Conjunctive Adverbs

Run-on sentences happen when there are two independent clauses not separated by any form of punctuation. The error can sometimes be corrected by adding a period, semicolon, or colon to separate the two sentences.

e.g. Incorrect: My car is expensive I spent a lot of money on it.
Correct: My car is expensive. I spent a lot of money on it.

A conjunctive adverb is a word used to join two sentences or clauses. They also show the relationship between the two ideas.

e.g. There was practically no petrol in the car; therefore, we had to go to the petrol station.

When a conjunctive adverb connects two independent clauses in one sentence, it is preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma.

e.g. You should leave the food in the fridge; otherwise, it will be stale tomorrow.

If a conjunctive adverb is used in any other position in a sentence, it is set off by commas.

e.g. Likewise, people who left smaller cities are hoping to find better opportunities.

Fill in the gaps with an appropriate conjunctive adverb:

• 1. The price was too high; ___, the customers did not want to spend their money.
  
  negatively
  nevertheless
  consequently
  already
  
  
• 2. Money is very useful; ___, we don’t have to have a lot of money to live comfortably.
  
  hence
  however
  finally
  early
  
  
• 3. This money means a lot to the old man; ___, he fought hard for it.
  
  otherwise
  face
  kind of
  furthermore
  
  
• 4. There was no milk left in the bottle; ___, we had to go to the supermarket.
  
  therefore
  steadily
  closely
  also
  
  
• 5. I will get there by taxi; ___, you can prepare for the party.
  
  also
  meanwhile
  consequently
  actually
  
  
• 6. This test means a lot to the students; ___, they studied quite hard for it.
  
  actually
  also
  consequently
  meanwhile
  
  
• 7. I hope they all did well; ___ it is okay with me even if they didn't do well.
  
  finally
  however
  hence
  early
  
  
• 8. The test was very difficult; ___, the poor results.
  
  finally
  early
  however
  hence
  
  
• 9. The students reviewed everything in the books; the test, ___, contained a lot of questions not from the books.
  
  actually
  consequently
  meanwhile
  also
  
  
• 10. I thought everything was covered in the book; ___, I would have asked them to prepare from other sources.
  
  therefore
  otherwise
  closely
  steadily