Uses of Conjunctions

SOME CONJUNCTIONS AND THEIR USES

    Since, as a Conjunction, means:-

(1) From and after the time when ; as

I have been in such a pickle since I saw you last.

Many things have happened since I left school.

I have never seen him since that unfortunate event happened. Note:- Since, when used as a Conjunction in this sense, should be preceded by a verb in the present perfect tense, and followed by a verb in the simple past tense.

To express a Consequence, Result, or Effect; as, I am so tired that I cannot go on.

He bled so profusely that he died.

He was so tired that he could scarcely stand.

Than as a Conjunction, follows adjectives and adverbs in the comparative degree;

as,

Wisdom is better than rubies (are). I see you oftener than (I see) him.

I am better acquainted with the country than you are. I would rather suffer than that you should want.

Lest is used as a Subordinating Conjunction expressing a negative purpose, and is equivalent to in order that…..not', 'for fear that'; as,

Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Do not be idle, lest you come to want. He fled lest he should be killed.

I was alarmed lest we should be wrecked. (Note:- Lest is rare in modern English.)

Note:- The modem idiomatic construction after lest is should. After certain expressions denoting fear or apprehension, lest was used as equivalent to that; as, I feared lest 1 might anger thee.

   While is used to mean:-

(1) During the time that, as long as; as,

While he was sleeping, an enemy sowed tares. While there is life there is hope.

(2) At the same time that; as,

The girls sang while the boys played. While he found fault, he also praised.

(3) Whereas; as,

While I have no money to spend, you have nothing to spend on. White this is true of some, it is not true of all.

Only, as a Conjunction, means except that, but, were it not (that); as, A very pretty woman, only she squints a little.

The day is pleasant, only rather cold.

He does well, only that he is nervous at the start. I would go with you, only I have no money.

Except was once in good use as a Conjunction; as,

Except (= unless) ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

In modem English its place has been taken by unless.

Without:- The use of without as a Conjunction meaning unless is now bad English ;

as,

I shall not go without you do.

Because, for, since.- Of these three conjunctions, because denotes the closest causal conjunction, for the weakest, since comes between the two.

Exercise in Composition

Fill the blanks with Conjunctions:-

I am in the right, ---- you are in the wrong.

The most exquisite work of literary art exhibits a certain crudeness and coarseness, ---

we turn to it from nature.

--- he had not paid his bill, his electricity was cut off.

There never can be prosperity in any country --- all the numerous cultivators of the soil are permanently depressed and injured.

Giving up wrong pleasure is not self-sacrifice, --- self-culture.

Conform thyself then to thy present fortune --- cut thy coat according to thy cloth.

Inconsistency consists in a change of conduct --- there is no change of circumstances which justify it.

The disgust felt towards any kind of knowledge is a sign that it is prematurely presented, --- that it is presented in an indigestible form.

--- do the learned know what sort of mortals inhabit beyond those mountains, ---

whether they be inhabited at all.

His ambition was inordinate, --- he was jealous of every man of ability.

Just laws are no restraint upon the freedom of the good, --- the good man desires nothing which a just law will interfere with.

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, --- others judge us by what we have already done.

My worthy friend Sir Roger is one of those who are not only at peace with themselves, --- beloved and esteemed by all about them.

The fleets of the enemy were not merely defeated, --- destroyed.

As long as he (William of Orange) lived, he was the guiding-star of a brave nation; ---

he died the little children cried in the street.

No one likes puns, alliterations, antithesis, argument and analysis better than I do ; I sometimes had rather be without them.

It (the game of fives) is "the finest exercise for the body --- best relaxation for the mind."

He (Omar Khayyam) abhorred hypocrisy, --- he was not too stem with the hypocrite.

Our proudest title is not that we are the contemporaries of Darwin, --- that we are the descendants of Shakespeare.

He (Henry Bradshaw) knew more about printed books --- any man living.

Are you impatient with the lark --- he sings rather than talks?

Trust the man who hesitates in his speech and is quick and steady in action, ---

beware of long arguments and long beards.

Religion does not banish mirth --- only moderates and sets rules to it.

A man's real character will always be more visible in his household --- anywhere else.

grandfather was old and gray-haired, --- his heart leaped with joy whenever little Alice came fluttering, like a butterfly, into the room.

He that is slow to anger is better --- the mighty,

--- we approached the house, we heard the sound of music.

The ravine was full of sand now, --- it had once been full of water.

The harvest truly is plenteous, --- the labourers are few.

A vessel that once gets a crack, --- it may be cunningly mended, will never stand such rough usage as a whole one.

Give every man thy ear, --- few thy voice.

Virtue --- wise action lies in the mean between the two extremes of too little and too much.

And God called the light Day, --- the darkness He called Night.

That is a good book which is opened with expectation, --- closed with profit.

--- I was in Sri Lanka, I was particularly fascinated by the Coral Gardens of Hikkaduwa.

The restoration crushed for a time the Puritan party, --- placed supreme power in the hands of a libertine.

