5. Conjunctions, Connectors & Sentence Combining — English (Precis & Composition)

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Conjunctions are tested three ways in CSS: fill-in-the-blank, error correction (though…but, lest…not), and "combine these sentences". The connectors in section 3 also lift your précis and comprehension answers — examiners reward logical linking.

1. Three Kinds of Conjunction

Kind	Words	Function / punctuation
Coordinating (FANBOYS)	for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so	Join equal units. Comma before them when joining two full clauses: He was tired, so he slept.
Subordinating	because, since, as, although, though, even though, while, whereas, if, unless, until, when, whenever, before, after, once, so that, in order that, lest, provided that, as long as	Introduce a dependent clause. Comma only when the dependent clause comes first: Although it rained, we played.
Correlative	either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but also, whether…or, no sooner…than, hardly/scarcely/barely…when, so…that, such…that, as…as, rather…than	Work in pairs; the words after each half must be grammatically parallel.

2. Twelve Rules That Examiners Test

#	Rule	❌	✅
1	though/although never takes but	Although he is rich, but he is miserly.	Although he is rich, he is miserly.
2	lest → should, never not	Hurry lest you may not miss the bus.	Hurry lest you should miss the bus.
3	unless / until are already negative	Until he does not apologise, I won't speak.	Until he apologises, I won't speak.
4	no sooner → than	No sooner had he left when she came.	…than she came.
5	hardly / scarcely / barely → when	Scarcely had I slept than the phone rang.	…when the phone rang.
6	because is not used with reason or why	The reason why he failed is because he was lazy.	He failed because he was lazy. / The reason he failed is that…
7	because / so — not both	Because it rained, so we stayed in.	Because it rained, we stayed in.
8	both … and (not as well as)	Both Ali as well as Omar came.	Both Ali and Omar came.
9	neither goes with nor; either with or	Neither Ali or Omar came.	Neither Ali nor Omar came.
10	Parallelism with correlatives	She is not only intelligent but also works hard.	She is not only intelligent but also hardworking.
11	doubt (positive) → whether/if; (negative) → that	I do not doubt whether he will come.	I do not doubt that he will come. / I doubt whether he will come.
12	such … as (relative) vs such … that (result)	He is such a fool as he cannot understand.	He is such a fool that he cannot understand. / Such books as these are rare.

3. Connectors (Conjunctive Adverbs) — use in précis & essays

Function	Connectors
Addition	moreover, furthermore, besides, in addition, likewise
Contrast	however, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, conversely, whereas, yet
Cause / result	therefore, consequently, hence, thus, as a result, accordingly
Example	for instance, for example, namely, in particular
Concession	admittedly, granted, even so, despite this
Conclusion	in short, in conclusion, ultimately, on the whole

Punctuation: a connector joining two independent clauses needs a semicolon before it and a comma after it: The economy grew; however, unemployment rose. ❌ The economy grew, however unemployment rose. (comma splice)

4. Relative Pronouns (who / whom / whose / which / that)

who — subject (person): The man who called is my uncle.
whom — object (person): The man whom you met is my uncle. / To whom it may concern.
whose — possession (people and things): a country whose economy is fragile
which — things; the only choice in non-defining clauses (with commas): The Indus, which rises in Tibet, flows into the Arabian Sea.
that — defining clauses only; preferred after superlatives, all, everything, nothing, only: It is the best book that I have read. All that glitters is not gold.
❌ The Indus, that rises in Tibet, … (no that after a comma)

5. Exercise A — Combine into one sentence using the word given

He is poor. He is honest. (although)
Work hard. You will fail otherwise. (lest)
The bell rang. The students ran out immediately. (no sooner)
He is lazy. He is careless. (not only … but also)
The man is my teacher. You saw him yesterday. (whom)
It was very hot. We could not go out. (so … that)
You will not succeed. You must work hard. (unless)
The minister arrived. The ceremony began at once. (hardly)
Lahore is a historic city. It has many Mughal monuments. (which)
He was ill. He attended the meeting. (despite)

Key

1 Although he is poor, he is honest. · 2 Work hard lest you should fail. · 3 No sooner had the bell rung than the students ran out. · 4 He is not only lazy but also careless. · 5 The man whom you saw yesterday is my teacher. · 6 It was so hot that we could not go out. · 7 Unless you work hard, you will not succeed. · 8 Hardly had the minister arrived when the ceremony began. · 9 Lahore, which has many Mughal monuments, is a historic city. · 10 Despite being ill, he attended the meeting. / Despite his illness, …

6. Exercise B — Fill in the conjunction

Wait here ___ I come back.
He ran fast ___ he could catch the train.
___ you apologise, I will not forgive you.
I would rather die ___ beg.
He is as clever ___ his brother.
___ he was tired, he kept working.
Take an umbrella ___ it rains.
She was …… weak …… she fainted.

Key

1 till/until · 2 so that · 3 Unless · 4 than · 5 as · 6 Although/Though · 7 in case · 8 so … that