A conjunctive adverb, adverbial conjunction, or subordinating adverb is an

adverb An adverb is a word or an expression that generally modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, determiner, clause, preposition, or sentence. Adverbs typically express manner, place, time, frequency, degree, level of certainty, etc., answering ...

that connects two

clauses In language, a clause is a constituent that comprises a semantic predicand (expressed or not) and a semantic predicate. A typical clause consists of a subject and a syntactic predicate, the latter typically a verb phrase composed of a verb with ...

by converting the clause it introduces into an adverbial modifier of the

verb A verb () is a word ( part of speech) that in syntax generally conveys an action (''bring'', ''read'', ''walk'', ''run'', ''learn''), an occurrence (''happen'', ''become''), or a state of being (''be'', ''exist'', ''stand''). In the usual descr ...

in the main clause. For example, in "I told him; thus, he knows" and "I told him. Thus, he knows", ''thus'' is a conjunctive adverb.

Examples

Some examples containing conjunctive adverbs are: :Bob loved Mary with all his heart; ''however'', he knew he could not be with her. :I cleaned my room; ''then'' I went to the store. :I cleaned my room, and ''then'' I went to the store.

Logic

The clause that a conjunctive adverb introduces invariably modifies a (usually previously expressed) logical predication. Specific conjunctive adverbs are used to signal and signify purpose or reason (''so that''), sequence (''then, since''), exception (''though''), and comparison (''whereas'').

Common English conjunctive adverbs

Some common English conjunctive adverbs are: *''accordingly'' *''also'' *''anyway'' *''besides'' *''certainly'' *''consequently'' *''finally'' *''furthermore'' *''hence'' *''however'' *''in addition'' *''in fact'' *''incidentally'' *''indeed'' *''instead'' *''lately'' *''likewise'' *''meanwhile'' *''moreover'' *''nevertheless'' *''next'' *''nonetheless'' *''now'' *''otherwise'' *''rather'' *''similarly'' *''since'' *''still'' *''subsequently'' *''then'' *''thereby'' *''therefore'' *''thus''

English punctuation

Conjunctive adverbs are preceded by a

semicolon The semicolon or semi-colon is a symbol commonly used as orthographic punctuation. In the English language, a semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. When a ...

or a period (full stop). They are usually followed by a comma. For example, "I told him; however, he did not remember" and "I told him. However, he did not remember" are both valid.

References

Online sources