In most languages of European origin, clauses are joined together by conjunctions in similar ways. However, students who speak non-European languages may have difficulty in using English conjunctions correctly.

One conjunction for two clauses

One conjunction is enough to join two clauses - we do not have to use two.

Incorrect: Although she is poor but she is honest.
Correct: Although she is poor she is honest.
Correct: She is poor but she is honest.

Incorrect: Because she was too angry to speak, so Alice said nothing.
Correct: Because she was too angry to speak, Alice said nothing.
Correct: Alice was too angry to speak, so she said nothing.

The conjunctions so and yet can be used together with and.

She doesn't have great looks, and yet she has enormous charm.

Relative pronouns and conjunctions

Relative pronouns are also connecting words. They join clauses like conjunctions. But note that a relative pronoun acts like the subject or object of the verb that comes after it. So we do not use another subject or object.

I have got a friend. He serves in the army.
I have got a friend who serves in the army. (NOT I have got a friend who he serves in the army.)

You were talking about a woman. She is my boss.
The woman that you were talking about is my boss. (NOT The woman that you were talking about her is my boss.)
The man that she married was an old friend of mine. (NOT The man that she married him was an old friend of mine.)

Leaving words out
Words for repeated ideas can be left out in the second of two coordinate clauses, but not normally in a subordinate clause.

He was worried and didn't know what to do.
He was worried because he didn't know what to do. (NOT He was worried because didn't know what to do.)

Punctuation
When a subordinate clause begins a sentence, it is often separated by a comma even if it is short.

If you are passing, come in and see us.
Come in and see us if you are passing.

That, where and when
That is often used instead of which or who in subordinate clauses. But note that we cannot use that instead of when or where.

The house where I live is very small. (BUT NOT The house that I live is very small.)

But note that that...in can mean the same as where.

The house that I live in is very small.

Manjusha Nambiar is the founder and editor of Grammar English.Org. Her blog gives free English Grammar lessons, quizzes and grammar worksheets http://grammarenglish.org/english-grammar-worksheets.

[Edited by Administrator (admin) Wed, 06 Jul 2011, 03:31 PM]