Master Conjunctions for SSC
Welcome to the "Free Marks" chapter. Conjunctions are deeply mathematical. If you learn the specific Correlative Pairs and the Rule of Inversion, you can spot the error in exactly 2 seconds without even translating the sentence. Let's decode the examiner's logic.
Basics: The 3 Types of Grammar "Glue"
What does a Conjunction actually do?
Unlike prepositions (which show relationships like time or place), conjunctions are purely connectors. They hold the sentence structure together. If a sentence is a train, conjunctions are the metal links holding the bogies (clauses) together. There are exactly 3 types of grammar glue.
Type 1: Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)
These join two items of equal grammatical rank. This means they connect a Noun to a Noun, an Adjective to an Adjective, or an Independent Clause to an Independent Clause. Memorize the famous acronym FANBOYS:
| Letter | Conjunction | Meaning & Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | For | Because / Reason | I drank water, for I was thirsty. |
| A | And | Addition / Plus | He bought a pen and a book. |
| N | Nor | Negative Addition | He doesn't eat meat, nor does he drink milk. |
| B | But | Direct Contrast | He is poor, but he is honest. |
| O | Or | Choice / Option | You can have tea or coffee. |
| Y | Yet | Surprising Contrast | He studied hard, yet he failed. |
| S | So | Result / Therefore | It was raining, so I stayed home. |
🚨 SSC Trap: Is "For" a Preposition or a Conjunction?
The word For plays a double role in English grammar.
• If it is followed directly by a Noun or Time duration (e.g., for 2 hours, for you), it is acting as a Preposition.
• If it is followed by a full sentence/clause containing a Subject + Verb, it is acting as a Conjunction meaning "because" (e.g., I went to bed, for I was tired).
Type 2: Subordinating Conjunctions (The Boss & Employee)
These conjunctions are used to join an Independent Clause (The Boss: a complete sentence that makes sense alone) to a Dependent Clause (The Employee: an incomplete thought that needs the boss to survive).
⏱️ 1. Conjunctions of TIME
Words: When, While, After, Before, Until, Since, As soon as.
✅ The patient had died before the doctor arrived.
(Establishes the timeline of two past actions).
✅ As soon as the bell rang, the students rushed out.
(The dependent employee clause can come first if separated by a comma).
🤔 2. Conjunctions of REASON/CAUSE
Words: Because, Since, As.
✅ I will stay at home because it is raining.
(Boss: "I will stay at home." Employee gives reason: "because it is raining").
✅ Since you are my senior, I will follow your advice.
(Here 'Since' means 'because', it does not mean 'time from the past').
⚖️ 3. Conjunctions of CONDITION
Words: If, Unless, Provided that, In case.
✅ You will fail unless you study hard.
(Boss: "You will fail." Condition: "unless you study" - which means 'if not').
✅ I will lend you money provided that you return it by Monday.
('Provided that' means strictly 'on the condition that').
🔄 4. Conjunctions of CONTRAST
Words: Although, Even though, Though, Whereas.
✅ Although he was tired, he kept walking.
(Shows a result that contradicts the situation).
✅ Ram is hardworking, whereas his brother is lazy.
(Used to directly contrast two different subjects).
🎯 5. Conjunctions of PURPOSE
Words: So that, In order that, Lest.
✅ Speak clearly so that everyone can hear you.
(Explains the 'why/goal' behind the action).
✅ Walk carefully lest you should fall.
('Lest' is a negative purpose meaning 'so that... not').
Type 3: Correlative Conjunctions (The Jealous Pairs)
These are the VIPs of SSC Exams. They are multi-word conjunctions that always travel in pairs (e.g., Either...or, Not only...but also). They are extremely jealous and never accept a different partner. We will dedicate the entire next section to mastering their traps!
Correlatives & The Scales of Justice
🧠 Teacher's Hack: The "Jealous Pairs"
Correlative conjunctions (Type 3) are words that ALWAYS work in pairs. Think of them as strictly married couples. They are extremely jealous; they will never accept a different partner.
