Coordinating Conjunctions
Conjunctions are joining words that link together parts
of a sentence.
The coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or,
yet and so.
They can be used to join together two clauses in a
sentence.
FOR
FOR
Big and strong.
AND
HE CANNOT SING NOR DANCE.
NOR
Happy
but
tired.
BUT
red or blue
OR
rich yet
unhappy
YET
The light bulb blew so I
changed it.
SO
BUT
YET
FOR
SO
Coordinating Conjunctions
The coordinating conjunctions FANBOYS can be used to
join together two clauses in a sentence. However, the
clauses need to make sense on their own. For example:
I had a terrible cold. I still went to school.
You can add the coordinating conjunction ‘but’ in between
these causes so the sentence reads:
I had a terrible cold but I still went to school.
You can often leave out the subject word in the second
coordinating clause. For example:
I had a terrible cold but still went to school.
In this example you can remove the word 'I' from the second
coordinating clause.
FANBOYS AND COMMAS
Look at the following sentence:
They ate three burgers and some fries.
Which it the coordinating conjunction?
They ate three burgers and some fries.
Look at the two clauses either side of the coordinating
conjunction.
They ate three burgers. (works as a complete sentence)
Some fries. (does NOT work as a complete sentence)
If these 2 clauses do not work as complete sentences we do
not use a comma.
FANBOYS AND COMMAS
Now look at this sentence:
They ate three burgers and they ate some fries.
Both of these clauses work as complete sentences. So,
in this case we DO use a comma BEFORE the FANBOY.
They ate three burgers, and they ate some fries.
The robot is huge and he drinks water from the
canal.
The robot is huge, and he drinks water from the
canal.
The robot is peeing into the canal so the
water is rising.
The robot is peeing into the canal, so the
water is rising.
The virus is contagious so we all have to stay
at home.
The virus is contagious, so we all have to stay
at home.
The ball fell into the river and it sank.
The ball fell into the river, and it sank.
A witch made a complicated spell but it didn't
work.
A witch made a complicated spell, but it didn't
work.
You can take the test during lunch or after
school.
You can take the test during lunch or after
school.
Insert the correct coordinating
conjunction into these sentences:
1. Jeremy was cold, he put on a coat.
2. Maria tried to read a novel in French, it was too
difficult.
3. To get from Vancouver to Victoria you can fly, you can
ride the ferry.
4. I bought a bottle of wine, we drank it together.
5. The waiter was not very nice, the food was delicious.
6. I went to buy a Marshmellow CD, the shop didn't have
it.
7. Anna needed some money, she got a job.
8. There's so much rain lately! Maybe it's because it's
spring, maybe it's just coincidence.
The End
