What are Cumulative Conjunctions? Definition, Examples, & Exercise

Cumulative Conjunctions come from the family of coordinating conjunctions, your go-to friends when adding two sentences, clauses or phrases together. So, getting a good grasp of these connective bridges in English grammar will take your writing and communication skills to par with a native English speaker.

Therefore, in this blog article, you will learn more about these conjunctions through the lens of definition and examples for better precision over their usage. 

What are Cumulative Conjunctions? – Definition

As discussed above, cumulative, also known as coordinating conjunctions, work their magic by adding elements to a sentence rather than contrasting them like their counterparts, adversative conjunctions (e.g., ‘but’, ‘yet’).

In other words, they create a sense of continuation and connection to weave together multiple ideas within a single sentence. 

For example, ‘Not only did she excel on the cyclic test, but she also won the sports week award.’

How to Use Cumulative Conjunctions?

Take a look at the structural formation of cumulative and its demonstration via the conjunction examples for easy learning.

List of Cumulative Conjunctions in English Grammar

Your learning of how to use cumulative conjunction can only be halfway through, without the knowledge of the following list of conjunctions. So go through them one by one to enrich your English vocabulary:

• And: The most common and versatile, used to connect words, phrases, and clauses.
• Both: Emphasize the inclusion of two elements.
• Nor: Used in negative sentences to connect two options that are both rejected.
• Not only… but also: Introduces contrasting ideas while emphasizing both.
• As well as: It adds another element to a list or description.
• Furthermore: Connects sentences, indicating the addition of further information.
• Moreover: Similar to “furthermore,” adding emphasis to additional details.
• In addition to: Introduces an additional element or idea.
• Besides: Similar to “in addition to,” but with a slightly less formal tone.

Cumulative Conjunctions Examples 

Here are some more example sentences with the usage of cumulative conjunction to widen your horizon of conjunctional rules:

• She enjoys reading and writing. 
• The cake was delicious, both the frosting and the sponge. 
• Neither he nor she could answer the question correctly. 
• The movie was not only entertaining but also thought-provoking. 
• She is a talented artist, as well as a skilled musician. 
• The experiment was a success. Furthermore, it yielded valuable data. 
• The park offers a variety of activities, including hiking, biking, and picnicking.

Do Check Out: 11+ Examples of Conjunctions

Cumulative Conjunction Exercise 

Last, but not least, make sure to solve the following exercise and check how far you have come with your learning of cumulative coordinating conjunctions.

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate cumulative conjunction to complete the sentence.

1. I like spending time with friends _____ family.
2. The painting was not only beautiful _____ also incredibly detailed.
3. He studies hard _____ participates in extracurricular activities.
4. We need to buy milk _____ eggs _____ bread.
5. The book explores themes of love _____ loss.
6. She is a skilled writer _______ a talented artist. 
7. She is a talented singer _____ a skilled dancer.
8. The movie was filled with action _____ humour.
9. He failed the exam _____ did not receive a scholarship.
10. We visited the museum _____ the art gallery.
11. The recipe requires flour, eggs, _____ sugar.

Answer Key:

1. and
2. but
3. and
4. , , and
5. and
6. As well as
7. and
8. and
9. nor
10. and
11. and

Find more exciting grammatical reads below!

Subordinating Conjunctions	75+ Cool Two-Letter Words
Parts of Speech	Types of Reported Speech
9 Basic Rules in Grammar	Editing Exercises and Worksheets

This was all about the cumulative conjunction in English grammar. Hope you understand the concept and know how to proceed. You can also follow Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs.