CONJUNCTIONS (समुच्चयबोधक) – Complete Guide for Competitive Exams
📚 WHAT ARE CONJUNCTIONS?
Conjunctions = शब्द जो दो शब्दों, वाक्यांशों या वाक्यों को जोड़ते हैं।
✅ Examples:
- Ram and Shyam are friends.
- She is smart but lazy.
- He stayed home because it was raining.
🔥 TYPES OF CONJUNCTIONS
| Type | Function | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinating (समानाधिकरण) | Equal parts जोड़े | For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So (FANBOYS) |
| Subordinating (अधीनस्थ) | Dependent clause जोड़े | Because, Although, Since, When, While, If, Unless |
| Correlative (सहसंबंधी) | Pairs में आते हैं | Neither…nor, Either…or, Not only…but also, Both…and |
🔥 MOST IMPORTANT – CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS (PAIRS!)
1. Neither… Nor (न तो… न ही)
🧠 GOLDEN RULE: Verb, “Nor” के बाद वाले Subject के अनुसार आता है।
| Subject 1 (Neither) | Subject 2 (Nor) | Verb (Nor के अनुसार) |
|---|---|---|
| Ram | Shyam | is |
| He | They | are |
| They | He | is |
✅ Examples:
- Neither Ram nor Shyam is coming. (Shyam = Singular → is)
- Neither the teacher nor the students are present. (students = Plural → are)
- Neither the students nor the teacher is present. (teacher = Singular → is)
- Neither he nor I am going. (I = am)
🧠 TRICK: Verb हमेशा “Nor” के बाद वाले Subject को देखेगा!
2. Either… Or (या तो… या)
🧠 GOLDEN RULE: Verb, “Or” के बाद वाले Subject के अनुसार आता है।
| Subject 1 (Either) | Subject 2 (Or) | Verb (Or के अनुसार) |
|---|---|---|
| Ram | Shyam | is |
| He | They | are |
| They | He | is |
✅ Examples:
- Either Ram or Shyam is responsible. (Shyam = Singular → is)
- Either the manager or his assistants are coming. (assistants = Plural → are)
- Either his assistants or the manager is coming. (manager = Singular → is)
- Either he or I am going. (I = am)
3. Not Only… But Also (न केवल… बल्कि)
🧠 GOLDEN RULE: Parallel Structure – दोनों तरफ Equal Parts (Same Grammatical Form) होने चाहिए!
| ❌ Incorrect (Not Parallel) | ✅ Correct (Parallel) |
|---|---|
| She is smart and has beauty. | She is smart and beautiful. |
| He likes reading and to write. | He likes reading and writing. |
| She not only sings but also dances. (✅ Already correct) | — |
✅ Examples:
- She not only sings but also dances. (Verb + Verb)
- He is not only intelligent but also hardworking. (Adj + Adj)
- I like not only reading but also writing. (Gerund + Gerund)
- He not only works hard but also helps others. (Verb + Verb)
🧠 TRICK: “Not only” के बाद और “but also” के बाद एक जैसी structure (Part of Speech) होनी चाहिए!
4. Both… And (दोनों… और)
🧠 GOLDEN RULE: Verb हमेशा Plural होगा (क्योंकि दोनों Subjects combine होते हैं)।
✅ Examples:
- Both Ram and Shyam are coming. (Plural Verb)
- Both the teacher and the students are present.
- Both my mother and my father are doctors.
5. No Sooner… Than (जैसे ही… तुरंत)
🧠 GOLDEN RULE: No sooner + Past Perfect (Had + V3), Than + Simple Past (V2)
✅ Examples:
- No sooner had I reached home than it started raining.
- No sooner had he entered the room than the phone rang.
- No sooner had she seen him than she started crying.
🧠 TRICK: “Had” का प्रयोग “No sooner” के तुरंत बाद!
6. As Soon As (जैसे ही)
🧠 GOLDEN RULE: As soon as + Simple Past / Present
✅ Examples:
- As soon as I reached home, it started raining.
- As soon as he enters, we will start.
7. So… That (इतना… कि)
🧠 GOLDEN RULE: So + Adjective/Adverb + That + Result
✅ Examples:
- He is so tired that he cannot walk.
- She speaks so fast that nobody can understand her.
- It was so hot that we couldn’t go out.
8. Such… That (इतना… कि – Noun के साथ)
🧠 GOLDEN RULE: Such + (a/an) Adjective + Noun + That + Result
✅ Examples:
- She is such a beautiful girl that everyone admires her.
