Conjunct

Not to be confused with conjunct consonant. For the linguistic and logical operation of conjunction, see Logical conjunction.

In linguistics, a conjunct has two distinct forms:

• A conjunct can be a conjunctive adverb; an adverb that adds informational content that is not considered propositional (or at least essential) from a subsequent sentence in a discourse to a previous sentence, linking them together. For example:
  • It was raining. Therefore, we didn’t go swimming.
  • It was sunny. However, we stayed inside.
  • You are such a dork. Still, I love you from the bottom of my heart.
• A conjunct can also be a conjoin; a word, phrase, or clause that is conjoined using coordination to form coordinate structures by means of a coordinating conjunction, which can be coordinating, subordinating or correlative. For example:
  • [Gretchen and her daughter] bought [motor oil, spark plugs, and dynamite].
  • Take two of these and call me in the morning.

Semantic functions

Conjunctive adverbs

English conjunctive adverbs often have the following functions:

• Listing (indicating that what follows is a list of propositions):

To begin with, I have to tell you that I'm most displeased with your performance in the show. I also think you did a bad job painting the house. You're a lousy cook. You smell. Your hat is ... etc.

• Enumerative (indicating items on a list of propositions):

First, we have to buy bread. Second, we need to take the car to the garage. Third, we have to call your dentist and make an appointment.

• Additive (indicating that the content of the sentence is in addition to the preceding one):

He has no money. In addition, he has no means of getting any.

• Summative (summing up, or concluding, on the preceding sentence(s)):

A is B. A is C. To sum up, A is several things.

• Appositive (rephrasing the preceding sentence):

Music is appreciated in France. In other words, the French love music.

• Resultative/inferential (indicating that the content of the sentence is a result of the events expressed in the preceding sentence):

Miss Gold lost her job. She, therefore, had no money.

• Antithetic (indicating that the content of the sentence is in contrast to the content of the preceding sentence):

It is said that water flows up hill. On the contrary, it flows downhill

• Concessive (indicating that the content of the sentence "exists" despite the content in the preceding sentence):

It is very cold. I went for my morning walk, however.

• Temporal (indicating temporal relation between the content of the sentence and the preceding sentence):

I had lunch. Meanwhile, my wife had her hair cut.

See also

• Disjunct