This document provides an overview of coordinating conjunctions in English. It defines coordinating conjunctions as words used to link words, phrases, and sentences. The most common coordinating conjunctions in English are AND, BUT, SO, YET, and OR. The document explains how each conjunction is used and provides examples. It also discusses rules around using conjunctions to link different parts of speech. Multiple practice exercises are included to help the reader identify the appropriate conjunction to use in different sentences.

1. COORDINATING
CONJUNCTIONS
It’s how we link words, phrases and sentences.

2. WHAT ARE
COORDINATING
CONJUNCTIONS?
• They are special words that are used to
link two words, phrases or sentences.
– Mary and Peter went to Florida.
– She stood up and left the room.
– This movie was really long but I
liked it.
– She will call or she will write a
letter.
– I had a cold so I stayed home.

3. WHAT ARE SOME
CONJUNCTIONS IN
ENGLISH?
• The most common conjunctions are:
–
–
–
–
–
AND
BUT
SO
YET
OR
Let’s explore how they are used.

4. CAN I USE A
CONJUNCTION
TO LINK
ANYTHING?
As long as the two things you are linking
belong to the same grammatical group,
you may use a conjunction.
PART I
For example:
MaryandPeter are getting married.
“Mary” and “Peter” are both nouns, so
you may put them together with a
conjunction.
BUT…

5. CAN I USE A
CONJUNCTION TO
LINK ANYTHING?
PART II
Do you think this is ok?
Peter left and Mary.

6. CAN I USE A
CONJUNCTION TO
LINK ANYTHING?
PART II ½
If you said “no,” you are correct.
Peter leftandMary.
This sentence does not work because
“left” is a verb, and “Mary” is a noun.
Let’s practice that concept.

7. CAN I USE A
CONJUNCTION
TO LINK
ANYTHING?
PART III
Are these sentences good? Answer YES or
NO. Analyze your response.
1. Paul and Julia went to the movies.
2. My sister saw Luis or in the backyard.
3. She has good grades, so she will go to
college.
4. She can run fast but my brother.
5. We decided we would go to the park
but she cried.

8. AND
The conjunction AND is used to link two
words, phrases or sentences that are to be
taken together:
I love tea and chocolate.
She saw me and laughed.
Jorge and Lisa are moving to Chicago.

9. OR
The conjunction OR is used to link things
that are to be taken separately:
Do you want tea or coffee?
I will go to the party or I will read a book.
She asked Bill or John to the prom.

10. BUT
The conjunction BUT is used to introduce a
contrast between the two elements that
are linked. Note: this cannot be used to
link two nouns together.
She loves him but he is mean.
(Is someone mean expected to be lovable?)
This book was very long but interesting.
(Are long books expected to be interesting?)

11. YET
Similar to BUT, the conjunction YET is used
to express a contrast in the relationship
between one element and another.
She told my secret to everyone, yet I chose
to be her friend.
(It would be logical for me to decide not to be her
friend.)
Her date was a idiot, yet Lydia had a good
time.
(It would be logical to think Lydia had a bad time if
her date was an idiot.)

12. SO
The conjunction SO is used to express a
consequence or effect of one element on
another.
They were in love, so they got married.
(They got married as a consequence of being in love.)
Carol was annoyed, so she left the party.
(She left as a consequence of being annoyed.)

13. CONJUNCTIONS
AND PUNCTUATION
One simple rule: if you are linking TWO
SENTENCES with a conjunction, use a
comma BEFORE the conjunction.
I laughed, and I cried.
I went to the party, and I danced all night.
This rule applies ONLY if you are linking
sentences.
I laughed, and cried.

14. ARE THERE
OTHER
CONJUNCTIONS?
Only two more:
The words NOR and FOR can be
conjunctions as well.
I do not like oysters, nor do I like calamari.
(This means that I don’t like calamari either.)
She called him, for she wanted to
apologize.
(This means “because she wanted to apologize.”)

15. IS THERE AN
EASY WAY TO
REMEMBER
WHAT THE
COORDINATING
CONJUNCTIONS
ARE IN
ENGLISH?
Yes! Just remember the word FANBOYS.
For
And
Nor
But
Yet
Or
So
Easy, right?

16. PRACTICE I
Using AND or OR, link the two sentences
below to create just one sentence.
Example: I went to Florida. Jim went to
Brazil.  I went to Florida, and Jim went to
Brazil.
1. We ate pizza. We went to the movies.
2. Pia wrote a book. Liz made a movie.
3. I will work today. I will rest tomorrow.

17. PRACTICE II
Choose the coordinating conjunction that
works best in these sentences:
1. Olivia saw me, (BUT, SO) she didn’t say
hello.
2. Melanie had a good time, (AND, YET)
she told me all about it.
3. The teacher had a headache, (OR, BUT)
he came to school anyway.
4. You will do your homework, (OR, SO)
you will go out instead.
5. Both my mother (AND, BUT) my father
are 50 years old.

18. Now, choose the conjunction that you
think fits best.
PRACTICE III
1. I told him to be quiet, ___________ he
would not listen.
2. We needed a vacation, ________ we
bought tickets to go to Paris.
3. Nora was tired, __________ she made
dinner for everyone last night.
4. Terry __________ Max bought a new
house in March.
5. Stop talking, _______ you will get
detention.

19. PRACTICE IV
HOMEWORK
Make your own sentences. Write 5
sentences that use the coordinating
conjunctions we studied today. Use:
AND
OR
YET
BUT
SO
This is due TOMORROW.