If you see "No sooner", your eyes must immediately scan the sentence to find its true partner "than". If the examiner has written "when" or "then", mark the error instantly!
| The First Word | The ONLY Correct Partner | The SSC Trap Word |
|---|---|---|
| No sooner | ... than | ... when / then |
| Hardly / Scarcely | ... when (or before) | ... than / then |
| Not only | ... but also | ... but / and also |
| Although / Though | ... yet (or a comma ',') | ... but / and |
| Both | ... and | ... as well as / or |
| Between | ... and | ... to |
| Whether | ... or | ... that / if |
| Lest | ... should | ... may / will / should not |
| From | ... to | ... and |
| Else / Other | ... than | ... but |
🚨 SSC Master Traps: All 10 Pairs
Scroll down to see exactly how SSC swaps the correct partners to force a negative mark.
❌ No sooner had he arrived when it started raining.
✅ No sooner had he arrived than it started raining.
(No sooner ALWAYS takes 'than' with an 'a').
❌ Scarcely had she finished the exam than the bell rang.
✅ Scarcely had she finished the exam when the bell rang.
(Hardly/Scarcely ALWAYS take 'when').
❌ He is not only smart but brave.
✅ He is not only smart but also brave.
(The pair must be complete. Do not drop 'also').
❌ Although he is poor, but he is honest.
✅ Although he is poor, yet he is honest.
(Although takes 'yet' or just a comma, never 'but').
❌ Both Ram as well as Shyam went there.
✅ Both Ram and Shyam went there.
(Both ONLY pairs with 'and'. This is a massive SSC favorite).
❌ The shop is closed between 2 PM to 4 PM.
✅ The shop is closed between 2 PM and 4 PM.
(Between is paired with 'and'. 'From' is paired with 'to').
❌ I don't know if he will come or not.
✅ I don't know whether he will come or not.
(When offering a choice with 'or', use 'whether', not 'if').
❌ Work hard lest you will fail.
✅ Work hard lest you should fail.
(Lest ONLY accepts the modal 'should').
❌ The class runs from Monday and Friday.
✅ The class runs from Monday to Friday.
(From pairs with 'to'. Between pairs with 'and').
❌ He has no other option but to resign.
✅ He has no other option than to resign.
(Other and Rather are followed by 'than'. 'Nothing else' is followed by 'but').
⚖️ The "Scales of Justice" (Parallel Structure)
Correlative conjunctions (Not only...but also, Either...or, Both...and) act like a weighing scale. The grammatical form placed immediately after the first part MUST be exactly the same as the grammatical form after the second part.
Not only + [Noun] ... But also + [Noun] ✅
Not only + [Verb] ... But also + [Noun] ❌
❌ He not only speaks English but also French.
(Not only + Verb 'speaks'. But also + Noun 'French'. The scale is unbalanced!)
✅ He speaks not only English but also French.
(Not only + Noun. But also + Noun. Perfectly balanced!).
❌ Either he will go to Delhi or Mumbai.
✅ He will go either to Delhi or to Mumbai.
(Either + Preposition 'to'. Or + Preposition 'to').
The Rule of Inversion (CGL Mains Level)
The Rule of Inversion (CGL Mains Level)
What is Inversion? (The Question Mark Analogy)
Normally, an English sentence flows straight: Subject + Helping Verb + Main Verb (e.g., He had gone).
However, if a sentence STARTS with a Negative Word or a Negative Conjunction, the grammar panics! It flips exactly like an Interrogative (Question) sentence: Helping Verb + Subject + Main Verb.
🚨 The Inversion Trigger Words:
No Sooner, Hardly, Scarcely, Seldom, Never, Barely, Not Only, Under no circumstances.
SSC TRAP FORMAT (Wrong):
[Negative Start] ➔ Subject ➔ Verb ...
❌ No sooner he saw the tiger than he ran.
INVERSION FORMAT (Correct):
[Negative Start] ➔ Helping Verb (did/had/does) ➔ Subject ➔ Main Verb ...
