The Moving Parts of Speech in English: Verbs and Conjunctions

The Moving Parts of Speech in English: Verbs and Conjunctions

Most of us first encountered the concept of “parts of speech” during early schooling, memorising that nouns name things, verbs show action, and adjectives describe. Yet for many adults — even academics and scientists — these grammatical basics fade from memory until we face the challenge of producing precise, professional writing. For researchers, especially those who are not native speakers of English, understanding how parts of speech function can be essential for clarity and credibility. In academic English, two categories are especially powerful: verbs, which give movement to ideas, and conjunctions, which connect them logically.

This article explores how verbs and conjunctions operate as the “moving parts” of English sentences — the components that bring writing to life, shape arguments, and control rhythm and emphasis. With examples and practical guidance, it aims to help academic and scientific writers use these tools more confidently and effectively.

---

1. Why Verbs and Conjunctions Matter in Scholarly Writing

Academic writing is not only about conveying facts; it is about presenting those facts with precision, logic, and authority. Verbs and conjunctions play a vital role in achieving this. Verbs establish what happens and when, while conjunctions reveal how ideas relate — whether through contrast, addition, cause, or sequence. Together, they determine the flow and coherence of your sentences.

Consider this pair of examples:

1. The researcher collected data. The researcher analysed it. The researcher presented the results.

2. The researcher collected, analysed, and presented the data.

The second version, through the careful use of verbs and conjunctions, expresses the same meaning with concision and elegance. Understanding these grammatical elements enables authors to control pace, emphasis, and logical progression — qualities essential for strong academic communication.

---

2. Understanding Verbs: The Engine of the Sentence

A verb is the word or phrase that indicates an action, occurrence, or state of being. Without a verb, a sentence cannot function. In English academic writing, verbs serve as the engine that drives meaning forward. They describe research actions (measured, calculated, tested), express relationships (demonstrates, suggests, indicates), and define the logical flow of time.

2.1 Types of Verbs

• Action verbs: Express observable activity — e.g., “The experiment measured temperature.”
• Linking verbs: Connect the subject to a description or state — e.g., “The hypothesis is valid.”
• Auxiliary verbs: Support main verbs to form tenses, moods, and voices — e.g., “The study was conducted under controlled conditions.”
• Modal verbs: Convey possibility, necessity, or obligation — e.g., “The results may indicate a correlation.”

2.2 Verb Tenses and Academic Chronology

In research writing, tense signals when something occurs and how it relates to other events. English uses verb tense not only to locate actions in time but also to organise arguments logically. Consider the following sequence:

I was observing the monitor when participants were exposed to the light, but I had prepared them for the intensity before the trial began.

Here, three distinct tenses clarify chronology: the past continuous (“was observing”), the simple past (“were exposed”), and the past perfect (“had prepared”). Even when events are described out of order, appropriate tense usage ensures accurate temporal relationships.

In academic writing:

• Use the present tense for established facts and general truths (e.g., “Water boils at 100°C”).
• Use the past tense to describe completed research activities (“Data were collected from 200 participants”).
• Use the present perfect to link past findings to current knowledge (“Several studies have shown this effect”).

2.3 The Infinitive and the “Split Infinitive” Rule

In English, the infinitive form of a verb includes the word “to” (for example, “to write,” “to analyse,” “to determine”). Grammatically, “to” is part of the verb, and traditionally, other words should not separate them. For example, “to write effectively” is preferable to the split infinitive “to effectively write.” While modern style guides accept split infinitives in moderation when clarity demands it, academic writing typically favours the more traditional, unsplit form.

---

3. Conjunctions: The Connective Tissue of Thought

Conjunctions are small but powerful words that join clauses, phrases, and ideas. Without them, writing can sound mechanical or disjointed. Conjunctions show readers how each thought relates to the next — whether you are adding information, showing contrast, or explaining cause and effect.

3.1 Coordinating Conjunctions

These link words, phrases, or independent clauses of equal grammatical rank. The most common are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so — conveniently remembered by the acronym FANBOYS.

Example: The student wrote the essay, proofread it, and handed it in, but she was worried about her argument.

Here, and connects actions of equal weight, while but introduces a contrast. Coordinating conjunctions are often used within compound sentences and lists, giving prose a natural rhythm.

3.2 Subordinating Conjunctions

These introduce dependent clauses that rely on a main clause for meaning. Common examples include because, although, while, since, if, when, and unless.

