Connectives: Conjunctions and Prepositions

Connectives are essential elements for constructing a cohesive and clear text. The proper use of connectives is crucial for guiding the reader from one idea to another, ensuring that the message is conveyed in a fluid and comprehensible manner.

Think About: Have you ever stopped to think about how the proper use of connectives can change the understanding of a text? What differences do you believe can occur in a text with and without the correct use of conjunctions and prepositions?

Connectives, such as conjunctions and prepositions, play a fundamental role in structuring texts. They are responsible for linking words, phrases, and sentences, creating a bridge that facilitates the understanding of the transmitted message. Without these elements, texts would become fragmented and difficult to understand, compromising the clarity and cohesion of the presented ideas. Therefore, mastering connectives is essential for any student who wishes to improve their writing and reading skills.

In the academic context and in entrance exams like ENEM, the correct use of conjunctions and prepositions is one of the criteria evaluated in the competency of textual cohesion. This means that, in addition to clearly conveying your ideas, it is necessary to demonstrate knowledge and skill in using these grammatical elements. Conjunctions such as 'and', 'but', 'because', and prepositions such as 'in', 'to', 'with' are more than just connection words; they indicate relations of addition, contrast, cause, and circumstance, respectively.

In this chapter, we will explore in detail the main conjunctions and prepositions used as connectives, understanding their functions and uses in different contexts. We will analyze practical examples that illustrate how these elements are employed to provide cohesion and clarity to texts. By the end, you will be able to identify, classify, and correctly use conjunctions and prepositions, making your textual productions more efficient and well-structured.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions are words that connect clauses or terms of the same syntactic function without establishing a relationship of dependence between them. They are fundamental for creating clear and cohesive sentences, as they allow for the addition, opposition, alternation, explanation, or conclusion of ideas in a fluid manner. Coordinating conjunctions are divided into five types: additive, adversative, alternative, conclusive, and explanatory.

Additive coordinating conjunctions, such as 'and' and 'nor', are used to add information. For example, in the sentence 'She studies and works', the conjunction 'and' is adding the information that the person does both activities. Adversatives, such as 'but' and 'however', indicate opposition or contrast. In the sentence 'He wanted to go out, but it was raining', the conjunction 'but' contrasts the desire to go out with the weather condition.

Alternative coordinating conjunctions, such as 'or' and 'either', present choices or alternatives. For example, 'You can go by bus or by train' uses the conjunction 'or' to offer two transportation options. Conclusive conjunctions, such as 'therefore' and 'so', indicate a logical conclusion or consequence. In the sentence 'He studied hard, therefore he passed the exam', the conjunction 'therefore' introduces the conclusion that the study resulted in passing.

Finally, explanatory coordinating conjunctions, such as 'for' and 'because', are used to introduce an explanation or justification. In the sentence 'Don't go, for it's dangerous', the conjunction 'for' explains the reason why the person should not go. Knowing and properly applying these conjunctions is essential for constructing clear and well-structured texts, allowing the reader to easily understand the relationships between the presented ideas.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions are responsible for linking subordinate clauses to main clauses, establishing a relationship of dependence between them. Unlike coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions indicate that one clause depends on another for its meaning to be complete. They are classified into various types, such as causal, comparative, concessive, conditional, conformative, final, temporal, and proportional.

Causal subordinating conjunctions, such as 'because' and 'since', introduce the cause or reason for an action. For example, in the sentence 'He left early because he had a meeting', the conjunction 'because' explains the reason why he left early. Comparative conjunctions, such as 'like' and 'as', establish a comparison between two ideas. In the sentence 'She is as smart as her brother', the conjunction 'as' compares their intelligence.

Concessive conjunctions, such as 'although' and 'even though', indicate a concession or contrast regarding the main clause. For example, 'Although he was tired, he kept working' uses the conjunction 'although' to show that tiredness did not prevent him from working. Conditional conjunctions, such as 'if' and 'in case', introduce a condition for the main action to take place. In the sentence 'If it rains, we will not have class', the conjunction 'if' establishes the climatic condition for the class to happen.

Conformative subordinating conjunctions, such as 'according to' and 'as stated by', indicate compliance with something. For example, 'He acted according to the instructions' uses the conjunction 'according to' to show that the actions followed the instructions. Final conjunctions, such as 'so that' and 'in order that', introduce the purpose of an action. In the sentence 'He studied hard so that he could pass', the conjunction 'so that' indicates the goal of studying. Temporal conjunctions, such as 'when' and 'while', situate the action in time, and proportional conjunctions, such as 'as' and 'the more', indicate proportion between two actions.

