Coordinating Conjunctions

Lesson 1 Coordinating Conjunctions

 

 Essential Question

How do we talk about more than one thing at a time?

Grammar in the World

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What Do I Know?

Use the interactive exercise below to see how much you already know about coordinating conjunctions:

fall scene
Stephens Lake Park in Columbia, Missouri in the fall
photo by Stephanie Walter, 2019  

Building Blocks

Grammar is a complex system and structure of language. Mizzou Academy Grammar Lab spotlights one skill (or block) at a time. It is also helpful to see how each skill works together with other, related blocks to build the language structure as a whole. You may find the following resource topics helpful as context for this lesson:

 

Learn About Coordinating Conjunctions

Conjunctions are the part of speech that connect thoughts and ideas in a sentence. There are four basic kinds of conjunctions: coordinating, correlative, subordinating, and conjunctive adverbs.

Coordinating conjunctions join two or more words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence:

 

You can remember coordinating conjunctions by this acronym:

FANBOYS

Each coordinating conjunction has a specific purpose that helps you understand the meaning of a sentence.

  fanboy chart
image by Mizzou Academy
Here are some tips to use coordinating conjunctions correctly:
  1. It is okay to begin a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. As long as you avoid sentence fragments and use conjunctions sparingly at the beginning of sentences, conjunctions can add punch and interest to your writing.
      • It is important to avoid sentence fragments when writing. And it is okay to use conjunctions at the beginning of some sentences for emphasis!
      • He caught neither trout nor catfish after a whole day of fishing. But he was thrilled when he caught a largemouth bass.
  1. Some conjunctions also work as other parts of speech.

for 

Conjunction: I packed extra clothes, for I wanted to stay warm while camping.

Preposition: I packed extra clothes for the camping trip.

so 

Conjunction: The weekend was over, so we drove home. 

Adverb: The weekend was so fun that we couldn’t wait to go camping again. 

Adjective: Say it isn't so (i.e. true)!

Pronoun: If you have pictures to share, please do so soon! 

yet

Conjunction: She was tired yet refreshed after sleeping in the tent. 

Adverb: She wasn’t ready for breakfast yet. 

 

  1. Don’t use commas with only one coordinating conjunction between words or phrases.
Incorrect

We were full, and happy after eating all those hot dogs. 
Correct

We were full and happy after eating all those hot dogs. 

 

Do I Get It?

Take this short quiz to see what you have learned about coordinating conjunctions.