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1. LW1.1 Subordinators, Coordinators
and Transitions
Lesson 1/1
I don’t like coffee or tea.
ESL Lesson Plan

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3. Independent and dependent clauses
What is the difference between an independent and a
dependent clause?
I was studying.
It is cold.
She lives in New York.
We don’t know the answer.
An independent clause contains a subject and verb and it is
a complete thought. se?
An independent
clause is a
sentence.

4. Dependent clauses
While I was studying…
…because it is cold.
If she lives in New York…
At the time I thought…
…as it was very hot.
A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb, but is not
a complete thought.
How can we make a dependent
clause into a full sentence?
A dependent
clause is not a
sentence.

5. Independent clauses
While I was studying my mother cooked dinner.
She is wearing a coat because it is cold.
If she lives in New York, she must like big cities.
As long as we leave now, I’ll come to the café with you.
I turned on the fan because it was very hot.
We need an independent clause to make these into
complete sentences.
Independent clause
Dependent clause

6. Identifying clauses
She brushed her teeth before she went to bed.
Although the interview went well, he didn’t get the job.
He is tired because he didn’t sleep much last night.
Bring an umbrella in case it rains.
They didn’t say anything until they arrived home.
Can you separate each sentence into the dependent clause
and the independent clause?

7. Subordinators
Dependent clauses begin with subordinators.
If I won the lottery, I would buy a new house.
A subordinator is a word or phrase such as: before,
because, although, if, in case, while…
If the subordinator is at the beginning of
the sentence, there is always a comma
after the dependent clause.
I would buy a new house if I won the lottery.
If the subordinator is in the middle
of the sentence, no comma is
needed.

8. Subordinator structure
Don’t forget to call me when you arrive.
Although it will be hot tomorrow it’s going to rain.
I won’t forgive him unless he apologizes.
Although he didn’t study he received the highest score in the
class.
Don’t stop until you’re finished.
Find the subordinator and add a comma to the sentence,
if necessary.
Which sentences need a
comma?

9. Coordinators
Coordinators are used to connect elements in a sentence.
They usually connect two independent clauses.
The coordinators
in English are…
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
We can remember the
mnemonic FANBOYS.
I love to eat, and he does too.
I love to eat, but I hate to cook.

10. Coordinator structure
When a coordinator connects two independent clauses,
place a comma before the coordinator.
I love to eat, but I hate to cook.
Complete
sentence
Complete
sentence
Coordinator
When a coordinator connects two phrases or words,
do not use a comma.
I went to the supermarket and bought milk.

11. And, or and but
She cooked dinner, and she washed the dishes.
She cooked dinner and washed the dishes.
And is used to show addition or combination.
The three most common coordinators are and, or and but.

12. But
She applied, but she wasn’t accepted into the university.
The coordinator but expresses contrast.
Complete these sentences in your own words.
1. She exercises every day, but _________.
2. He studied hard, but _________.
3. _________, but her brother doesn’t.

13. Yet and but can often
be used
interchangeably.
Yet
He has been working on the project all week, yet he hasn’t
finished.
I ate two hours ago, yet I still feel hungry.
She likes that author, yet she didn’t enjoy his recent book.
He has been working on the project all week, but he hasn’t
finished.
Yet is used to show an unexpected result.

14. Or
The coordinator or expresses choice.
Would you like coffee or tea?
Did you see Mehmet or Aysha?
Would you like either coffee or tea?
I like neither football nor basketball. (I don’t like football,
and I don’t like basketball.)
The coordinator or is
often used with the
word either.
The coordinator nor
is often used with the
word neither.

15. So
So is used to show the result of an action.
She didn’t like her job, so she quit.
No-one understood the question, so I repeated it.
Match the beginning of the sentence with the end.
He ate fast food every day,
He is very talented,
It’s raining outside,
He didn’t listen to his parents,
…so let’s stay in.
…so he gained weight.
…so he was punished.
…so he will find a job easily.

16. For
For is used to show reason. This is very formal.
She quit her job, for she hated her boss.
He called the office, for he knew he would be late to the
meeting.
For is more often
used as a
preposition.
I did it for you.
There’s a phone call for you.
He fought for his life.
Here, for means
because, or for the
following reason.

17. Practice with coordinators
4. She was not tall. She was not thin.
5. She might be at the mall. She might be at the supermarket.
6. I like Thai food. I like Mexican food.
7. She lost her glasses. She couldn’t see.
8. Alex doesn’t like sugar. It makes him feel unwell.
9. Zoe studied hard. She failed the exam.
Combine the sentences using a coordinator
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

18. What about these?
10. Should I get the blue dress? Should I get the red dress?
11. He turned off the light. He went to bed.
12. She invested a lot of money in the business. The business failed.
13. She bought a new plant. Her old plant was dead.
14. I slept seven hours last night. I feel tired this morning.
15. I don’t like to eat garlic. I don’t like to eat onions.
Combine the sentences using a coordinator
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

19. Transitions
Transitions, unlike coordinators and subordinators, connect
two separate sentences.
He told the truth. However, nobody believed him.
She is going to arrive late. Therefore, we’ll cancel the meeting.
Vegetables are healthy. For example, broccoli contains calcium.
He’s unpleasant. Moreover, he actually wants to be rude.
Transitions include words and phrases such as: however,
moreover, for example, therefore…

20. Practice with transitions
16. I locked my keys inside the car. ______, I was late for work.
17. We rushed to get to the airport on time. ______, the flight was
delayed.
18. He cooked a delicious dinner. ______, his wife prepared
chocolate cake for dessert.
Can you complete each sentence with the correct transition
word?
however consequently in addition

21. Practice with transitions
19. He received a raise at work. _____, he’s still not happy.
20. She lied to her parents. _____, she was punished.
21. He is very successful. _____, he was promoted last year.
22. She’s a great actor and singer. _____, she can dance.
23. They didn’t listen. _____, they couldn’t do their homework.
24. You need to wear a jacket. _____, please wear a tie.
25. I’ll be late. _____, please don’t order before I arrive.
however in addition therefore
for example