Prepositions

Prepositions are invariant words that establish relationships between two or more terms of the sentence, indicating various circumstances such as manner, time, place, and cause. They are essential for textual cohesion as they connect words and expressions, providing clarity and precision to the ideas presented. Some of the most common prepositions in the Portuguese language are: 'to', 'before', 'after', 'until', 'with', 'against', 'of', 'from', 'in', 'between', 'for', 'before', 'by', 'without', 'under', 'about', 'behind'.

Prepositions can indicate various relationships of meaning. For example, the preposition 'to' can indicate destination, as in 'She went to Paris', while 'in' can indicate place, as in 'The book is on the table'. Additionally, 'with' can indicate company, as in 'He went to the movies with friends', and 'by' can indicate cause, as in 'He was praised for his work'.

Prepositions are also used to form prepositional phrases, which are expressions formed by two or more words that function as a preposition. Examples of prepositional phrases include 'instead of', 'according to', 'in order to'. These phrases help enrich the text by adding nuances and details that simple prepositions might not convey.

The correct use of prepositions is crucial to avoid ambiguities and ensure that the message is conveyed clearly. For example, the sentence 'He spoke with the teacher' uses the preposition 'with' to indicate that communication was direct between the person and the teacher. In contrast, in the sentence 'The study was conducted in three stages', the preposition 'in' indicates the division of the study into parts. Mastery of prepositions allows for more precise and cohesive sentence construction, essential for effective communication.

Difference between Conjunctions and Prepositions

Although both conjunctions and prepositions are fundamental for textual cohesion, it is important to understand the differences between these two types of connectives. Conjunctions are words that connect clauses or similar terms, establishing a logical relationship between them, such as addition, contrast, cause, and consequence. In contrast, prepositions establish a relationship between two terms, indicating circumstances such as time, place, manner, and cause.

A crucial difference is that conjunctions can be classified into coordinating and subordinating, each with its specific subcategories. Coordinating conjunctions link clauses or terms of the same syntactic function without creating a relationship of dependence, while subordinating conjunctions link a subordinate clause to a main clause, establishing a dependence. Examples include 'and' (additive coordinating) and 'because' (causal subordinating).

Prepositions, on the other hand, are not classified in the same way as conjunctions. They are invariant words that introduce complements, establishing meaningful relationships between the terms of the sentence. For example, 'He is hungry' uses the preposition 'with' to indicate a condition, while 'She lives in São Paulo' uses the preposition 'in' to indicate location. Prepositions are essential for specifying the circumstances under which actions occur.

Understanding the difference between conjunctions and prepositions allows for the appropriate use of each type of connective, ensuring the clarity and cohesion of the text. While conjunctions help articulate ideas and establish logical relationships between clauses, prepositions provide contextual details that enrich the message. The proper use of both connectives is essential for producing well-structured texts and effective communication of ideas.

Reflect and Respond

• Reflect on how the proper use of conjunctions and prepositions can transform the clarity and cohesion of a text. Consider examples of texts you have read or written.
• Think about everyday situations where the correct choice of connectives made a difference in communication. How can you apply this knowledge in your daily interactions?
• Evaluate the importance of knowing different types of connectives for producing academic texts, such as entrance exam essays. How can this impact your performance on important tests?

Assessing Your Understanding

• Explain the difference between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions, providing clear examples of each type.
• Discuss the importance of prepositions in constructing cohesive and precise sentences. How can the absence or incorrect use of prepositions affect the understanding of a text?
• Analyze a passage from a text you consider well-written. Identify and classify the conjunctions and prepositions used, explaining the function of each.
• Rewrite a paragraph from any text, replacing the original conjunctions and prepositions with synonyms or alternatives. Assess how these changes affect the clarity and cohesion of the text.
• Create a short text on a topic of your choice, using at least five different conjunctions (both coordinating and subordinating) and five prepositions. Then, explain the choice of each connective and how they contribute to the cohesion of the text.

Reflection and Final Thought

In conclusion, connectives, whether they are conjunctions or prepositions, play a crucial role in constructing cohesive and clear texts. Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions allow for the logical articulation of ideas, while prepositions establish meaningful relationships between the terms of the sentence. Understanding and correctly applying these grammatical elements is essential for producing effective texts, both in academic contexts and in everyday communication.

Throughout this chapter, we explored in detail the functions and uses of the main conjunctions and prepositions, providing practical examples that illustrate how these connectives can be employed to provide cohesion and clarity to texts. The differentiation between conjunctions and prepositions was also addressed, highlighting their respective functions and the importance of each in constructing cohesive sentences.

Mastering connectives is a fundamental skill that directly impacts the quality of written communication. Whether in entrance exam essays, such as ENEM, or in academic texts, the appropriate use of conjunctions and prepositions is one of the criteria evaluated in the competency of textual cohesion. Therefore, continuing to practice and deepen knowledge about these grammatical elements is an important step for any student wishing to enhance their writing and reading skills.