In English conjunctions join parts of a sentence together, (hence the latin term, conjungo from whence we get conjunction), but in Greek the conjunction can start a sentence - connecting two sentences. They can be difficult to translate properly. Read Daniel B Wallace Greek Grammar - Beyond the Basics for a better understanding (1996, Zondervan, USA).
Coordinating Conjunctions (linking equal parts)
| Greek | Likely translation |
|---|---|
| ἀλλά | but, rather, on the contrary; adds emphasis or contrast; not only this but also |
| ἄρα | consequently, therefore, then, thus, so |
| ἆρα | interrogative particle expecting a negative response |
| γάρ | for, since, then; for, you see; indeed, certainly, by all means |
| δέ | but, to the contrary, rather; and; now, then, so |
| διόπερ | therefore indeed, for this very reason |
| εἴτε | if, whether |
| ἤ | or; than |
| ἤτοι | or |
| καί | and, also, but, even; that is, namely; frequently used merely to mark the beginning of a sentence |
| μήτε | and not |
| οὐδέ | neither, nor, and not; not, not even |
| οὖν | therefore, then; thus, so, accordingly |
| οὔτε | not, no, nor |
| τέ | and; and so, so |
| τοίνυν | inferential particle therefore, then, for that very reason then |
Subordinating Conjunctions (links dependent clause to an independent clause)
| Greek | Likely translation |
|---|---|
| ἐάν | if; even if, though; when; sometimes used as particle indicating contingency in certain constructions |
| εἰ | if; whether; that; if only, surely; since |
| εἴπερ | since, if it is true that |
| ἐπάν | when, as soon as |
| ἕως | conj. until; while; prep. with gen. to, until, as far as, to the point of; as many as |
| ἡνίκα | when |
| ἤπερ | than |
| ἵνα | in order that; so that; that; with subj. sometimes = impv. |
| ἱνατί | conj. why? for what reason? |
| καθό | as, according as; in so far as, to the degree that |
| καθότι | because, for; as, in so far as |
| καθώς | as, just as; inasmuch as, because; in so far as, to the degree that; how, that |
| καθώσπερ | as, just as |
| καίτοιγε | although, and yet |
| ὅπου | where; whereas, while |
| ὅπως | that, in order that |
| ὅταν | when, whenever, as often as |
| ὅτε | when, at which time; while, as long as |
| ὅτι | that; because, for, since; may mark the beginning of direct discourse |
| πρίν | before |
| πῶς | interrog. particle how? in what way? how is it possible? |
| ὡσεί | like, as; about, approximately |
| ὥσπερ | as, just as, even as; like |
| ὡσπερεί | as, as though |
| ὥστε | that, so that, with the result that; in order that, for the purpose of; therefore, thus, so, accordingly |
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