Of his voyage little is known, --- that he amused himself with books and with his pen.

--- she had given up novel writing, she was still fond of using her pen.

--- Addison was in Ireland, an event occurred to which he owes his high and permanent rank among British writers.

--- life --- property was safe, and the poor and the weak were oppressed by the strong.

--- Greek and Latin, --- all Aryan languages have their peaceful words in common.

He was an oppressor; --- he had at least the merit of protecting his people against all oppression except his own.

People travelling in a spacecraft appear to be weightless --- can move about --- there is no gravity in space.

The right of self-defence is founded in the law of nature, --- is not and cannot be superseded by the law of society.

Let the super structure of life be enjoyment, --- let its foundation be in solid work.

--- I was not a stranger to books, I had no practical acquaintance with them.

Poetry takes me up so entirely --- I scarce see what passes under my nose.

A gentleman made it a rule in reading to skip over all sentences --- he spied a note of admiration at the end.

--- a fog rolled over the city in the small hours, the early part of the night was cloudless.

--- I were personally your enemy, I might pity and forgive you.

Exercise in Composition

Fill the blanks with Conjunctions:-

--- somewhat pompous, he was an entertaining companion.

“Mr. Johnson”, said I, “I do indeed come from Scotland, --- I cannot help it."

The man that stands by me in trouble I won't bid him go --- the sun shines again.

--- you are upon Earth enjoy the good things that are here, --- be not melancholy.

The art of pleasing is a very necessary one to possess ; --- a very difficult one to acquire.

Never maintain an argument with heat and clamour, --- you think or know yourself to be in the right.

--- I am in a serious humour, I very often walk by myself in Westminster Abbey.

I am persuaded --- the translators of the Bible were masters of an English style much fitter for that work --- any we see in our present writings.

He [Chaucer] must have been a man of most wonderful comprehensive nature, --- he has taken into the compass of his Canterbury Tales the various manners and humours of the whole English nation, in his age.

It is the common doom of man --- he must eat his bread by the sweat of his brow.

It is a sort of paradox, --- it is true: we are never more in danger --- when we think" ourselves most secure.

I have imposed upon myself, --- I have been guilty of no other imposition.

One of the pleasantest things in the world is going on a journey; --- I like to go by myself. I can enjoy society in a room; ---, out of doors, nature is company enough for me.

It [the game of fives] is the finest exercise for the body, --- the best relaxation for the mind.

Religion does not banish mirth --- only moderates and sets rules to it.

Fit words are better --- fine ones.

I like political changes --- such changes are made as the result, not of passion, but of deliberation and reason.

Civilized man, --- let loose with the bonds of morality relaxed, is a far greater beast -- - the savage, more refined in his cruelty, more fiend-like in every act.

The man who eats in a hurry loses both the pleasure of eating --- the profit of digestion.

Let a man sleep --- he is sleepy, --- rise --- the crow of the cock, --- the glare of the sun rouses him from his torpor.

It is a great loss to a man --- he cannot laugh.

Impure air can never make pure blood; --- impure blood corrupts the whole system.

Never refuse to entertain a man in your heart --- all the world is talking against him.

--- you would be healthy, be good.

--- you have a sword --- a pen in your hand, wield --- the one --- the other in a spirit of insolent self-reliance.

A regular bath in the morning, --- with very feeble and delicate subjects, has always an invigorating effect.

There is no more sure sign of a shallow mind --- the habit of seeing always the ludicrous side of things.

An honest hater is often a better fellow --- a cool friend; --- it is better not to hate at

all.

There is no virtue that Dr. Arnold laboured more sedulously to instil into young men - -- the virtue of truthfulness.

The teachers of morality discourse like angels, --- they live like men.

Massacres --- disorders never have the way to peace.

Natural thirst is more deliciously gratified with water, --- artificial thirst is with wine.

Woman was not meant to be --- an unthinking drudge, --- the merely pretty ornament of man's leisure.

The real dignity of a man lies in what he has, --- in what he is.

They say the Lion and the Lizard keep the Courts --- Jamshyd gloried and drank deep.

--- I am dead, my dearest, sing no sad songs for me.

--- he [Lord Beaconsfield] was ambitious, his ambition was a noble one.

Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, --- of such is the Kingdom of God.

Heard melodies are sweet, --- those unheard are sweeter.

I awoke one morning --- found myself famous.

--- the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

One generation passeth away and other generation cometh, --- the earth abideth for ever.

A man has no more right to say an uncivil thing --- to act one.

Let us shun extremes, --- each extreme necessarily engenders its opposite.

--- this be madness, --- there is method in it.

The heavens declare the glory of God, --- the firmanent showeth His handi work.

Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, --- a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Small service is true service --- it lasts.

For my part, I was always bungler at all kinds of sport that required --- Patience ---

adroitness.

There are many truths of which the full meaning cannot be realized --- Personal experience has brought it home.

He may be right --- wrong in his opinion, --- he is too clearheaded to be unjust.