Conjunctions

What is a conjunction? In grammar, a conjunction is a word that joins (connects) two or more equal/similar things It can join two nouns, two verbs, two adjectives, two sentences, etc.

Try finding the conjunction Which word is joining two things in these sentences? My brother and my mother went to Argentina last year. Did you see the movie or read the book? She liked the movie, but she didn’t like the book. And is joining two nouns Or is joining two verbs But is joining two sentences

Our focus… Today, we’re focusing on how to join two sentences with a conjunction

One type of conjunction: coordinating conjunctions These are very common They are For, And, Nor, Or, But, Yet, Or, So They spell FANBOYS (to help you remember them). You MUST memorize these We always put a comma , before these when they join two sentences (not when they join two other things)

How to join sentences with coordinating conjunctions

What the coordinating conjunctions mean: For=because And=two equal sentences that go together Nor=same as or, but negative But=two opposite or opposing things Or=two options; a choice Yet=But So=shows an effect

Which coordinating conjunction makes sense? She has no money, ____ she couldn’t buy anything. She went to the doctor, ____ he didn’t help her. The students will do this, ____ the teachers will help them. You can go to the movies, ___ you can stay home. so But,yet and or

Something to remember You only need one conjunction to join two sentences She needed help, and so I helped her. (we don’t need and & so) The remote didn’t work, but yet we went on without it. (we don’t need but & yet)

Another kind of conjunction: subordinating conjunctions These are also used to join sentences We do NOT use commas before these They show a more specific relationship, like when or how

Subordinating conjunctions These are SOME of them. They can go in the middle or at the beginning of the joined sentence after although as as soon as because before even if even though if in case now that   once since the first time though unless until when  whenever while

Examples: can you see how the conjunction joins two sentences? While I sleep, my parents work. She goes to school because she has to. Unless you give me a good excuse, you will be marked tardy. If your cousin wants to go, he needs an invitation. You’re my friend even though you annoy me sometimes.

A few last rules about conjunctions 1. Again, only 1 conjunction per sentence. That means none of this: Even though she hates him, but she hangs out with him Because she likes him, so she hangs out with him You must choose one conjunction! 2. Put a comma only before the FANBOYS conjunctions 3. Two sentences cannot be put together by a comma only (like in Chinese. You must use a conjunction 4. THEN is NOT a conjunction

Practice time! Fill in the blank with a conjunction that makes sense

When/after _______ she get home at night, she goes to bed.

but We have different opinions, _______ we can still be friends.

When/while Did you go through my closet _____ I was sleeping?

NONE (we already have “so”) ______ she likes animals, so she wants to be an animal doctor.

NONE (we already have “although”) Although she likes helping people, ______ she doesn’t want to be a doctor.

Although, even though, though ______ she has many friends, she still feels lonely sometimes.

Because Your parents buy things for you _____ they love you.

since I have known how to read _____ I was four years old.

or You can take your punishment now, ____ you can take it later.

If _____ you don’t take your punishment now, you will take it later.