Coordinating Conjunctions
Basics on the topic Coordinating Conjunctions
Conjunctions – Introduction
Conjunctions connect groups of words, ideas, clauses, or sentences. They help you turn simple sentences into complex sentences, and make your writing more interesting. One of the most common types of conjunctions is a coordinating conjunction.
Coordinating Conjunction – Definition
What is a coordinating conjunction? A coordinating conjunction links two or more words, clauses, phrases, or sentences. These two ideas or sentences are equally important and independent.
Coordinating Conjunctions – List
There are seven coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. When someone asks you What is the coordinating conjunction? - use FANBOYS, the acronym formed from the first letters of each of the seven conjunctions.
| initial letter | coordinating conjunction |
|---|---|
| f | for |
| a | and |
| n | nor |
| b | but |
| o | or |
| y | yet |
| s | so |
Next time you are wondering Is “so” a coordinating conjunction?, or, Is “but” a coordinating conjunction?, or, Is “which” a coordinating conjunction?, you will be able to figure it out with the help of the chart above.
Coordinating Conjunctions – FANBOYS Examples
What does a coordinating conjunction do? It can be used to link words, phrases, and clauses. Let’s have a look at different ways we can use coordinating conjunctions.
First, we can use them to link different words.
Here’s how nouns, verbs, and adjectives are linked with the help of coordinating conjunctions:
- Will you sing or dance? (verbs)
- Jake will not eat peas* nor carrots. (nouns)
- The weather is cool yet enjoyable. (adjectives)
Apart from words, we can also use coordinating conjunctions to connect phrases.
For example:
- Rose saw her new ball and got excited.
- They ate an apple pie but didn’t enjoy it.
Coordinating conjunctions are also used to link two independent clauses. In this way, we can make a compound sentence using a coordinating conjunction.
Here are a couple of coordinating conjunction sentence examples:
- I don’t like apples, so I chose bananas.
- She joined the basketball team, for she is really good at sports.
Pay attention to the usage of a comma and a coordinating conjunction: when we combine two independent clauses, we use a comma before a coordinating conjunction.
Coordinating Conjunctions – Summary
Let’s review what we learned about coordinating conjunctions.
- Coordinating conjunctions are used to link two or more words, clauses, phrases, or sentences. These ideas are equally important and independent.
- There are seven coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. We can use the acronym FANBOYS to remember them.
- When we link two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction, we use a comma before a conjunction.
Now you know a lot about coordinating conjunctions! For extra practice, you can find coordinating conjunction worksheets, activities, and videos on our website. Each coordinating conjunction worksheet will help you apply things you have learned from this article!
If you want to learn more about how to make a compound sentence with a coordinating conjunction, and whether a coordinating conjunction replaces a period, check out this video on compound sentences.
Frequently Asked Questions about Coordinating Conjunctions
Transcript Coordinating Conjunctions
[Pip:] "Hey Koko, can you review this?" [Pip:] "I'm asking Pickles to meet me at the park." [loving sigh while picturing his crush] [Koko:] "This is great, but let's combine some of your ideas using conjunctions!" [title]Coordinating Conjunctions. A CONJUNCTION connects groups of words, ideas, and sentences. Conjuctions help you form complex sentences and make your writing more interesting. One type of conjunction is called a COORDINATING conjunction. To coordinate means to bring like things together. They link two or more words,(...) clauses,(...) phrases,(...) or sentences. These two linked ideas are equally important and independent, or stand-alone from one another. There are seven coordinating conjunctions: for,(...) and,(...) nor,(...) but,(...) or,(...) yet,(...), and so. We can use the acronym FANBOYS to remember them. These conjunctions can join two VERBS such as 'will you sing OR dance?'... two NOUNS, such as 'Jake will not eat peas NOR carrots'... two ADJECTIVES, such as 'the weather is cool YET enjoyable'... two PHRASES such as, 'Rose saw her new ball AND got excited'... OR two INDEPENDENT CLAUSES such as, I don't like apples, SO I chose bananas. Notice that when we join two independent clauses, a comma is used BEFORE the coordinating conjunction. Now, let's help Pip revise his letter. First, it says... I think you are really cool. You are really nice.' First, choose a conjunction that joins the two adjectives. AND shows they are equally important, so that is the conjunction we will use. Next, rewrite the sentence using the conjunction to make it ONE interesting and complex sentence. Our new sentence is, 'I think you are really cool and nice.' Let's try another. We haven't gone to the park together. We haven't hung out yet. First think: which conjunction can be used to join these two phrases? (...) Since these are negative statements, meaning they haven't done these things, we use NOR. Now, rewrite the sentences into ONE using the conjunction,. The new sentence is, 'We haven't gone to the park nor hung out yet.' Notice that we got rid of 'we haven't' at the beginning of the second sentence, so we don't sound repetitive. Next, it says: I always stop at the ice cream stand. I love ice cream. Which conjunction can be used to join these independent clauses? (...) FOR, because Pip is stating why he stops for ice cream. What is the new complex sentence? (...) I always stop at the ice cream stand, for I love ice cream', is the new sentence. Pip also wrote: Do you like chocolate ice cream? Do you like vanilla ice cream? Which conjunction can be used to join these two nouns? (...) OR, because Pip is asking Pickles to make a choice. What is the new complex sentence? (...) The new sentence is, 'Do you like chocolate or vanilla ice cream?' Notice that we only stated ice cream once and not twice, so the sentence is not repetitive. Let's help Pip with one more! It says: 'I enjoy eating sprinkles. I don't enjoy eating cones.' Which conjunction can be used to join these two verbs? (...) BUT, because it shows the contrast between what Pip likes to eat and what he doesn't. What is the new complex sentence? (...) The new sentence is, 'I enjoy eating sprinkles, but not cones.' Before we see what Pickles decided, let's summarize. Remember, (...) COORDINATING conjunctions link two or more words,(...) clauses,(...) phrases,(...) or sentences. These two linked ideas are equally important and can be independent from one another. There are seven coordinating conjunctions: for,(...) and,(...) nor,(...) but,(...) or,(...) yet,(...) and so. We can use the acronym FANBOYS to remember them.
