Coordinating Conjunctions

A coordinating conjunction, also called a coordinator, links parts of a sentence with the

same status. This could be two independent (main) clauses, two noun phrases, adjectives, adverbials etc of equal importance.

They include: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, There's a mnemonic for remembering them:

FANBOYS.

• For example:-• It was cold. I wore a coat.

Both sentences are valid on their own, but they can be written as, "It was cold, so I wore a coat."

• I attended the meeting. + My friend attended the meeting. = My friend and I attended the meeting.

• The three most often used coordinating conjunctions are and, or, and but.

The coordinating conjunction and usually expresses addition or

combination.

• For example:-• Poetria has a dog and Karen has two cats.• The coordinating conjunction but expresses a

contrast.• We were tired but happy.

The coordinating conjunction or expresses choice.

• For example:-• Would you like tea or coffee?

There are two negative coordinating conjunctions: neither and nor.

• For example:-• She spoke neither German nor French. ("nor"

must always be part of the "neither ... nor" construction).

• !Note - nor, for, and so can only join independent clauses.

Subordinating Conjunctions• A subordinating conjunction, also called a

subordinator, joins a dependent / subordinate clause to a main verb. They are used to show any relationship between them and they turn the clause into something that is dependant on the rest of the sentence for its meaning.

• For example:-• Because it was snowing ... makes no sense on its

own.We went skiing, because it was snowing. Aha!

• Be warned, there are a lot of them.

Subordinating conjunctions include: after, although, because, before, if, in case, so that, therefore, unless, when,

while ...• For example:• Before you came here, you thought you

understood English grammar.We left the party when the police arrived.

• !Note - The subordinate clause sometimes comes at the beginning of a sentence.