Conjunctions
What are conjunctions?
• These important connecting words are found throughout
English and many other languages. There are three types of
conjunctions.
Coordinating Subordinate Correlative
conjunctions Conjunction conjunctions
What are conjunctions?
• Words that connect other words or groups
of words in a sentence are called
conjunctions.
• Conjunctions can connect two subjects, two
predicates, or two sentences.
1. Gulls and puffins are sea birds.
2. They swim and dive well.
3. Gulls soar, and puffins swim gracefully.
Conjunctions continued
• Conjunctions can also connect other words in a sentence.
1. Sam walked quickly but quietly.
2. He looked on the cliff and near the shore.
3. He did not see any puffins or gulls.
Coordinating Conjunctions (Hints)
• You can remember F.A.N.B.O.Y.S. in order to identify the
conjunctions in a sentence.
• F = For
• A = And
• N = Nor
• B = But
• O = Or
• Y = Yet
• S = So
NOTE: Be careful not to mistake a preposition for a conjunction!
Coordinating Conjunctions (Hints)
• You can remember F.A.N.B.O.Y.S. in order to identify the
conjunctions in a sentence.
• F = For (formal speaking and can be substituted with because)
• A = And
• N = Nor
• B = But
• O = Or
• Y = Yet (formal speaking and can be substituted with but)
• S = So
NOTE: Be careful not to mistake a preposition for a conjunction!
Common Conjunctions
CONJUNCTION USE EXAMPLE
and Joins together Swans and penguins swim.
An addition
but Shows contrast Swans live on ponds, but penguins
do not.
or Shows positive Penguins slide or waddle.
choice
Common Conjunctions
CONJUNCTION USE EXAMPLE
For To show reason I wore my blue dress for everyone
was dressing up.
so Shows results I wanted to stay home, so I told
my mom I was sick.
Nor Shows negative Neither penguins nor ostriches
choice can fly.
Yet Shows contrast Brian hurried, yet time was
running out.
Identify the conjunction in each of these
sentences.
1. Parrots live in wild places or in zoos.
2. Their beaks and feet are good for climbing.
3. Tame parrots are friendly and loyal to their
owners.
4. Most parrots live in jungles, but some live in
grasslands.
5. They eat seeds and drink at water holes.
Subordinating Conjunctions
• Sometimes the ideas in two separate sentences are related.
You combine these sentences by using a special conjunction
called a subordinating conjunction. The subordinating
conjunction will help show the relationship between the
two sentences.
Subordinating Conjunctions
• Also known as AAAWWUBBIS words
• A: After
• A: Although
• A: As
• W: When
• W: While
• U: Until
• B: Because
• B: Before
• I: If
• S: Since
Subordinating Conjunctions
• Also known as AAAWWUBBIS words
• If the sentence begins with a subordinating conjunction,
you must have a comma after the clause.
• However, when the subordinating conjunctions is in the
middle of the sentence, there is no comma.
Subordinating Conjunction
CONJUNCTION USE EXAMPLE
after following After we eat, we will go watch a movie.
although Even I washed the clothes although I forgot to
though put them in the dryer.
as In As we headed out the door, the phone
comparison rang.
when At that time I will meet you by the fountain when I
get to the mall.
while At the same While we ate dinner, the band played.
time
Subordinating Conjunction
CONJUNCTION USE EXAMPLE
Until To the time when Until last night, we really needed rain.
Because For a reason We were late because we had a flat tire.
Before Earlier Before you leave, please make sure to
turn off the light.
if Something that Grandma will take us to the park if we
depends on something help her rake the yard.
else to occur first
Since For a reason during the Since you came to town, I
period following the time always have a friend.
Identify the conjunction in each of
these sentences
1. We are practicing every afternoon because
our marching band is playing in the Rose
City Parade.
2. Although we are all learning to march, We
all can play our instruments well.
3. The woodwind section marched and played
while everyone clapped and whistled.
4. As the whole band began to play, the
crowd went crazy!
Correlative Conjunctions
• Pairs of conjunctions that work together to connect ideas.
CONJUNCTION EXAMPLE
both/and Both apples and oranges are grown on trees
either/or Either my mom or my dad will pick me up after
the party.
neither/nor Neither my sister nor my brother eat broccoli.
Identify the conjunctions in each of these
sentences.
1. I want either the cheesecake or the
frozen hot chocolate.
2. Both Jon and Lauren enjoyed the movie.
3. Neither Peter nor Andrew has passed
the test.
