author says "Y".

The author says "X". Also , the author says "Y".

The author says "X". The author says "Y", too.

The author says "X". Further , the author says "Y".

The author says "X" (and) the author says "Y", as well.

The author says both "X" and "Y".

The author says not only "X",  but also "Y".

b) Some disjunctive conjunctions:

or, nor, either ..or , neither ... nor

The author says "X" or the author says "Y" = The author says either "X" or "Y".

The author does not say "X", nor does the author say "Y". =

Neither does the author say "X", nor does the author say "Y". =

Neither does the author say "X", nor "Y".

c) Some adversative conjunctions:

but, however, yet, nevertheless, still, all the same, it is true ...but ( yet )

The author does not say "X", but the author says "Y".

The author does not say "X". However, the author says "Y".

The author does not say "X", yet the author says (or: does say) "Y".

The author does not say "X". Nevertheless , the author says "Y".

The author does not say "X". Still , the author says "Y".

The author does not say "X". All the same , the author says "Y".

It is true that the author does not say "X", but the author says "Y".

It is true that the author does not say "X", yet the author says "Y".

d) Some consecutive conjunctions:

so, thus, therefore, consequently, hence

The author says "X", so the author says "Y".

The author says "X", thus saying "Y".

The author says "X", therefore the author says "Y".

The author says "X", consequently , the author says "Y".

The author says "X", hence the author says "Y".

Further kinds of conjunctions show a relationship of time, place, reason ... between the phrases or sentences they combine. These conjunctions are:

a) Conjunctions of  time:

when, whenever, as, while, whereas, before, after, until, till, since, now that , as long as, as soon as

as often as, no sooner ... than

b) Conjunctions of  place:

where, wherever, whence ( = from where )

c) Conjunctions of  reason:

as, because, since, seeing ( that ), in that

d) Conjunctions of  purpose:

that, in order that, so that, in case

e) Conjunctions of  result:

so that, to such an extent that

f) Conjunctions of  condition:

if, supposing ( that ), so long as, provided that, on condition ( that ), unless

g) Conjunctions of  condition:

though, although, however

i) Conjunctions of  contrast:

whereas, while, whilst

j) Conjunctions of  comparison: