GrammatiCats: Conjunctions

Hello again, catty grammarians!

Today, the word is conjunction.  For those of us who still have the occasional Schoolhouse Rock acid flashback, this may trigger disconcerting memories of junctions vis-à-vis functions.

You've probably already got the basic jist of conjunctions: words like and, or, with, because, and so on, which we use to connect words and phrases.  A burger and fries.  A hot dog with mustard.  No hair in the cheese fries, or it's free.  If you can get through a drive-through window, you already know a thing or two about conjunctions.

So for most of us, the $64 question is, when do you have to use a comma with these little suckers?

Let's talk about that.

Pinkie Rating: 3

what's this?

Of course, we use conjunctions without commas all the time - for example, when joining two items in a list.

When your list grows to three items or more, you need commas to separate each item in the list. 

("Even before the last item in the list?" say you.  "Yes, even then," say I.)

Unless, of course, you're just a mad conjunctioning fiend, in which case your list doesn't need no stinkin' commas. 

In this case, the conjunctions are connecting the four items in the list, just as we did in salon-cat's two-item list above.  It's only when you start skipping conjunctions (as with recycling-cat's list) that you need commas to show the divisions between the items.


You have probably also heard that you need a comma and a conjunction to join two complete sentences.  For example,

Our sentences are:
1.    It rubs the lotion on its skin 
2.    It gets the hose again.

So we use a comma and a conjunction (with "else" added for emphasis) to join them.

Here's a question, then.  Check out this first sentence here:

Why might we not have a comma there?  We're still joining two complete thoughts, right?

If you're thinking, "well, I guess technically you're supposed to have one, but it's really short and kinda looks okay without it," you are exactly right.  If you're thinking, "God, I could do with a drink," that is also perfectly valid.

Basically, when you're using a comma-plus-conjunction to join two complete and equal sentences, you can sometimes skip the comma.  You can't skip the conjunction.

You pedal, and I'll steer.  Works!
You pedal and I'll steer.  Works!
You pedal; I'll steer.  Works! (you sly semi-colonic dog, you.)
You pedal, I'll steer.  Comma splice - grammaticatastrophe

"But," you may protest, steadying yourself with a shot of liquid courage, "I know for a fact that I've seen sentences joined where you just shouldn't have a comma, and there's nothing optional about it."

True enough!  For example,

We still have two complete thoughts (also known as independent clauses):

1.  Don't hate me.
2.  I'm beautiful.

So why no comma?

Here is the deal.  In our first two examples above (lotion-cat and bicycle-cat), the sentences in each have an essentially equal relationship.  As in a good marriage, both are self-sufficient and enjoy an even partnership.  They are the Faith Hill and Tim McGraw of sentences.  And they are joined by a clean and simple coordinating conjunction - a conjunction that connects two equal things.

However, beautiful-cat's two sentences aren't really on even footing.  The second sentence ("I'm beautiful") is only there to explain the first (because otherwise we'd be like, "Why would we hate you, kitty?  What have you done?")  As with Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, nobody would have any reason to care about the second sentence if it weren't for the first.  They are joined by a subordinating conjunction - a conjunction that connects a greater item with a lesser one.

And subordinating conjunctions do not need a comma when they are set between the two items they connect!

"Wait... wait, wait," you may say, pausing for a despairing swig of Hennessee.  "When they're set between... where else would they go?"

Why, the same place every celebrity goes.  To rehab!  To the front of the line!

Check out that first sentence.  Notice how we totally could rearrange it to axe that comma:

I washed the whites while you were out.

And notice too how when we do that, it follows the same pattern as before: Brit-Brit (independent clause), conjunction, K-Fed (dependent clause).

So when we put it back in its original form, it's now conjunction, K-Fed, comma, Brit-Brit.  That is a reliable pattern with these subordinating tabloid marriages:

Now that we've made a few million off the wedding rights, we're going to go ahead and split.
Even though I've had hangovers that lasted longer, my first marriage was definitely a sacred and special thing.
While it's true that I bedded approximately half the blondes in the greater Orlando-Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't express your feelings with my five-iron.

Do you see how the comma is acting as a placeholder to show the division between the two items, even though we moved the conjunction up to the front?  That's a big part of the reason why you don't need another comma after the conjunction.  (You are probably used to putting a comma after words like "however," "moreover," "therefore," and so on.  That is absolutely correct, but those are adverbial conjunctions - another subject for another day!)

This isn't even half of what there is to say about conjunctions, but my imaginary conception of you is looking decidedly bleary-eyed.  Let's call this Part One and pick it back up again sometime.  Tomorrow, the alphabet challenge marches on!

Further Reading:

Coordinating Conjunction Comma Quiz - try it out and see how you score!
FANBOYS - all the conjunctions you can shake a stick at, plus a quiz
Purdue OWL Engagement: Coordination and Subordination

Many thanks to today's GrammatiCats!

1.  Judy, courtesy of Pamela (the Death Writer) <--fellow A to Z blogger; check her out!
2.  Willow, courtesy of Frank the Magnificent
3.  Firefly, courtesy of Jarret O.
4.  Our very own Peaches
5.  Mystery kitty, courtesy of Jarret O.
6.  Xena, courtesy of my all-patient mom
7.  Willow again!

(Does your kitty want to be a GrammatiCat?  Sign up here!)