Coordinating conjunctions connect sentences and express the relationship between them.
This lesson on coordinating conjunctions in English has more information. (Opens new tab)
In this lesson, we will learn and practice how to use “for” and “yet.” We will also learn the difference between “yet” and “but.”
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“For” — Showing the Reason
When you use the coordinating conjunction “for" to combine two sentences or ideas, you show that the second sentence is the reason for the first. The second sentence is an explanation. For example, examine the following ideas:
Mark isn’t going to the party.
He must study for a test.
You can put both ideas together into one sentence using “for.”
Mark isn’t going to the party, for he must study for a test.
Examples using “for”
Susanne is going to take a course in Paris this summer, for she wants to learn French.
You must review this lesson again, for your test score is very low.
Germans travel to Span in the winter, for the weather is warm there.
”Yet” — Showing a Contrast
When you use the coordinating conjunction “yet” to combine two sentences or ideas, you show that the second sentence is the reason for the first. You show that the second sentence is a surprise or something that you would not expect. For example, examine the following ideas:
Jack lives in France.
Jack does not speak any French.
Jack lives in France, so you expect that he speaks French. It is surprising that he does not speak it. You can combine these sentences in
Jack lives in France, yet he does not speak any French.
Examples using “yet”
Charles has a lot of money, yet he lives in a small apartment.
These students study very hard every day, yet they are not doing very well in the course.
Paul says he is vegan, yet I see him eating cheese all the time.
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Difference between ”yet,” “and yet," and “but”
”Yet” and “but” have very similar meanings. Especially in everyday, conversational English, you would probably say,
Jack lives in France, but he does not speak any French.
“Yet” shows more of a surprise, and it is often used in formal English. When people use it in everyday English, they often say “and yet" as in,
Jack lives in France, and yet he does not speak any French.
Compare
They never practice English, but they speak very well.
(that is unexpected)
They never practice English, yet they speak very well.
(that is unexpected and surprising)
They never practice English, and yet they speak very well.
(that is unexpected and surprising)
Punctuation: When to Use Commas
Rule 1. Use a comma between complete sentences
When the sentences before and after the coordinating conjunction are complete sentences, use a comma between them. (A complete sentence has a subject and a verb.)
For example, each sentence in the following examples has a subject and a verb, so you need a comma to separate them:
The children must go to sleep, for they have school tomorrow.
John is vegan, yet he doesn’t like broccoli.
Rule 2. Do not use a comma before an incomplete sentence
Sometimes both sentences use the same subject, so you can make it shorter by deleting the subject in the second sentence when you use a coordinating conjunction.
Usually, both sentences are complete sentences when using “for” or “yet.” When using “but,” sometimes the second sentence may lose the subject because it is the same as the subject in the first sentence.
We can read Spanish, yet we can’t speak it. (with a comma)
We can read yet can’t speak Spanish. (without a comma)
We can read Spanish, but we can’t speak it. (with a comma)
We can read Spanishbut can’t speak it. (without a comma)
Practice
Practice 1. Practice using “for,” “yet,” and “but.”
Practice 2. Practice combining sentences using “for,” “yet,” and “but.”
Related Lessons
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