What's the function of a conjunction?

When I think of a conjunction I think of connections. Well, what are connections? They are things that bring two other things together. We see connections everywhere in our environment from transportation maps that show where train lines connect to people getting together and developing relationships. In grammar we also see a need to make connections so our speech and writing can be efficient, logical, and comprehensible.
The following is a brief review of conjunctions that you can refer to when you need a quick refresher on what a conjunction is and what function it has.

Conjunctions connect individual words or groups of words.

Ex. The river is wide and deep.  We can fish in the mourning or in the evening.

Types of conjunctions:

Coordinating conjunctions:
A coordinating conjunction connects equal parts: two or more words, phrases, or clauses.

Ex. The river rushes down the valley, and then it winds through the prairie. (The conjunction and connects two independent clauses to make a compound sentence.)

Correlative conjunctions:
A correlative conjunction is used in pairs.
Ex.  Either snow or wind can make the trip dangerous. (Either and or  work as a pair in this sentence to connect two words.)

Subordinating conjunctions:
A subordinating conjunction often introduces the dependent clause in a complex sentence.
Ex.  Our trip was delayed when the snowstorm hit.   We stayed in town until the snow stopped.


Common conjunctions:

Coordinating - and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet


Correlative - either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also, both/and, whether/or, as/so

Subordinating - after, although, as, as if, as long as, as though, because, before, if, in order that, since, so, so that, that, though, unless, until, when, where, whereas, while


Vocabulary


Connections - (noun) association; relationship.

Relationships - (noun) a connection, association, or involvement.

Together - (adverb) into or in one gathering, company, mass, place, or body.

Efficient - (adjective) performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort.

Logical - (adjective)  reasonable; to be expected.

Comprehensible -(adjective) capable of being comprehended  or understood; intelligible.

Activity 

Review vocabulary words and definitions. Write three sentences for each word. The first sentence will show that you understand the meaning of the word, the second sentence will be about yourself using the vocabulary word, and the third sentence will have a conjunction in it.

If you want to learn more about conjunctions, click on the following links:
conjunctions
More on conjunctions
Types of conjunctions
Video on conjunctions