Coordinating Conjunctions in English | (A-Level, Basic) Page 1
About Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions connect ideas or sentences. At the same time, they express the relationship between the ideas.
You can express these two ideas in separate sentences:
John likes watching TV.
Sandra likes reading.
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You can also combine or link these ideas using the coordinating conjunction “and” to show that one idea is added to the second, that is, the ideas are simply put together:
John likes watching TV, and Sandra likes reading.
The above sentence is longer, so you do not have to keep saying everything in very short, simple sentences all the time.
Expressing Other Relationships (FANBOYS)
In English, the coordinating conjunctions are “for,” “and,” “nor,” “but,” “or,” “yet,” and “so.” To help you remember, think of the first letter of each conjunction. They spell FANBOYS.
Examples using coordinating conjunctions
and
“And” shows the ideas are added together (like a list).
Janice goes to Chicago, and visits her friends there every year.
You must wake up early tomorrow, for the exam starts at 8 a.m.
but
“But” shows a contrast between the ideas.
Patricia lives in Italy, but she does not speak Italian.
Mr. Smith is a good teacher, but he assigns a lot of work every week.
for
”For” shows a reason or explanation. This is usually used in formal or written English.
He cannot buy a house, for he does not have enough money.
You must wake up early tomorrow, for the exam starts at 8 a.m.
so
”So” shows a result. The ideas are a cause and an effect.
I don’t have any money, so I can’t go out to eat every day.
You must wake up early tomorrow, for the exam starts at 8 a.m.
Related Lessons and Practice
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Lesson 1. Learn and practice how to use the coordinating conjunctions “and,” “but,” “so,” “or,” and “or else.”
Lesson 2. Learn and practice how to use the coordinating conjunctions“for” and “yet” (compared to “but”)
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“What should I learn next?”
Lesson 1. Learn and practice “and,” “but,” “so,” “or,” and “or else.”
Lesson 2. Learn and practice “for” and “yet” (compared to “but”)
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