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Summary
So, here you go. You are going to know about adverbs and conjunctions and their differences in the simplest way. And it is sure, after going through this article, you will be clear about this part of grammar. Let’s kick start our learning.
Adverb vs Conjunction
The main difference between an adverb and conjunction is that the adverb does the work of defining another adverb in the sentence. On the other hand, conjunction does the work of joining two or more sentences.
The adverb defines the adjective, another adverb, phrase, clause, verb, and other kinds of word. For instance, I have never visited a library before. In this sentence before is acting as an adverb as it is alone in the sentence and defining a noun.
The conjunction does the work of connecting two words, two clauses, or two sentences. For instance, I had never visited a library before I went to America. In this sentence before is acting as a conjunction because it is being followed by a pronoun I and verb went.
Comparison Table Between Adverb and Conjunction
| Parameters of Comparison | Adverb | Conjunction |
| Definition | It defines another word (adjective, adverb, determiner preposition, etc.) in the sentence. | It joins two words, clauses, or two sentences. |
| Example | An adverb ends with ly, for instance,1. John runs fastly,2. Seema dance gracefully,3. After eye surgery, Rahul can see clearly. | 1. We will go there after your arrival.2. He worked hard, although he failed.3. We will have ice cream and a burger. |
| Types | There are five types of adverbs, 1. Adverb of time 2. Adverb of frequency 3. Adverb of manner 4. Adverb of place5. Adverb of degree | There are four types of conjunction, 1. Coordinating conjunction,2. Subordinating conjunction,3. Correlative conjunction,4. Conjunctive adverbs. |
| Words | It associates itself with already, beautifully, hardly, just, again, never, always, below, anywhere, back, immediately, yesterday, soon, nearly, simply. | The conjunctive words are for, not, but, or, yet, and, so, therefore, though, as if, however, supposing, rather than, not only/but also. |
| Question | It ends with a question like, how?, Where?, When?, What time?, and Which way? etc. | It ends with questions like, Why?, When?, and How? |
| Displays | Manner, time, degree, level of certainty, and frequency. | Convey ideas, answer a question, give meaning to a sentence, give cause and reason. |
What is Adverb?
From the above explanation, one can confidently say that an adverb is that part of speech that does the work of defining another adverb, verb, adjective, preposition, and other words. It expresses time, manner, place, frequency, degree etc.
Adverb of time describes the timing of a verb. It comes at the beginning of a sentence or comes at the end of a sentence. The words used are, already, lately, immediately, etc.
Adverb of manner describes how action has taken place. This kind of word come before the word it is defining or sometimes at the end of a clause. The words used are beautifully, neatly, gracefully, etc.
Adverb of place describes the place where the verb has taken place. Sometimes people get confused between this and prepositions. The main difference between these two is that preposition follows the object while adverb does not. The words used are back, below, above etc.
Adverbs of frequency describe how often action has taken place. It comes before the main verb. The common words are always, normally, etc.
Adverb of degree describes to what extent action has taken place. The used words under this adverb are hardly, enough, almost etc.
What is Conjunction?
A conjunction is that part of speech that connects or adds two words, two sentences, or two phrases. It gives meaning to the sentence. Let’s take three sentences: Bring carrots from the kitchen, Bring potatoes from the kitchen, Bring tomatoes from the kitchen.
All three sentences seem repetitive and wordy. If we want to connect them, we have to use a conjunction. For instance, Bring carrots, potatoes, and tomatoes from the kitchen.
Coordinating conjunction connects two or more same parts of speech. For example,
1. John might have gone to school
2. John might have gone to the park
John might have gone to school or park.
Subordinating conjunction connects a dependent clause to an independent clause. The words used for connecting this kind of sentence are whenever, however, therefore etc.
1. Rama passed the test.
2. Rama worked hard.
Rama passed the test because he worked hard.
Correlative conjunction connects two words or sentences using two pairs of words, such as either…or, rather…than, neither….nor etc.
1. You can go home.
2. You can stay here.
You can either go home or stay here.
Main Differences Between Adverb and Conjunction
- An adverb answers How?, Where?, When? etc., type questions on the other hand conjunction answer Why? Kind of questions.
- Adverbs provide incomplete information in a sentence. While sentences joined by conjunction words are meaningful.
- An adverb defines a word. On the other hand, conjunction joins two different words.
- Sometimes people get confused between a conjunctive adverb and subordinating conjunction, but the difference is that the subordinating conjunctions are dependent clauses. For example, while, because, although etc.
- On the other hand, a conjunctive adverb is an independent clause. For example, However, therefore, furthermore etc.
Conclusion
We mostly tend to get confused in grammar. That is why it becomes equally important to know the difference. Knowing the difference between adverbs and conjunctions will save you from future confusion.