Практическая грамматика

§ 4. Coordinating conjunctions.
The meaning of conjunctions is closely connected with the rela­tions they express. Thus the classes of coordinating conjunctions according to their meaning correspond to different types of com­pound sentences. There are four different kinds of coordinating conjunctions.
1. Copulative conjunctions: and, nor, as well as, both ... and, not only ...but (also), neither... nor. Copulative conjunctions chiefly denote that one statement or fact is simply added to another (nor and neither express that relation in the negative sense).
There was a scent of honey from the lime trees in flower, and in the sky the blue was beautiful, with a few white clouds. (Gals­worthy)
His whole face was colourless rock; his eye was both spark and flint. (Ch. Bronte)
I do not know what they knew of the things happening beyond the hill, nor do I know if the silent houses I passed on my way were sleeping securely... (Wells)
...but it made him indeed suspect that she could give as well as receive; and she gave him nothing. (Galsworthy)
...the newspapers discussed the play for a whole fortnight not only in the ordinary theatrical notices and criticisms, but in leading articles and letters. (Shaw)
He went on as a statue would: that is, he neither spoke nor moved. (Ch. Bronte)

2. 
   Disjunctive conjunctions: or, either... or, or else, else.
   

Disjunctive conjunctions offer some choice between one state­ment and another.
The majority of the inhabitants had escaped, I suppose, by way of the Old Worning road... or they had hidden. (Wells)
... either his furlough was up, or he dreaded to meet any witnesses of his Waterloo flight. (Thackeray)
He was compelled to think this thought, or else there would not be any use to strive, and he would have lain down and died. (London)
“You go and fetch her down, Tom,” said Mr. Tulliver, rather sharply, his perspicacity or his fatherly fondness for Maggie making him suspect that the lad had been hard upon "the little un", else she would never have left his side... (Eliot)

3. 
   Adversative conjunctions: but, while, whereas.
   

Adversative conjunctions show that one statement or fact is contrasted
with or set against another.
Fabermacher nodded in agreement, but his eyes glittered with silent triumph and contempt for the victory. (Wilson)
His nerves had become blunted, numb, while his mind was filled with weird visions and delicious dreams. (London)

4.