Example: Although the results were promising, further research is needed.

Subordination helps you express complex relationships between ideas — essential in academic argumentation. It allows you to present qualifications, exceptions, and causal reasoning without creating choppy sentences.

3.3 Correlative Conjunctions

These pairs of conjunctions work together to balance ideas. Examples include both...and, either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also.

Example: The findings are significant not only for biology but also for environmental policy.

Correlatives add emphasis and variety, helping to create elegant sentence structures in formal writing.

---

4. Practical Guidance for Using Verbs and Conjunctions Effectively

4.1 Strengthen Your Verbs

• Prefer active voice where clarity allows: “The researcher analysed the data” is usually stronger than “The data were analysed by the researcher.”
• Be precise: Instead of “did an analysis,” write “analysed.” Instead of “made an improvement,” write “improved.”
• Vary your verbs: Repeating “show” or “demonstrate” weakens writing. Try alternatives such as “reveal,” “suggest,” “indicate,” “confirm,” or “highlight.”

4.2 Control Your Conjunctions

• Use conjunctions to reveal relationships clearly: cause (“because”), contrast (“however,” “but”), or addition (“and,” “also”).
• Avoid starting too many sentences with “And” or “But” in formal writing; occasional use for emphasis is fine.
• Don’t overload sentences with conjunctions. One well-placed connector can do more than several competing ones.

4.3 Maintain Logical Flow

In academic writing, coherence depends on connecting ideas logically. Conjunctions guide readers through that logic, while verb tense ensures events appear in the correct sequence. Consider how these elements interact:

The samples were tested repeatedly, and the results were compared to previous studies, but because environmental conditions differed, the findings must be interpreted with caution.

This sentence flows naturally because each clause connects seamlessly to the next — through conjunctions (and, but, because) and consistent verb tenses (were tested, were compared).

---

5. Common Errors to Avoid

• Tense inconsistency: Switching between past and present without reason confuses readers. Maintain consistent tenses within each section.
• Excessive passives: Overuse of the passive voice can make writing impersonal and vague.
• Comma splices: Joining independent clauses with a comma instead of a conjunction or semicolon creates grammatical errors. For example, write “The data were incomplete, so the experiment was repeated,” not “The data were incomplete, the experiment was repeated.”
• Overusing conjunctions: Too many linkers (“and,” “therefore,” “however”) can make text redundant or overly mechanical.
• Missing conjunctions: Conversely, a lack of connectors can leave sentences abrupt and disjointed.

---

6. The Rhythm and Style of Academic English

Strong academic writing balances complexity with clarity. Verbs bring movement, while conjunctions create logical scaffolding. When used skilfully, they shape rhythm and readability — key qualities in scholarly style. To improve rhythm:

• Vary sentence length: mix short, direct sentences with longer, compound or complex ones.
• Use conjunctions to control pacing — and to quicken, but or although to pause and contrast, because to explain.
• Choose strong, specific verbs instead of abstract nouns: write “concluded” rather than “drew a conclusion.”

These stylistic refinements make writing more persuasive and easier to follow, which benefits reviewers and readers alike.

---

7. Practising What You Learn

Improving your command of verbs and conjunctions requires practice and awareness. Try these exercises:

• Rewrite passive sentences: Convert five sentences from passive to active voice each day.
• Identify conjunctions: Take an article from a reputable journal and highlight every conjunction. Study how each one contributes to meaning and flow.
• Experiment with tenses: Describe one experiment in past tense, then rewrite it in present tense. Notice how the focus shifts from procedure to principle.

Frequent, deliberate practice turns grammatical knowledge into instinct — the mark of an advanced writer.

---

8. Final Thoughts

Verbs and conjunctions may seem like small components of language, but in academic writing they perform mighty roles. Verbs carry action and clarity; conjunctions carry connection and coherence. Together, they determine how your ideas move, how readers interpret your logic, and how professional your work appears.

Mastering these moving parts of speech is not merely a grammatical exercise — it is a way of sharpening your scholarly voice. When verbs are precise and conjunctions are purposeful, your research narrative flows naturally, guiding readers effortlessly from one idea to the next. And that is the essence of excellent academic writing.

For more in-depth guidance on grammar, academic writing, and professional editing support, visit Proof-Reading-Service.com. Our expert editors help researchers refine language, improve structure, and ensure every verb and conjunction works to strengthen clarity and impact.