Grammar #3 Notes on Coordinating Conjunctions AP English Language and Composition

Why do I have to do this? MMany of you had essays that were FULL of conjunction errors—these make your essays confusing to read. SStandard: WOC 1.1 Demonstrate control of grammar, diction, and paragraph and sentence structure and an understanding of English usage. EESLR: Reflective Communicators OObjective: Write your essays using proper punctuation for compound and complex sentences.

Remember the Coordinating Conjunctions Remember FANBOYS: FF= for AA=and NN=nor BB=but OO=or YY=yet SS=so

“And” joins two similar ideas together.  To suggest that one idea is chronologically sequential to another:  “Adrienne sent in her applications, and she waited by the phone for a response."  To suggest that one idea is the result of another:  "Willie heard the weather report, and he promptly boarded up his house."  To suggest an element of surprise (sometimes replaced by yet in this usage):  "Hartford is a rich city, and he suffers from many symptoms of urban blight."  To suggest that one clause is dependent upon another, conditionally (usually the first clause is an imperative):  "Use your credit cards frequently, and you'll soon find yourself deep in debt."  To suggest a kind of "comment" on the first clause:  "Charlie became addicted to gambling, and that surprised no one who knew him."

“But” joins two contrasting ideas.  To suggest a contrast that is unexpected in light of the first clause:  Joey lost a fortune in the stock market, but he still seems able to live quite comfortably.  To suggest in an affirmative sense what the first part of the sentence implied in a negative way (sometimes replaced by on the contrary):  The club never invested foolishly, but it used the services of a sage investment counselor.  To suggest an exception:  We all wanted to go to In-n-Out, Lauren insisted on Taco Bell.

“Or” shows two alternative ideas.  To suggest that only one possibility can be realized, excluding one or the other:  You can study hard for this exam, or you can fail.  To suggest the inclusive combination of alternatives:  We can broil chicken on the grill tonight, or we can just eat leftovers.  To suggest a refinement of the first clause:  Smith College is the premier all-women's college in the country, or so it seems to most Smith College alumnae.  To suggest a restatement or "correction" of the first part of the sentence:  There are no rattlesnakes in this canyon, or so our guide tells us.

The Simpler Definitions  So- shows that the second idea is the result of the first idea:  We forgot to close the windows, so the house was really hot that evening.  Yet-functions to contrast ideas like “but” with an element of distinction in it’s clause:  It was raining outside, yet they continued to play golf.  Nor-joins two negative alternatives:  That is not what I meant to say, nor should you interpret my statement as an admission of guilt.  For-shows the reason for the preceding clause (and considered very literary, snobbish, formal and/or “highfalutin”- use sparingly!):  Most of the visitors were happy just sitting around in the shade, for it had been a long, dusty journey on the train.

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