✅ No sooner did he see the tiger than he ran.
🧠 Teacher's Hack: The "Verb Extraction" Rule
If the sentence already has a helping verb like "had" or "was", just pull it to the front. But what if the sentence only has a main verb (like went, plays, write)? You must DIG OUT the hidden helping verb (Do/Does/Did)!
- If V2 (Past Tense): Extract DID + V1 (e.g., He arrived ➔ did he arrive)
- If V1+s/es (Singular Present): Extract DOES + V1 (e.g., He goes ➔ does he go)
- If V1 (Plural Present): Extract DO + V1 (e.g., They play ➔ do they play)
CRITICAL WARNING: Once you extract 'did' or 'does', the main verb MUST revert to its pure V1 form! Never say "did he saw"!
The Inversion Example Bank
❌ Hardly I had reached the station when it rained.
✅ Hardly had I reached the station when it rained.
(हिंदी: मैं मुश्किल से स्टेशन पहुँचा ही था कि बारिश होने लगी।)
(Helping verb 'had' jumps before the subject 'I').
❌ No sooner the bell rang than the boys rushed out.
✅ No sooner did the bell ring than the boys rushed out.
(हिंदी: जैसे ही घंटी बजी, लड़के बाहर दौड़ पड़े।)
(Extracted 'did' from V2 'rang', leaving V1 'ring').
❌ Not only he builds hospitals, but he also builds schools.
✅ Not only does he build hospitals, but he also builds schools.
(हिंदी: उसने न केवल अस्पताल बनाए, बल्कि स्कूल भी बनाए।)
(Extracted 'does' from V1+s 'builds', leaving V1 'build').
❌ Seldom I have seen such a beautiful sunset.
✅ Seldom have I seen such a beautiful sunset.
(हिंदी: मैंने शायद ही कभी इतना सुंदर सूर्यास्त देखा हो।)
('Seldom' is a negative frequency adverb. It forces inversion).
❌ Never I will make that mistake again.
✅ Never will I make that mistake again.
(हिंदी: मैं वह गलती दोबारा कभी नहीं करूँगा।)
(Modal 'will' jumps before the subject 'I').
❌ Scarcely did he went out when the phone rang.
✅ Scarcely did he go out when the phone rang.
(हिंदी: वह मुश्किल से बाहर गया ही था कि फोन बज उठा।)
(Double Past Error! If 'did' is used, the main verb MUST be V1 'go', never V2 'went').
The 10 Deadly SSC Conjunction Traps
🚨 Trap 1: The "Lest" Negative Trap
The word "Lest" translates to "कहीं ऐसा न हो कि" (otherwise / so that not). Because it carries a warning of a negative outcome, it is a Negative Word by birth.
- Rule A (The Partner): It ONLY accepts the modal 'should'. Never use will, would, or may with it.
- Rule B (The Double Negative): Because "Lest" already means "not", you can NEVER put "NOT" in the same clause!
❌ Run fast, lest you will miss the train.
✅ Run fast, lest you should miss the train.
(हिंदी: तेज़ दौड़ो, कहीं ऐसा न हो कि तुम्हारी ट्रेन छूट जाए।)
❌ Work hard, lest you should not fail.
✅ Work hard, lest you should fail.
(हिंदी: कड़ी मेहनत करो, कहीं ऐसा न हो कि तुम फेल हो जाओ।)
(Double negative error. Remove 'not').
🚨 Trap 2: Until vs. Unless & The "No WILL/NOT" Rule
Until answers "Up to what time?" (जब तक समय).
Unless answers "Under what condition?" (यदि नहीं / जब तक शर्त पूरी न हो).
The VVIP Rule: Both words are inherently negative. You can NEVER put "NOT" or a future tense modal (Will/Shall/Would) inside the clause that starts with Until or Unless.
❌ Wait here unless I return.
✅ Wait here until I return.
