Conjunctions
Subordinate conjunctions form the largest group of conjunctions that exist. They allow a writer to show which idea is more important and which idea is less important. Some subordinate conjunctions are also prepositions (after, before, since), but they act as subordinators. They always come at the beginning of a dependent clause. In fact, they are used to introduce a clause and to subordinate the following clause to independent element in the sentence. Some subordinate conjunctions show a contrasting or unequal relationship (although, though, even though, while).
Linguistic constituents linked by pairs of correlative conjunctions are usually of the same grammatical form. Correlative conjunctions not only denote equality, but they make the joining tighter and more emphatic. Coordinate conjunctions are the simplest kind, and they denote equality of relationship between ideas they join. It is not grammatically incorrect to start a sentence with a conjunction such as and or but.
However, many respected writers use the above mentioned conjunctions in order to create a dramatic or forceful effect. And I thought of that house with its turrets and battlements rising from the cliffs, a shining dream which I longed to cloak with reality but which I had thought would forever lie beyond my reach. (Howatch, 1971;22). But suddenly I found myself remembering Penmmarric, the huge rolling moors of North Cornwall, the tors capped with granite, the graystone walls and square church of a strange and distant land. (Howatch, 1971;22).
Coordinate conjunctions are most frequently used conjunctions and the most common ones are; and, or, but. However, all types of conjunctions are very important for constructing sentences. In my opinion, there are no ``more important`` or ``less important`` parts of speech. Each part of speech is equally important. Conjunctions may be small words, but they are highly functional and immensely valuable for forming sentences.
CORPUS – Howatch, Susan. (1971). Penmarric. New York: Simon and Schuster.
