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

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

that connects two

clauses In language, a clause is a Constituent (linguistics), constituent or Phrase (grammar), phrase that comprises a semantic predicand (expressed or not) and a semantic Predicate (grammar), predicate. A typical clause consists of a subject (grammar), ...

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

verb A verb is a word that generally conveys an action (''bring'', ''read'', ''walk'', ''run'', ''learn''), an occurrence (''happen'', ''become''), or a state of being (''be'', ''exist'', ''stand''). In the usual description of English, the basic f ...

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 frequently 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, such as ...

or a period (full stop). They are usually followed by a

comma The comma is a punctuation mark that appears in several variants in different languages. Some typefaces render it as a small line, slightly curved or straight, but inclined from the vertical; others give it the appearance of a miniature fille ...

. 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