Spojky

Spojky are a class of words in Czech and Slovak grammar that serve to connect words, phrases, or clauses. They express logical and syntactic relationships between parts of a sentence and help to form more complex statements without repeating elements. Spojky are distinct from prepositions, particles, and adverbs, though some words can function as conjunctions in certain constructions.

There are two main groups of spojky. Spojky souřadné (coordinating conjunctions) link equal syntactic units, such as words or independent clauses, to express addition, alternative, or contrast. Common examples include a (and), i (and also), nebo or anebo (or), and ale (but). Spojky podřadné (subordinating conjunctions) introduce dependent clauses and specify relationships such as cause, time, condition, or purpose. Examples include že (that), aby (so that / in order to), když (when), pokud (if), protože (because), jelikož (since).

Usage notes vary by language. In Czech, subordinating conjunctions typically require a comma before the introduced clause, making punctuation an important cue for the reader. Subordinate clauses can specify purpose, result, time, condition, or comparison, among others. Some spojky can function in more than one role depending on context, and stylistic registers may favor one form over another (for example, formal vs. colloquial styles).

In linguistic description, spojky are analyzed as essential tools for encoding semantic relations in sentences, enabling precise articulation of connections between ideas while maintaining fluency and variety in expression.