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Coordinating Conjunction 1

The document discusses coordinating conjunctions, which are words that connect elements of equal grammatical type. The seven most common coordinating conjunctions are FANBOYS - for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. Coordinating conjunctions can join individual words, phrases, and independent clauses. Commas are used before coordinating conjunctions when joining independent clauses and in lists.

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21 views3 pages

Coordinating Conjunction 1

The document discusses coordinating conjunctions, which are words that connect elements of equal grammatical type. The seven most common coordinating conjunctions are FANBOYS - for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. Coordinating conjunctions can join individual words, phrases, and independent clauses. Commas are used before coordinating conjunctions when joining independent clauses and in lists.

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achraf najib
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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grammarly.

com

What is a coordinating conjunction ?


A coordinating conjunction is a word that connects two or more elements
of the same grammatical type . The word coordinating refers specifically to
bringing things together on the same level ; this is what sets coordinating
conjunctions apart from subordinating conjunctions , which join element
of unequal grammatical standing .

The element joined by coordinating conjunctions can be individual words ,


phrases , or clauses . The seven most common coordinating conjunctions
are for, and , nor ,but , or , yet , and so __ the first letters of which spell out
the memorable acronym FANBOYS .

For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So

Here are some examples of FANBOYS in sentences :

* Plenty of vegetables were ready to be picked in her


* garden , so Maria didn’t go to the farmer’s market this week.

* Do you like the taste of peaches or mangoes better ?

* Samir bikes to the park and plays soccer there almost every weekend .

Coordinating conjunctions to join single words


When a coordinating conjunction joins two or more individual words , those
words should be the same part of speech : a noun with a noun , a verb with a
verb , an adjective with an adjective , and so on .

Here are some examples , with the coordinating conjunctions in bold and
the words being connected underlined :

*Did you remember to bring pen and paper ?

* Sometimes I shower or bathe at night instead of in the morning .

* Xan found her classmates’ comments on her writing challenging yet helpful .

Coordinating conjunctions to join phrases


Coordinating conjunctions can also link phrases of the grammatical types .

In the following sentence , the coordinating conjunction and connects two


noun phrases :

* The antique desk and the modern lamp look surprisingly natural together .

Here’s a sentence in which the coordinating conjunction but connects two prepositional
phrases :

* I got to the movie before Edam but after Vera .

And in this next example , nor joins two adjectives phrases . (Note that in the
example , nor is both a coordinating conjunction and a correlative conjunction
with its partner , neither )

* The snack we ate was neither very tasty nor filling enough to tide us over till dinner .

Coordinating conjunctions to join independent clauses

An independent clause is a clause that can stand alone as a simple sentence .

When two independent clauses are logically closely related , it often makes sense
to combine them into a compound sentence with the help of a coordinating conjunction
and a comma .

* I wanted something to eat , so I looked in the fridge .


* Reading fiction is beneficial , for it can make us more empathetic .

* The host borrowed dozens of folding chairs , yet there were not enough
for the guests .

* We liked the play’s story , but we didn’t care for its staging .

Commas and coordinating conjunctions

Commas appear before coordinating conjunctions in two different circumstances :

when the coordinating conjunction joins two independent clauses to form a compound
sentence and when it joins more than two elements in a series .

In compound sentences

Most of the time , when a coordinating conjunction connects two independent


clauses to create a compound sentence , a comma appears before the conjunction .

* I haven’t been to the supermarket yet this week , but I plan to go today .

However , it’s generally considered OK to omit the comma when the two independent
clauses are short and the coordinating conjunction is and :
* I was hot and I was thirsty .

In lists
When and is used between the last two elements in a series of three or more
things , the question of whether to use a comma before it is a matter of
publishing style or individual preference . This comma is called the Oxford
or serial comma .

Both example sentences below are grammatically correct , but the first uses
the Oxford comma and the second does not .

* Let’s get ready for school , eat some breakfast , and watch television .

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