[view of Pickles enjoying/licking ice cream cone] [view of Pip eating his ice cream looking EXTREMELY messy] [Pip:] "Would you like the cone?" [both characters both start to laugh]
Coordinating Conjunctions exercise
-
What are conjunctions and why do we use them?
HintsWhen we use conjunctions we put things together. What is another way we can say that?
Look at the sentence below. "But" is our conjunction. It connects sprinkles and cones. Does this make the sentence more complex or simple?
Look at the two sentences:
- It was a tall mountain.
- It was a tall and unusual mountain.
Solution1) Conjunctions connect groups of words, ideas, and sentences.
2) They help form complex sentences.
3) They make your writing more interesting.
-
What can a coordinating conjunction bring together?
HintsCoordinating conjunctions always join equally important, independent, or stand alone elements.
Paragraphs typically are made up of three or more sentences. Conjunctions can only join two elements. So we can eliminate that option.
There are only 4 correct options.
SolutionConjunctions link two:
- words
- clauses
- phrases
- sentences
-
How can we join sentences using coordinating conjunctions?
HintsThe conjunction is in bold.
Keep in mind that coordinating conjunctions join equal parts. That means that the sentence joins:
- independent clauses
- adjectives
- phrases
- verbs
Let's look at number one. The sentence begins: "The monkey wouldn't dance..."
Why might the monkey not want to dance? Which way can we complete the sentence that answers this question.
Solution1) The monkey wouldn't dance for she was too tired. The conjunction for joins two independent clauses:
- The monkey wouldn't dance.
- She was too tired.
- jumps
- swings
- funny
- interesting
- trapeze
- tight rope.
5) The elephant walked on stage but got spooked. The conjunction but joins two phrases:
- The elephant walked on stage.
- He got spooked.
-
Which coordinating conjunction can I use?
HintsSome of the important things to remember are how these conjunctions are used.
- And - equal importance
- Nor - negative
- So - reason
- Or - choice
- But - contrast
Keep in mind that the sentence with the conjunction should still say the same thing as the two sentences above. Make sure that with the conjunction they still hold the same meaning.
Think about the second hint and let's look at an example.
- We haven't gone to the park.
- We haven't hung out yet.
Solution1) It is hot and sunny.
"And" joins two adjectives, hot and sunny, that are equally important to describe the weather.
2) Koko doesn't like riding bicycles, so she skateboarded.
"So" joins two verbs, riding bicycles and skateboarding, that are independent clauses.
3) Pip wants to go to the park but it is raining every day.
"But" joins two phrases showing contrast between what Pip wants to do and the weather.
4) Do you want to play board games or watch a movie?
"Or" joins two activities, playing board games and watching a movie, giving a choice to the person being asked the question.
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Where are the coordinating conjunctions?
HintsDon't forget the "fanboys" acronym to help you remember the different coordinating conjunctions.
Be sure to look carefully at the sentence.
All coordinating conjunctions are either equally important, independent, or stand alone.
Separate the ideas in the sentences to check.
Lets look at an example: Jake will not eat peas nor carrots.
The coordinating conjunction nor joins peas and carrots showing the two vegetables Jake will not eat.
The coordinating conjunctions are:
- for
- and
- nor
- but
- or
- yet
- so
Solution1) Would you rather bike to school or ride the bus?
The coordinating conjunction or connects two choices of transport to school.
2) Koko doesn't like tennis nor basketball.
The coordinating conjunction nor connects two nouns tennis and basketball with a negative connotation.
3) Pip was excited, so he ran to mail his letter.
The coordinating conjunction so connects two independent clauses which describe Pip's actions.
4) I must have fruits and vegetables daily to grow stronger.
The coordinating conjunction and connects two nouns fruits and vegetables showing they are equally important.
5) Are you lazy or energetic this afternoon?
The coordinating conjunction or connects two adjectives lazy and energetic showing two feelings.
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Rewrite the two sentences using a coordinating conjunction.
HintsKeep in mind the different types of things that can be joined by conjunctions: verbs, nouns, adjectives, phrases, or independent clauses. Look at the sentences and think about what is being joined to help you select the correct conjunction.
Some of the important things to remember are how these conjunctions are used.
- And - equal importance
- Nor - negative
- For - reason
- Or - choice
- But - contrast
Solution1) Pickles didn't like chocolate nor vanilla ice cream.
"Nor" joins two nouns, chocolate and vanilla, to show two choices of ice cream flavors that Pickles feels negatively about.
2) He was busy and tired.
"And" joins two adjectives, busy and tired, to show two adjectives that describe the boy in the sentence.
3) I rarely eat ice cream, for I live far from the ice cream shop.
"For" joins two independent clauses that describe why I don't eat ice cream often because of where I live in relation to the ice cream shop.
4) Do you like roller skating or riding a bike?
"Or" joins two verbs skating and riding which gives a choice between two activities.
Well, who wouldn't love the name "FANBOYS?" It's like having your own personal superhero squad for conjunctions!
I love the name fanboys lol