Getting started on Classical Latin

4.2.7 Conjunctions

Conjunctions join together individual words, phrases and clauses (the components of sentences which are longer than a simple sentence of the type: ‘Everyone can enjoy learning Latin’). So-called co-ordinating conjunctions are such words as and and but, as in the following examples:

  • fish and chips

  • Last summer they went to the Baltic and visited the city of Riga.

  • They went to the Baltic but did not manage to visit Riga.

Subordinating conjunctions begin subordinate clauses within sentences, for example when, although, as, since, if. The following examples should make this clearer:

  • When they went to the Baltic, they visited the city of Riga.

  • Although they went to the Baltic, they did not see any storks.

  • As they were going to the Baltic, they took a guidebook with them.

  • Since they did not know the language, they took a phrasebook.

  • If we go to the Baltic, we'll have a great time because it's very cheap there.

Conjunctions are extremely important in Latin, as you can tell from the fact that in this course alone you will learn four words for and (et, from which the ampersand, &, comes, ac, atque and -que added to the end of the second word), three words for but (sed, tamen and autem) and two words for because (quod and quia). Nouns, verbs and adjectives are the glamorous kinds of words, but prepositions and conjunctions are the nuts and bolts of language.