This document discusses coordinating conjunctions, which are conjunctions that join two independent clauses. It defines clauses and identifies main and subordinate clauses. It then introduces the seven coordinating conjunctions - for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so, which can be remembered with the acronym FANBOYS. Examples are provided to illustrate how coordinating conjunctions join words and groups of words into a single sentence. The document emphasizes practicing identifying the best coordinating conjunction to use in different contexts.

1. Coordinating Conjunctions
Sarah L. Beacker
Wilkes University

2. Review: Clauses
In order to recognize conjunctions, you
must understand clauses.
What is a clause?
– contain a subject and a verb
– expresses a complete thought

3. Review: Identify the clauses
A main clause has a subject and predicate
that can stand alone as a sentence.
Example:
Birds fly, and squirrels leap.
“Birds fly” is a main clause
“squirrels leap” is also a main clause.

4. Review: Identify the clauses
A subordinate clause has a subject and a
predicate, but it cannot stand alone as a
sentence.
Example: Birds eat whenever they are
hungry.
– “whenever they are hungry” is a subordinate
clause.

5. What are conjunctions?
A conjunction joins a single word or group
of words.
Today, we are going to learn about
coordinating conjunctions!

6. Coordinating Conjunctions
For
And
Nor
But
BO YS
Or
F AN
Yet
So

7. FANBOYS
F-for
A-and
N-nor
B-but
O-or
Y-yet
S-so
This is an easy way to remember the
coordinating conjunctions!

8. Coordinating conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions join words or groups of
words into a single sentence.
For example, take these sentences:
They stand. They wait.
Adding a coordinating conjunction, these
sentences can be combined to read:
They stand and wait.

9. Coordinating Conjunctions
When choosing a coordinating
conjunction, you have to look at the
meaning of the conjunction you are
choosing.
For example, which coordinating
conjunction would fit best in the following
sentence?
– We planted tulips, ____ they did not grow.

10. We planted tulips, ___ they did not
grow.
“but” or “yet” are the best choices to fill in
this blank
“and” joins the ideas as if they are on the
same level- it is not the best choice
the other choices do not make sense

11. Try it!
Fill in the blank with the best choice of
coordinating conjunction:
– The door was open, _____ no one was home.
– Best answer: but/yet

12. Try it!
Combine the following sentences using a
coordinating conjunction:
– I speak German. I speak Spanish.
– Best answer:
I speak German and Spanish.

13. Coordinating Conjunctions
They should be committed to memory—
remember, FANBOYS!
More practice with coordinating
conjunctions can be found in the
homework.

14. Resources:
Writer’s choice: Grammar and
composition (2009). Columbus, OH:
McGraw Hill.