Do you join your sentences correctly?

Conjunctions are used to join two sentences effectively. However, we are often confused with their correct usage.

Here we provide to you a test of 10 sentences which will help you understand and use these conjunctions effectively and form grammatically correct sentences.

1.
a. The child had hardly seen the mother then he came running.
b. The child had hardly seen the mother when he came running.

Answer: b. The child had hardly seen the mother when he came running.

Explanation: Hardly/ Scarcely is always accompanied by when.


2.
a. I was teaching my son, at that time I got an urgent call from the office.
b. I was teaching my son when I got an urgent call from the office.

Answer: I was teaching my son when I got an urgent call from the office.

Explanation: When a thing happens while the other one was going on, the right conjunction to use is "when"


3.
a. Both SRK and Salman Khan are good actors.
b. Both SRK as well as Salman Khan are good actors.

Answer: a. Both SRK and Salman Khan are good actors

Explanation: Both is always accompanied by and.


4.
a. As soon as the teacher went out of the class then the students started making a noise.
b. As soon as the teacher went out of the class, the student started making a noise.

Answer: b. As soon as the teacher went out of the class, the student started making a noise.

Explanation: As soon as is never followed by then.


5.
a. I have given it to neither him nor his sister.
b. I have neither given it to him nor his sister.

Answer: a. I have given it to neither him nor his sister.

Explanation: Neither ….nor are used just before the two options in the sentence. The options here are the two subjects. So, neither….nor are used just before them. If the options are two actions, they will be used just before the actions.

For e.g. Father said, I shall neither eat nor drink.
It can not be, Father said, neither I shall eat nor drink.

This conjunction is used to convey the meaning, "None of the two".


6.
a. I'll either eat a burger or a pizza.
b. I'll eat either a burger or a pizza.

Answer: b. I'll eat either a burger or a pizza.

Explanation: The conjunction either….or is also used just before the two choices. It is used to convey the meaning- "One of the two". Here, the choice is between eating a burger or a pizza. So, it is either a burger or a pizza.

Had the choice been between eating a burger and drinking a soda, the sentence would be:

"I'll either eat a burger or drink a soda"

Do you see the difference?


7.
a. She is not only beautiful but also intelligent.
b. Not only she is beautiful but intelligent.

Answer: a. She is not only beautiful but also intelligent.

Explanation: Not only is always followed by but also. This conjunction is used to convey the meaning "both the qualities".

Not only & but also are used just before the two qualities that someone possesses.


8.
a. Kangaroos are both found in Australia as well as New Zealand.
b. Kangaroos are found both in Australia and New Zealand.

Answer: b. Kangaroos are found both in Australia and New Zealand.

Explanation: 'Both' is always accompanied by 'and' for the conjunction. The conjunction is used just before the two choices.


9.
a. Unless you do not pay the fee, your application will not be entertained.
b. Unless you pay the fee, your application will not be entertained.

Answer: b. Unless you pay the fee, your application will not be entertained.

Explanation: Unless should not be used with 'not'. They will become double negative together. Unless itself mean, 'if not this'.
So, if you do not want to let your brother go without taking a gift from him, say,
"Unless you give me a gift, I shall not let you go."


10.
a. Study hard lest you may fail.
b. Study hard lest you should fail.

Answer: Study hard lest you should fail.

Explanation: Lest is always followed by should.

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