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Some Conjunctions and their use

Author: Kranthi Kiran Member Level: Gold Points: 15 (₹ 15)

Since

The word since, when used as a conjunction, has two meanings, one related to time and the other to cause. Since can be correctly used in either sense—the choice is a matter of style. However, if it is not used carefully, the word since can also cause confusion

I have been in such a pickle since I saw you last.
many things happened since I left school.
Since you wish, it shall be done.
Since that is the case, I shall excuse you.

Or

1. To introduce alternatives

You must work or sleep.
You can eat this or that.
We had no milk or eggs in the house.

2. To mean otherwise

We must hurry or we will find ourselves in the jungle in the night.

3. As nearly equivalent to and

The troops were not wanting in strength or courage, but they were badly fed.

That

The conjunction that is occasionally omitted, especially after verbs of thinking, saying, believing, and soforth. The omission of the conjunction almost always occurs when the dependent clause begins with a personal pronoun or a proper name. The omission is most frequent in informal speech and writing. Traditionally, that is used to introduce a restrictive clause

1. To express reason or cause

He was annoyed that he was contradicted.

2. To express purpose

We show that we are reap.

3. To express a consequence, result or effect,

I am so tired that I cannot go on.
He was so lazy that he missed the morning train.

Than

The word "than" is a bit trickier as it can be used in different ways with various meanings. The term "than" can be used to signify a point in time (answers the question "when?"). It can be used when talking about a sequence of events or order of things in a sequence.

Wisdon is better than rubies
I see you often than him.

While

1.Used to indicate “during the time"

While there is life, there is hope.
While he was sleeping, an enemy killed him.
While I was watching TV, a thief entered into the house.
While I lived in New York, I used to spend some time in the National Library.

2. At the same time that,

The girl sang while the boys played.
While he found at fault, he was rebuked.

Only

The placement of only as a modifier is more a matter of style and clarity than of grammatical rule. In strict, formal usage, only should be placed as close as possible before the word it modifies. In spoken discourse, speakers may convey their intended meaning by stressing the word or construction to which 'only' applies.

Only as a conjunction means except that, but,

The day is pleasant, only rather cold.
He does well, only that he is nervous in the start.

Except

The word except is a preposition, a verb, and a conjunction. It is also used in the phrase "except for."

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of god.
Everyone was gone from the party except for Al and me.
I was going to clean the bathroom today, except I wasn't feeling well, so I'll clean it tomorrow.

Sample Usage

1.They left town and haven't been here since.

2.My friend has since married and moved to California.

3.She's been skiing since childhood.

4.Put the eggs in first, then put in the flour

5.The cost of the refrigerator is $800, then there's the warranty costs too.

6.It may take me a while to answer your question.

7.Mahi took all of the fruit except the oranges.

8.Mary would go except that it's too far.

9."I need only five minutes of your time."

10.I have only three sisters.

11."The company said that it believed stocks will fall."