Conjunction: Pengertian, Jenis, dan Penggunaan

Dalam bahasa Inggris, conjunction atau kata sambung memegang peranan penting sebagai penghubung antarkata, frasa, klausa, maupun kalimat. Tanpa adanya conjunction, komunikasi tertulis maupun lisan akan terasa terputus-putus dan kurang logis.  Artikel ini menyajikan uraian lengkap mengenai conjunction berdasarkan materi yang ada dalam sumber, dengan bahasa yang lebih akademik, sistematis, dan mudah dipahami.

Definisi Conjunction

Conjunction adalah kata yang digunakan untuk menghubungkan kata, kelompok kata (frasa), klausa, atau kalimat sehingga menghasilkan struktur yang padu dan bermakna. Fungsi utama conjunction adalah menyatukan unsur-unsur bahasa agar ide tersampaikan secara runtut.

Contoh sederhana:

• I like tea and coffee.

• She studies hard because she wants to pass the exam.

Jenis-Jenis Conjunction

1. Coordinating Conjunction

Coordinating conjunction menghubungkan dua unsur dengan kedudukan setara, baik berupa kata maupun klausa. Kata sambung ini sering diringkas dengan akronim FANBOYS:

2. Subordinating Conjunction

Subordinating conjunction digunakan untuk menghubungkan klausa utama dengan klausa bawahan. Klausa yang diperkenalkan oleh subordinating conjunction biasanya tidak dapat berdiri sendiri.

Beberapa subordinating conjunction yang umum digunakan:

• Cause and Effect: because, since, as, so that

  • She went home early because she was not feeling well.

• Contrast / Concession: although, though, even though, whereas, while

  • She went to school although she was sick.

• Condition: if, unless, provided that

  • I will help you if you ask me nicely.

• Time: when, while, as soon as, before, after, until

  • Stay here until I come back.

3. Correlative Conjunction

Correlative conjunction selalu hadir dalam bentuk pasangan, digunakan untuk menyeimbangkan dua bagian kalimat.

Contoh pasangan umum:

Fungsi Conjunction dalam Kalimat

1. Menggabungkan ide → mempermudah penyampaian pesan.

2. Membuat variasi kalimat → tulisan tidak monoton.

3. Menunjukkan hubungan logis → sebab-akibat, syarat, pertentangan, maupun penekanan.

Kesalahan Umum dalam Penggunaan Conjunction

1. Double conjunction → penggunaan dua kata sambung yang tidak perlu.

   • Salah: Although but he tried hard.

   • Benar: Although he tried hard.

2. Salah penempatan → klausa bawahan tidak diberi tanda koma saat diperlukan.

   • Salah: Because he was late he missed the bus.

   • Benar: Because he was late, he missed the bus.

3. Mengabaikan keseimbangan struktur pada correlative conjunction.

   • Salah: She is not only beautiful but also she has a kind heart.

   • Benar: She is not only beautiful but also kind.

Ringkasan (Key Takeaways)

• Conjunction adalah kata penghubung yang menyatukan kata, frasa, atau klausa.

• Terdapat tiga jenis utama: coordinating, subordinating, dan correlative conjunction.

• Setiap jenis conjunction memiliki fungsi spesifik: menyatakan pilihan, sebab-akibat, pertentangan, waktu, syarat, dll.

• Penggunaan conjunction yang tepat membuat kalimat lebih logis, variatif, dan padu.

• Kesalahan umum meliputi penggunaan ganda, salah penempatan, dan ketidakseimbangan struktur.

Latihan Soal Conjunction

1. She stayed at home, ___ she was feeling unwell.
A. but
B. and
C. for
D. so
E. or

Jawaban: C (for) → menunjukkan alasan.

2. I like coffee ___ tea.
A. or
B. so
C. yet
D. for
E. because

Jawaban: A (or) → pilihan.

3. She is poor ___ happy.
A. but
B. because
C. so
D. nor
E. or

Jawaban: A (but) → pertentangan.

4. ___ she was tired, she kept working.
A. Because
B. Although
C. So
D. For
E. And

Jawaban: B (Although) → pertentangan meskipun.

5. He went home early ___ it was raining heavily.
A. because
B. but
C. so
D. and
E. or

Jawaban: A (because) → sebab.

6. You can have ___ coffee ___ tea.
A. not only … but also
B. both … and
C. neither … nor
D. either … or
E. whether … or

Jawaban: D (either … or) → pilihan di antara dua hal.

7. She is ___ beautiful ___ smart.
A. both … and
B. neither … nor
C. either … or
D. so … that
E. because … so

Jawaban: A (both … and) → menekankan dua sifat.

8. He didn’t study, ___ he failed the test.
A. and
B. so
C. but
D. or
E. nor

Jawaban: B (so) → menyatakan akibat.

9. I don’t know ___ he will join us ___ not.
A. both … and
B. whether … or
C. either … or
D. neither … nor
E. so … that

Jawaban: B (whether … or) → ketidakpastian.

10. ___ she is smart, she is very humble.
A. Because
B. Although
C. So
D. And
E. Or

Jawaban: B (Although) → kontras.

11. He was very tired, ___ he didn’t sleep.
A. and
B. or
C. but
D. so
E. because

Jawaban: C (but) → pertentangan.

12. The students studied hard ___ they wanted to pass the exam.
A. but
B. or
C. because
D. although
E. so

Jawaban: C (because) → alasan.

13. ___ the rain stopped, we went out.
A. Because
B. Although
C. When
D. And
E. Or

Jawaban: C (When) → waktu.

14. I don’t like football, ___ do I like basketball.
A. but
B. so
C. nor
D. or
E. yet

Jawaban: C (nor) → penolakan ganda.

15. She speaks English ___ she speaks French.
A. because
B. and
C. but
D. so
E. nor

Jawaban: B (and) → menambahkan informasi.

16. He kept walking ___ he was tired.
A. so
B. because
C. although
D. and
E. nor

Jawaban: C (although) → kontras.

17. I will wait here ___ you come back.
A. until
B. when
C. because
D. but
E. so

Jawaban: A (until) → menyatakan batas waktu.

18. She was sleepy, ___ she kept reading.
A. and
B. so
C. but
D. because
E. or

Jawaban: C (but) → pertentangan.

19. We will go ___ it doesn’t rain.
A. so
B. unless
C. although
D. because
E. or

Jawaban: B (unless) → syarat negatif.

20. Not only my parents ___ my teacher supports me.
A. and
B. so
C. or
D. but also
E. nor

Jawaban: D (but also) → pasangan correlative conjunction.