- It was such a hot day that we stayed home.
- He made such a noise that I couldn’t study.
9. Lest… Should (कहीं ऐसा न हो कि)
🧠 GOLDEN RULE: Lest + Subject + Should + V1
✅ Examples:
- Walk carefully lest you should fall.
- Study hard lest you should fail.
- Hurry up lest you should miss the train.
10. Unless (यदि… नहीं)
🧠 GOLDEN RULE: Unless = If…not (Negative condition)
✅ Examples:
- Unless you study, you will fail. (If you don’t study, you will fail.)
- Unless he comes, I will go. (If he doesn’t come, I will go.)
🧠 TRICK: “Unless” के साथ Never Negative (not) आता है!
- ❌ Unless you do not study… (Wrong)
- ✅ Unless you study… (Correct)
11. Until / Till (जब तक… नहीं)
🧠 GOLDEN RULE: Until/Till = Negative condition (जब तक नहीं)
✅ Examples:
- Wait here until I come back.
- He stayed until I returned.
- They played till sunset.
🧠 TRICK: “Until” के साथ Never Negative (not) आता है!
- ❌ Wait until I do not come back. (Wrong)
- ✅ Wait until I come back. (Correct)
12. Although / Though / Even Though (यद्यपि)
🧠 GOLDEN RULE: Contrast दिखाते हैं → दो contradictory ideas
✅ Examples:
- Although he is rich, he is not happy.
- Though she worked hard, she failed.
- Even though it was raining, we went out.
🧠 TRICK: “But” का प्रयोग इसके साथ नहीं करते!
- ❌ Although he is rich, but he is not happy. (Wrong)
- ✅ Although he is rich, he is not happy. (Correct)
📝 OLD EXAM QUESTIONS (पुराने प्रश्न पत्र)
SET 1: Neither…Nor / Either…Or
Q.1 Neither Ram nor his friends ______ coming. (SSC GD 2020)
- (a) is (b) are (c) was (d) has
Answer: (b) are ✅
Reason: Nor के बाद “friends” (Plural) → are
Q.2 Either he or I ______ to blame. (SSC CHSL 2021)
- (a) is (b) am (c) are (d) has
Answer: (b) am ✅
Reason: Nor/Or के बाद “I” → am
Q.3 Neither the students nor the teacher ______ present. (SSC MTS 2022)
- (a) is (b) are (c) am (d) have
Answer: (a) is ✅
Reason: Nor के बाद “teacher” (Singular) → is
Q.4 Either the manager or his assistants ______ responsible. (NDA 2018)
- (a) is (b) are (c) was (d) has
Answer: (b) are ✅
Reason: Or के बाद “assistants” (Plural) → are
Q.5 Neither Shyam nor I ______ going. (SSC CPO 2020)
- (a) is (b) am (c) are (d) has
Answer: (b) am ✅
Reason: Nor के बाद “I” → am
SET 2: Not Only…But Also (Parallelism)
Q.6 She is not only beautiful ______ intelligent. (SSC CGL 2019)
- (a) but also (b) but (c) also (d) and also
Answer: (a) but also ✅
Reason: Not only…but also (Pair)
Q.7 He not only sings ______ dances. (Bank PO 2018)
- (a) but also (b) but (c) also (d) and
Answer: (a) but also ✅
Reason: Not only…but also (Pair)
Q.8 She is not only intelligent ______ hardworking. (SSC CHSL 2022)
- (a) but also (b) as well as (c) and also (d) but
Answer: (a) but also ✅
Reason: Parallel structure (Adj + Adj) → but also
Q.9 He likes not only reading ______ writing. (SSC MTS 2021)
- (a) but also (b) but (c) also (d) and
Answer: (a) but also ✅
Reason: Gerund + Gerund → but also
Q.10 Not only the teacher ______ the students were punished. (SSC GD 2020)
- (a) but also (b) but (c) also (d) and
Answer: (a) but also ✅
Reason: Not only…but also (Pair)
SET 3: No Sooner…Than / As Soon As
Q.11 No sooner had I reached home ______ it started raining. (SSC CGL 2022)
- (a) than (b) then (c) when (d) as
Answer: (a) than ✅
Reason: No sooner…than (Pair)
Q.12 No sooner ______ he entered the room than the lights went out. (Bank PO 2021)
- (a) had (b) has (c) have (d) is
Answer: (a) had ✅
Reason: No sooner + Past Perfect (had)
Q.13 ______ soon as I reached home, I called him. (SSC CHSL 2023)
- (a) As (b) No (c) So (d) Not
Answer: (a) As ✅
Reason: As soon as (Correct pair)