(हिंदी: यहाँ तब तक प्रतीक्षा करें जब तक मैं वापस न आ जाऊँ।)
(Waiting is about Time, so use 'Until').
❌ Unless you do not study, you will fail.
✅ Unless you study, you will fail.
(हिंदी: जब तक तुम पढ़ाई नहीं करोगे, तुम फेल हो जाओगे।)
❌ Unless you will work hard, you will fail.
✅ Unless you work hard, you will fail.
(Drop 'will' from the condition clause).
🚨 Trap 3: The Reason Redundancy Error
The Mother Tongue Trap:
In Hindi, it is perfectly natural to say "चूंकि वह बीमार था, इसलिए वह नहीं आया।" But English hates repetition!
If a sentence starts with As, Since, Because, or Due to (which already show reason), you can NEVER use Therefore, So, or Thus (इसलिए) in the second half of the sentence.
(हिंदी: चूंकि वह बीमार था, वह नहीं आया।)
(हिंदी: क्योंकि वह तेज़ दौड़ा, उसने बस पकड़ ली।)
🚨 Trap 4: The "Doubt" Dilemma
The verb "Doubt" acts like a chameleon. It changes its conjunction based on how sure you are.
- In an Affirmative sentence (I doubt...), there is uncertainty. Therefore, use the choice words if / whether.
- In a Negative or Interrogative sentence (I do not doubt...), there is 100% certainty. Therefore, use the definite word that.
❌ I doubt that he will come today.
✅ I doubt if/whether he will come today.
(हिंदी: मुझे संदेह है कि क्या वह आज आएगा।)
❌ I have no doubt if he will pass.
✅ I have no doubt that he will pass.
(हिंदी: मुझे कोई संदेह नहीं है कि वह पास हो जाएगा।)
🚨 Trap 5: As vs. Like
In spoken English, people mix these up constantly, but SSC tests the strict grammar rule:
• "As" is a Conjunction: It MUST be followed by a full clause (Subject + Verb).
• "Like" is a Preposition: It MUST be followed ONLY by an Object (Noun/Pronoun).
(हिंदी: वह ऐसे दौड़ा जैसे कोई भूत उसका पीछा कर रहा हो।)
(Because 'he was chased' has a subject and verb, we must use 'as').
✅ He runs like a cheetah.
(हिंदी: वह चीते की तरह दौड़ता है।)
('A cheetah' is just a noun, no verb. So 'like' is correct).
🚨 Trap 6: Both... And (Not 'As well as')
The word "Both" signals that two items carry exactly equal weight. It is strictly married to "And". SSC examiners will try to pair it with "as well as" (which implies one item is less important). This is an absolute error.
(हिंदी: राम और श्याम दोनों जा रहे हैं।)
🚨 Trap 7: As if / As though (Subjunctive Mood)
These conjunctions show an imaginary or fake reality (मानो कि). Because the situation is not real, English grammar breaks the normal tense rules to signal this "fake reality".
Rule: They must ALWAYS be followed by the past plural verb 'were', regardless of whether the subject is singular (I, he, she, it).
(हिंदी: वह मुझे ऐसे आदेश देता है मानो वह मेरा बॉस हो।)
(He is not actually the boss, so we use 'were' to show imagination).
🚨 Trap 8: "Supposing If" Redundancy
The words "Supposing" and "If" both mean the exact same thing (creating a hypothetical condition). Using them together is like saying "If if". It is a major redundancy error.
(हिंदी: मान लीजिए कि वह फेल हो जाता है, तो वह क्या करेगा?)
OR: If he fails, what will he do?
🚨 Trap 9: Such... as vs. Such... that
Such... as: Used to give examples or define a category (जैसे कि).
Such... that: Used to show an extreme Cause & Effect relationship (इतना... कि).
(हिंदी: वह इतना बड़ा मूर्ख है कि वह यह नहीं समझ सकता।)
(Cause: He is a fool. Effect: He cannot understand. Use 'that').
✅ I do not like such boys as Ram.
