1. Coordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions may join single words, or they may join groups of words, but they must always join similar elements: e.g. subject+subject, verb phrase+verb phrase, sentence+sentence.

Coordinating conjunctions are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Note : A noun phrase is either a single noun or pronoun or a group of words containing a noun or a pronoun that function together as a noun or pronoun, as the subject or object of a verb.

• The student that I saw coming into school at nine o’clock has just left.
• “ The students ... nine o’clock’ is a long noun phrase, but it functions as the subject of the main verb ’have just left “

2. Correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are always used in pairs. They join similar elements.

Correlative conjunctions are: both...and, not only...but also, either...or, neither...nor, whether...or.

3. Subordinating conjunctions.

A subordinating conjunction is a word which joins together a dependent (subordinate) clause and an independent clause.

A clause is a unit which contains a subject and a verb. For example, "It was snowing" is a clause; the subject is "it", "it", and the verb is "was snowing".

A dependent clause is a clause which cannot exist on its own; it needs a main (or independent) clause to go with it.

Example: Because it was snowing, I drove to work.

This sentence contains two clauses,"Because it was snowing" and "I drove to work". The first clause does not mean anything on its own. . If you say "Because it was snowing" and nothing else, people will not be able to understand what you mean. However "I drove to work" is an independent clause - we can understand what it means even if it is alone. In this example “because” is the subordinate conjunction.

1. Simple or Compound prepositions

Prepositions are classified as simple or compound.

Simple prepositions are single word prepositions - across, after, at, before, between, by, during, from, in, into, of, on, to, through, under, with and without are all single word prepositions.

• The newspaper is on the chair.
• The cat is under the table.

Compound prepositions are more than one word - in between and because of - are prepositions made up of two words - in front of, on behalf of are prepositions made up of three words.

• My office is in between the bank and the post office.
• .
• My car is in front of my flat.

2. Prepositions of movement

Prepositions can be used to show movement. For example: to, through, across.

We use to to show movement with the aim of a specific destination.

• I moved to Paris in 1999.
• He went to the cinema at 3 pm.

We use through to show movement from one side of an enclosed space to the other side.

• The train went through the tunnel.
• He walked quickly through the door.

We use across to show movement from one side of a surface or line to another.

• She swam across the lake.
• He walked across the road.

3. Prepositions of Place

Prepositions can be used to show where something is located.

We use at to show a specific place or position.

• I live at 36 Palace Road.
• I am waiting at the bus stop.

We use on to show position on a horizontal or vertical surface.

• There is a lot snow on the roof.
• The dog is sitting on the chair.

We also use on to show a position on streets, roads, etc.

• I used to live on Palace Road.
• There is a petrol station on the corner of the street.

We use in to show that something is enclosed or surrounded.

• She is in a taxi.
• The cat is in the garden.

We also use in to show position within land-areas (towns, counties, states, countries, and continents).

• I used to live in Nottingham.
• I live in America.

• They ran after the thief.
• I found my handbag among my luggage.
• The student was sitting at her table.
• My flat is behind the supermarket.
• The plates are in the cupboard.
• My car is parked in front of the supermarket.
• The post office is by / next to / besides the bank.
• The picture is hanging on the wall.
• The notice is above the door.
• I put the tablecloth over the table.
• The temperature was below zero degrees.
• The boy was sitting under a tree.

4. Prepositions of time

Prepositions can be used to show when something happens. (time, day, date, month, year, morning, afternoon, evening,night, season)

Prepositions of time - at, on, in.

• I go to work at 8.00 every day. (time)
• I’ll see you on Tuesday. (day)
• I have an exam on the 21st. (date)
• My birthday is in December. (month)
• I was born in 1965. (year)
• I get up in the morning. (morning)
• I have a meeting in the afternoon (afternoon)
• I go home in the evening after work. (evening)
• I go to bed at night. (night)
• It usually snows in the winter. (season)