Can we use a subordinate conjunction after the conjunctive adverb?

Question

1."It is always not necessary, however, we use it to link two parts of that instrument".

‘However’ can be used to join two simple sentences to make a compound sentence. But in (1) there is a mistake while using the punctuation, that is "however" and the comma after "necesssary".This is corrected by using semicolon and comma like this "It is always not necessary; however, we use it to link two parts of that instrument".This is OK to me, and here no doubt to me.

2."It is always not necessary, however, when we use it to link two parts of that instrument".

I think there are to mistakes here one is by using comma before necessary and other is after conjuctive adverb a subordinate clause is used. Here is my question. Can we use a subordinate conjunction after the conjunctive adverb?

Tripbeetle · Accepted Answer

At the end you ask the question "Can we use a subordinate conjunction after the conjunctive adverb?"

I think you are asking the wrong question.

To begin with, you acknowledge that the two sentences here are quite different by correctly pointing out that the "however" in no.1 should have a semi-colon to the left of it and a comma to the right of it. In other words, in no.1, "It is not always necessary" is a stand-alone sentence (an independent clause) and so is "We use it to link two parts of that instrument." (BTW, I think you meant to write ""It is not always necessary" rather than "It is always not necessary," no?)

As you seem to acknowledge, no.2 is quite different in that using the subordinating conjunction "when" transforms what were two independent clauses into an independent-clause-plus-a-dependent-clause. The "however" in no.2 plays no role in joining the sentences. That is when's job. The "however" is enclosed by commas for a reason: it is isolated from the rest of the sentence, and could just as easily be put at the very beginning or end of the sentence (set apart by a comma).

You can therefore test whether it is correct or not by simply deleting what is enclosed by the commas and seeing if it sounds right. We get "It is not necessary when we use it to link two parts of that instrument" - which is fine.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Here are some variations.

1. Two main clauses and two sentences.

It is always not necessary. However, we use it to link two parts of that instrument. (However is a simple adverb.)

2. One sentence with two main clauses joined by a semicolon.

It is always not necessary; we use it to link two parts of that instrument. (Only use this punctuation style if the two main clauses are very closely related.)
It is always not necessary; however, we use it to link two parts of that instrument. (However is a conjunctive adverb.)

3. One sentence with a main clause and a dependent clause. (However is a simple adverb. )

It is always not necessary when we use it to link two parts of that instrument.
It is always not necessary, however, when we use it to link two parts of that instrument.

These pages may be helpful: http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/conjunctiveadverb.htm

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/04/

Can we use a subordinate conjunction after the conjunctive adverb?

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