(हिंदी: मुझे राम जैसे लड़के पसंद नहीं हैं।)
(Ram is an example of a category. Use 'as').
🚨 Trap 10: As... as vs. So... as
As... as: Can be used in BOTH Positive and Negative sentences to show equality.
So... as: Can ONLY be used in strictly Negative sentences!
(हिंदी: वह राम जितना ही अच्छा है।)
(This is a Positive sentence, it MUST use as...as).
✅ He is not as good as Ram.
OR
✅ He is not so good as Ram.
(हिंदी: वह राम जितना अच्छा नहीं है।)
🚨 Trap 11: The "Same" Rule (That vs. As)
The same... that: Used when referring to the exact, identical item, and is followed by a verb clause.
The same... as: Used to show similarity (of the same kind).
(Referring to the exact book. 'which' is always wrong after 'the same').
(Showing similarity).
🚨 Trap 12: The "Seldom" Idioms
SSC tests two exact idioms for "rarely/never". Memorize them exactly as they are. You cannot mix them.
✅ Correct: "Seldom or never" AND "Seldom if ever"
OR: He seldom if ever tells a lie.
🚨 Trap 13: Because vs. Because of
Because: is a Conjunction. It MUST be followed by a Subject + Verb.
Because of: is a Preposition. It MUST be followed by a Noun/Pronoun only.
(Subject 'he' + Verb 'was').
(Laziness is just a Noun).
Previous Year SSC Questions (Mega Bank)
Test your knowledge with these 25 high-frequency, actual Conjunction questions from recent CGL, CHSL, and CPO exams. Scroll down and click to reveal detailed explanations.
Q1. No sooner had he entered the room when the lights went out. (CGL 2022)
Q2. Scarcely had the match started than it began to rain. (CPO 2021)
Q3. Walk carefully lest you should not fall. (CHSL 2020)
Q4. Not only he is a writer but also an actor. (MTS 2022)
Q5. Although he worked hard, but he failed. (CGL 2021)
Q6. Since you are my friend, therefore I will help you. (CHSL 2019)
Q7. Both Ram as well as Shyam are coming. (CPO 2020)
Q8. Unless you do not apologize, I will not forgive you. (CGL 2023)
Q9. Hardly I had stepped out when it started raining. (CGL Mains 2020)
Q10. I doubt that he will come. (CPO 2022)
Q11. Make haste lest you will miss the bus. (CHSL 2021)
Q12. Between 9 AM to 10 AM, the shop is closed. (MTS 2019)
Q13. He has no other choice but to accept the offer. (CGL 2019)
Q14. The reason why he failed is because he didn't study. (CGL 2022)
Q15. Not only the principal but also the teachers was present. (CPO 2021)
Q16. Seldom or ever have I seen such a beautiful painting. (CHSL 2023)
Q17. Either he will stay here or go to Delhi. (MTS 2021)
Q18. This is the same book which I wanted. (CGL 2020)
Q19. He asked me that why I was late. (CPO 2019)
Q20. Wait here unless the train arrives. (CHSL 2020)
Q21. As soon as he arrived, then he started working. (CGL 2021)
Q22. Neither he is tall nor strong. (MTS 2022)
Q23. I cannot say if he will pass or not. (CPO 2021)
Q24. No sooner the minister finished his speech than the crowd applauded. (CGL 2019)
Q25. Supposing if he refuses to help you, what will you do? (CHSL 2022)
CONJUNCTIONS MOCK TESTS
Test your mastery with these real-time JS engines. Marking scheme: +1 for Correct, -0.25 for Incorrect.
Mock Test 1: The Jealous Pairs & Basics
- ✅ Contains 40 high-yield questions.
- ⏱ Time Limit: 40 Minutes.
- 📊 Calculates score dynamically with negative marking.
Mock Test 2: Inversion, Traps & Redundancy
- ✅ Contains 40 advanced trap questions.
- ⏱ Time Limit: 40 Minutes.
- 📊 Calculates score dynamically with negative marking.