Coordinating ConjunctionsCoordinating Conjunctions

Sarah L. BeackerSarah L. Beacker

Wilkes UniversityWilkes University

Review: ClausesReview: Clauses

In order to recognize conjunctions, you In order to recognize conjunctions, you must understand clauses.must understand clauses.

What is a clause?What is a clause?– contain a subject and a verbcontain a subject and a verb– expresses a complete thoughtexpresses a complete thought

Review: Identify the clausesReview: Identify the clauses

A main clause has a subject and predicate A main clause has a subject and predicate that can stand alone as a sentence.that can stand alone as a sentence.

Example: Example:

Birds fly, and squirrels leap.Birds fly, and squirrels leap.

““Birds fly” is a main clauseBirds fly” is a main clause

““squirrels leap” is also a main clause.squirrels leap” is also a main clause.

Review: Identify the clausesReview: Identify the clauses

A subordinate clause has a subject and a A subordinate clause has a subject and a predicate, but it cannot stand alone as a predicate, but it cannot stand alone as a sentence.sentence.

Example: Birds eat whenever they are Example: Birds eat whenever they are hungry.hungry.– ““whenever they are hungry” is a subordinate whenever they are hungry” is a subordinate

clause.clause.

What are conjunctions?What are conjunctions?

A conjunction joins a single word or group A conjunction joins a single word or group of words. of words.

Today, we are going to learn about Today, we are going to learn about coordinating conjunctions!coordinating conjunctions!

Coordinating ConjunctionsCoordinating Conjunctions

ForFor

And And

NorNor

ButBut

OrOr

YetYet

SoSo

FANBOY

S

FANBOYSFANBOYS

F-forF-forA-andA-andN-norN-norB-butB-butO-orO-orY-yetY-yetS-soS-so

This is an easy way to remember the This is an easy way to remember the coordinating conjunctions!coordinating conjunctions!

Coordinating conjunctions Coordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions join words or groups of Coordinating conjunctions join words or groups of words into a single sentence. words into a single sentence.

For example, take these sentences: For example, take these sentences:

They stand. They wait.They stand. They wait.

Adding a coordinating conjunction, these Adding a coordinating conjunction, these sentences can be combined to read: sentences can be combined to read:

They stand and wait.They stand and wait.

Coordinating ConjunctionsCoordinating Conjunctions

When choosing a coordinating When choosing a coordinating conjunction, you have to look at the conjunction, you have to look at the meaning of the conjunction you are meaning of the conjunction you are choosing. choosing.

For example, which coordinating For example, which coordinating conjunction would fit best in the following conjunction would fit best in the following sentence?sentence?– We planted tulips, ____ they did not grow.We planted tulips, ____ they did not grow.

We planted tulips, ___ they did not We planted tulips, ___ they did not grow.grow.

““but” or “yet” are the best choices to fill in but” or “yet” are the best choices to fill in this blankthis blank

““and” joins the ideas as if they are on the and” joins the ideas as if they are on the same level- it is not the best choicesame level- it is not the best choice

the other choices do not make sensethe other choices do not make sense

Try it!Try it!

Fill in the blank with the best choice of Fill in the blank with the best choice of coordinating conjunction: coordinating conjunction:

– The door was open, _____ no one was home.The door was open, _____ no one was home.

– Best answer: but/yetBest answer: but/yet

Try it!Try it!

Combine the following sentences using a Combine the following sentences using a coordinating conjunction:coordinating conjunction:

– I speak German. I speak Spanish.I speak German. I speak Spanish.

– Best answer: Best answer: I speak German and Spanish.I speak German and Spanish.

Coordinating ConjunctionsCoordinating Conjunctions

They should be committed to memory—They should be committed to memory—remember, FANBOYS!remember, FANBOYS!

More practice with coordinating More practice with coordinating conjunctions can be found in the conjunctions can be found in the homework.homework.

Resources:Resources:

Writer’s choice: Grammar and Writer’s choice: Grammar and composition (2009). Columbus, OH: composition (2009). Columbus, OH: McGraw Hill. McGraw Hill.