This document discusses enhancing sentences through the use of conjunctions. It explains that simple sentences can be enhanced with additional descriptive words, phrases, and conjunctions to connect ideas. Conjunctions like FANBOYS are coordinating conjunctions that join two independent clauses, while subordinating conjunctions connect one main clause to a secondary dependent clause. The document provides examples and exercises to help readers understand how to use conjunctions to write more complex and meaningful sentences.

1. Writing 101
Conjunctions

2. Learning Objectives

To learn about the use of conjunctions.

To understand how to enhance sentences using
conjunctions.

3. Introduction

You have learnt that a simple sentence consists
of a Noun and a Verb.
1) John wept.
2) Alex cried.

A simple sentence signals a dramatic moment
in your story – something big had happened or
was about to happen.

4. Simple Sentence

The sentences that follow a simple sentence
will give more information about the dramatic
moment in your story.
1) John wept. He was totally heartbroken to hear
about his good friend's passing.
2) Alex laughed. He had struck gold again.

How many simple sentences do you think you
can write in your stories? Clue: think about the
number of dramatic moments in your story –
a lot or a few?

5. Enhancing Sentences

You have learnt that sentences can be enhanced
with additional parts of speech in the form of
Adjectives and Adverbs.
1) Poor John wept. (adjective)
2) Alex laughed non-stop. (adverb)

It gives the sentence more meaning.

What other adjectives and adverbs can you
think of?

6. Enhancing Sentences

You have learnt that sentences can be enhanced
with phrases too.
1) Poor little John the orphan wept. (adjectival
and noun phrase)
2) Alex laughed out loud in the classroom. (verb
and adverbial phrase)

A phrase gives a sentence more meaning. Like
a single-word descriptive word, it enhances it.

7. Connecting Sentences

Often, even with the help of descriptive words
and phrases, a single sentence is insufficient.

We use conjunctions to connect two sentences
together.

They are called Coordinating Conjunctions
and Subordinating Conjunctions.

8. Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions connect two equally
important or independent clauses and are
represented by FANBOYS.

Q: Why are they used so often?

9. Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions connect two
different and equally important ideas.
1) Poor little John the orphan wept yet he was
determined to live a great life.
2) Alex laughed out loud in the classroom but he
was not punished for his action.

Q: Which of the conjunction in FANBOYS do
you use most often?

10. Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating means 'following'. Subordinating
conjunctions connect two sentences but one
follows the other.

This means one sentence carries the main idea
and the other, a secondary idea.
1) Poor little John the orphan wept because he
was sad.
2) Alex laughed out loud in the classroom
although the teacher asked him not to.

Q: Can you tell which is the main idea?

11. Learning Activity

With either coordinating or subordinating
conjunctions, complete the following sentences.
1) He walked off..
2) I laughed out loud...
3) Alex did not want to lose his toy gun...
4) He ran for shelter...

Remember to include descriptive words and/or
phrases in your sentences too.

12. Learning Activity Answers
Some suggested answers:
1) He walked off and he was never seen again.
2) I laughed out loud but in my heart, I was sad.
3) Alex did not want to lose his toy gun because it
was a birthday gift from his grandmother.
4) He ran for shelter since it was about to rain.

13. Discussion

Why do we need to enhance simple sentences?

What do we use to enhance simple sentences?

What do we do when a single sentence is not
enough to say what we want to say?

14. In Summary

A simple sentence with only a noun and verb is
too simple to show any meaning.

We use descriptive words and phrases to
enhance simple sentences.

When more information is needed, we use
subordinating and coordinating conjunctions to
connect two sentences