Watch this video from “School House Rock” about Coordinating Conjunctions!!!

Conjunction Junction (e-mail the academic learning center if this link no longer works!)

Punctuation Rules

• A comma is used when a coordinating conjunction is used to combine two independent clauses.

In Addition to

And

This semester I chose to go to school and to work.

+

Contrast or Opposition

But/Yet

I go to school full time, but I do not work too many hours at my job.

I am taking enough units to keep me on track, yet I wish I were able to work more so I could earn more money.

Indicates Choice

Or

We have enough money in our savings to spend a week in Hawaii or Florida.

Cause/ Result Relationship

So/ And so

I cannot make up my mind, so I think I will just save my money.

He ate too much pizza, and so now he has a stomach ache

Result/Cause Relationship

For

Notice: For is the opposite of so/and so. So/and so is a cause/ result coordinator

whereas for is a result/cause coordinator. Let us look at an example used for so/and so to show this relationship.

I cannot make up my mind, so I think I will just save my money.

I will just save my money, for I cannot make up my mind.

Now you try this one: She ate too much pizza, and so now she has a stomach ache. She has a stomach ache, for she ate too much pizza.

Additions of Negatives

Nor

Jessie did not like living in an apartment complex, nor did he like living in San Diego.

or

ndor

utreto

Coordinating Conjunctions Memory Trick

WRITE IT DOWN!!!

What is logical relationship for the coordinators in these

sentences?1. I tried my best to bake a cake for my grandfather’s

birthday, but it did not turn out right. (but-- contrast or opposition)

2. I chose to not bring a desert anyway, for if I do there is a good chance it will be ruined by the time we get to Grandpa’s house.

(for-- result/cause)3. We have to drive up a mountain and through a lot of

trees to find my Grandpa’s new house. (and– in addition to)

What is logical relationship for the coordinators in these

sentences?4. We did not know where we were going, nor

could we find a map anywhere in our car. (nor– addition of negative)

5. We did not have a map in our car, but they did have one at the gas station we stopped at.

(but– contrast or opposition)6. I could not decide if I wanted to buy a bag

of sunflower seeds or a roll of Life Savers for the road trip.

(or– indicates choice)

What is logical relationship for the coordinators in these

sentences?7. The sunflower seeds sound really good, yet

the Life Savers are cheaper and less messy. (yet– contrast or opposition)

8. I could not decide, so I bought the gummy bears instead.

(so– cause/ result)9. I had to throw the gummy bears away, for I

accidentally left them in my car while we went into a restaurant and they melted.

(for– result/ cause)

Combine These Sentences Using Coordinators

1. There are many things that I want to do in life. I realize that I have a lot of important things that I must take care of first before I work on learning how to jump out of an airplane.

2. I cannot afford to buy that new television set. I cannot afford to buy that new radio.

3. I volunteered to take both of the kids to the zoo. I volunteered to pay for their tickets.

Combine These Sentences Using Coordinators

1. There are many things that I want to do in life, yet I realize that I have a lot of important things that I must take care of first before I work on learning how to jump out of an airplane.

2. I cannot afford to buy that new television set, nor I cannot afford to buy that new radio.

3. I volunteered to take both of the kids to the zoo, and I volunteered to pay for their tickets.

Combine These Sentences Using Coordinators

4. He was sent to bed early. My son was misbehaving at the dinner table.

5. My friend said she do not have enough time to complete all their homework. She had enough time to talk to her boyfriend all night last night.

6.You could wait for me to get off of work and have lunch with me. You can eat lunch now if you would like.

Combine These Sentences Using Coordinators

4. He was sent to bed early, for My son was misbehaving at the dinner table.

5. My friend said she do not have enough time to complete all their homework, yet She had enough time to talk to her boyfriend all night last night.

6.You could wait for me to get off of work and have lunch with me, or You can eat lunch now if you would like.

or

ndor

utreto

Try creating your own sentences using one of each of these coordinators for a little extra practice!!!

Let’s see if you have memorized all of the coordinators!

Resources• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/606/01/

Tutorial Center

Evaluation

Please let us know if none of the links are working on this power point, or if there are any mistakes that need to be fixed!

Thank you,English Tutors