Q.14 No sooner did I arrive ______ the train left. (CDS 2022)
- (a) than (b) then (c) when (d) as
Answer: (a) than ✅
Reason: No sooner…than
Q.15 As soon as he ______ the signal, he stopped. (SSC CPO 2023)
- (a) sees (b) saw (c) has seen (d) had seen
Answer: (b) saw ✅
Reason: As soon as + Simple Past
SET 4: So…That / Such…That
Q.16 She is ______ beautiful that everyone admires her. (SSC CGL 2021)
- (a) so (b) such (c) very (d) too
Answer: (a) so ✅
Reason: So + Adjective + that
Q.17 It was ______ a hot day that we stayed home. (Bank PO 2020)
- (a) so (b) such (c) very (d) too
Answer: (b) such ✅
Reason: Such + a + Adj + Noun + that
Q.18 He speaks ______ fast that nobody can understand him. (SSC MTS 2023)
- (a) so (b) such (c) very (d) too
Answer: (a) so ✅
Reason: So + Adverb + that
Q.19 She is ______ a clever girl that she solved the puzzle. (NDA 2021)
- (a) so (b) such (c) very (d) too
Answer: (b) such ✅
Reason: Such + a + Adj + Noun + that
Q.20 He is ______ tired that he cannot walk. (SSC CHSL 2023)
- (a) so (b) such (c) very (d) too
Answer: (a) so ✅
Reason: So + Adjective + that
SET 5: Lest…Should / Unless / Until
Q.21 Walk carefully lest you ______ fall. (SSC GD 2022)
- (a) should (b) would (c) could (d) must
Answer: (a) should ✅
Reason: Lest…should (Pair)
Q.22 ______ you work hard, you will fail. (Bank PO 2019)
- (a) Unless (b) Until (c) If (d) When
Answer: (a) Unless ✅
Reason: Unless = If not
Q.23 Wait here ______ I come back. (SSC CGL 2020)
- (a) unless (b) until (c) if (d) when
Answer: (b) until ✅
Reason: Until (जब तक)
Q.24 Study hard ______ you should fail. (SSC CPO 2021)
- (a) unless (b) lest (c) until (d) if
Answer: (b) lest ✅
Reason: Lest…should
Q.25 ______ you apologize, I will forgive you. (CDS 2022)
- (a) Unless (b) Until (c) If (d) Lest
Answer: (c) If ✅
Reason: If (Positive condition) → Unless = If not
SET 6: Although / Though / Even Though
Q.26 ______ he is rich, he is not happy. (SSC CGL 2022)
- (a) Although (b) Because (c) Since (d) Unless
Answer: (a) Although ✅
Reason: Contrast → Although
Q.27 Though he worked hard, ______ he failed. (Bank PO 2021)
- (a) but (b) however (c) yet (d) so
Answer: (c) yet ✅
Reason: Though…yet (Pair – but नहीं आता)
Q.28 ______ he was tired, he continued working. (SSC CHSL 2023)
- (a) Although (b) Because (c) Since (d) Unless
Answer: (a) Although ✅
Reason: Contrast → Although
Q.29 She failed ______ she worked very hard. (CDS 2022)
- (a) although (b) because (c) since (d) unless
Answer: (a) although ✅
Reason: Unexpected result → although
Q.30 ______ he is very young, he is very mature. (SSC CPO 2023)
- (a) Although (b) Because (c) Since (d) Unless
Answer: (a) Although ✅
Reason: Contrast → although
SET 7: Error Detection
Q.31 Find the error: (SSC CGL 2022)
Neither the teacher (A) / nor the students (B) / was present (C) / in the class. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: (c) C ❌
Correct: “were present”
Reason: Nor के बाद “students” (Plural) → were
Q.32 Find the error: (Bank PO 2021)
She is not only (A) / beautiful but (B) / also intelligent (C) / and hardworking. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: No error ✅
“Not only…but also” (Correct)
Q.33 Find the error: (SSC CHSL 2023)
No sooner did he (A) / arrive than (B) / the meeting started (C) / and he was applauded. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: No error ✅
“No sooner…than” (Correct)
Q.34 Find the error: (CDS 2022)
Although he is rich (A) / but he is (B) / not happy (C) / with his life. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: (b) B ❌
Correct: “he is not happy” (Remove “but”)
