Understanding Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions in Slovak

What Are Conjunctions in Slovak?

Conjunctions are words that connect clauses, sentences, or words together. In Slovak, conjunctions play a crucial role in forming complex and compound sentences, helping to express relationships between ideas clearly.

Coordinating Conjunctions in Slovak

Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, or independent clauses that are of equal grammatical importance. They are used to join elements that are similar in structure.

Common Slovak coordinating conjunctions include:

• a (and)
• alebo (or)
• ale (but)
• ani (nor)
• takže (so)

Example sentences:

• Mám jablko a pomaranč. (I have an apple and an orange.)
• Chceš čaj alebo kávu? (Do you want tea or coffee?)
• Je unavený, ale šťastný. (He is tired but happy.)

Subordinating Conjunctions in Slovak

Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses and show the relationship between the dependent clause and the main clause. They often express time, cause, condition, or contrast.

Common Slovak subordinating conjunctions include:

• že (that)
• keď (when)
• ak (if)
• pretože (because)
• hoci (although)

Example sentences:

• Viem, že prídeš. (I know that you will come.)
• Zavolám ti, keď prídem domov. (I will call you when I get home.)
• Nepôjdem, pretože som chorý. (I will not go because I am sick.)

Tips for Using Slovak Conjunctions

• Remember that coordinating conjunctions connect elements of equal importance.
• Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses and often affect word order in Slovak sentences.
• Practice by creating sentences using both types of conjunctions to improve fluency.