Reason: Although…but साथ नहीं आते
Q.35 Find the error: (SSC CPO 2023)
Unless you do not (A) / work hard (B) / you will (C) / not succeed. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: (a) A ❌
Correct: “Unless you work hard” (Remove “do not”)
Reason: Unless के साथ Not नहीं
📊 QUICK REVISION TABLE
| Conjunction Pair | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Neither…nor | Verb → Nor के बाद वाला Subject | Neither Ram nor Shyam is coming. |
| Either…or | Verb → Or के बाद वाला Subject | Either Ram or his friends are coming. |
| Not only…but also | Parallel Structure | She is not only smart but also beautiful. |
| Both…and | Plural Verb | Both Ram and Shyam are coming. |
| No sooner…than | No sooner + Past Perfect + Than + Simple Past | No sooner had I left than it rained. |
| As soon as | As soon as + Simple Past/Present | As soon as I reached, it rained. |
| So…that | So + Adj/Adv + that | It was so hot that I couldn’t go. |
| Such…that | Such + (a/an) + Adj + Noun + that | It was such a hot day that… |
| Lest…should | Lest + Subject + should + V1 | Walk slowly lest you should fall. |
| Unless | Unless = If not (Not के साथ नहीं) | Unless you study, you will fail. |
| Until/Till | Until = जब तक (Not के साथ नहीं) | Wait until I come. |
| Although/Though | But के साथ नहीं | Although he is rich, he is poor. |
🎯 SUPER TRICKS SUMMARY
TRICK 1: Neither…Nor / Either…Or
Verb → “Nor/Or” के बाद वाले Subject को देखो!
TRICK 2: Not Only…But Also
दोनों तरफ एक जैसी Part of Speech!
| Not Only | But Also |
|---|---|
| Noun | Noun |
| Verb | Verb |
| Adjective | Adjective |
| Adverb | Adverb |
TRICK 3: No Sooner…Than
No sooner + Had + Subject + V3 + Than + Subject + V2
TRICK 4: Unless/Until के साथ Not नहीं!
- ❌ Unless you do not study… (Wrong)
- ✅ Unless you study… (Correct)
TRICK 5: Although/Though के साथ But नहीं!
- ❌ Although he is rich, but… (Wrong)
- ✅ Although he is rich, yet… (Correct)
TRICK 6: Lest…Should
Lest = कहीं ऐसा न हो कि → Should
TRICK 7: So vs Such
| So | Such |
|---|---|
| So + Adjective/Adverb | Such + (a/an) + Adjective + Noun |
| So beautiful | Such a beautiful girl |
| So fast | Such a fast car |
💪 COMMON EXAM TRAPS
Trap 1: Neither…Nor में Verb गलत
- ❌ Neither Ram nor Shyam are coming. (Wrong)
- ✅ Neither Ram nor Shyam is coming. (Correct – Shyam = Singular)
Trap 2: Not Only…But Also में Parallelism गलत
- ❌ She is not only beautiful but also dances. (Wrong – Adj + Verb)
- ✅ She is not only beautiful but also intelligent. (Correct – Adj + Adj)
Trap 3: Although के साथ But
- ❌ Although he is poor, but he is honest. (Wrong)
- ✅ Although he is poor, he is honest. (Correct)
Trap 4: Unless के साथ Not
- ❌ Unless you do not work… (Wrong)
- ✅ Unless you work… (Correct)
Trap 5: No sooner…Then (गलत)
- ❌ No sooner had I reached then… (Wrong)
- ✅ No sooner had I reached than… (Correct)
📌 MOST IMPORTANT FOR EXAMS:
- Neither…nor / Either…or (Verb Rule) → 2-3 questions (पक्का!)
- Not only…but also (Parallelism) → 1-2 questions
- No sooner…than → 1-2 questions
- So…that / Such…that → 1-2 questions
- Lest…should → 1 question
- Unless / Until (Not के साथ नहीं) → 1 question
- Although (But के साथ नहीं) → 1 question
- Error Detection → 2-3 questions
💪 Practice Tips:
- Correlative Pairs याद करें (Neither…nor, Either…or, Not only…but also, Both…and)
- Verb Rule (Nor/Or के बाद वाला Subject) – Practice करें
- Parallelism (Not only…but also) – दोनों तरफ Equal parts
- No sooner…than – Structure याद रखें
- Unless / Although – Negative/Contrast rules याद रखें
- Previous Papers (SSC, Bank, NDA, CDS) solve करें
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