1. Conjunctions so much more than FANBOYS
English 12—Grammar Quickies

2. Conjunction: a conjunction connects individual words or groups of words. There are three types of conjunctions.
Coordiating, Correlative, and Subordinating
Remember: FANBOYS is a mnemonic to help you remember your coordinating conjunctions, but that is just the beginning.
Never call conjunctions FANBOYS—they will laugh at you in college.
What is a conjunction?

3. Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating Conjunctions: these connect a word, phrase, or clause to another word, phrase, or clause.
Examples: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
Notice the FANBOYS in there?
Usage Examples:
I want to go to the mall, and I want to go to the coast.
Mike wanted to see the movie, so he asked his mom for some money.
Notice the comma usage?
Coordinating Conjunctions

4. Correlative Conjunction
Correlative Conjunction: these are conjunctions used in pairs.
Examples: (either, or); (neither, nor); (not only, but also); (both, and); (whether, or); (as, so)
Usage Examples:
Either you finish your homework, or you’ll be grounded!
Whether it takes you all day, or it takes you five minutes, you need to finish your work.
Notice the comma usage?
Correlative Conjunction

5. Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating Conjunction: these are words or groups of words that connect two clauses that are not equally important. In short, a subordinating conjunction connects a dependent clause to an independent clause.
Examples: after, although, as, because, in order that, since, so, that, though, unless, until, when, where, whereas, while
Usage Examples:
More people will buy smaller cars when they realize we’re nearly out of oil.
I need to get this work done while I have time.
Notice the lack of comma usage? Be careful…sometimes you will need one.
Subordinating Conjunctions

6. Practice Time Let’s figure this out together
Take two minutes to read over these sentences and figure out the correct conjunction for each.
When I saw Jasmine, her eyes were red ( ) she had been crying.
The gods fought in the heavens, ( ) the mortals below cowered in fear and confusion.
He is ( ) intelligent, ( ) well-liked.
I will ( ) go for a hike ( ) stay home and listen to music.
I hate to waste gas, ( ) it is very expensive these days.
Practice Time Let’s figure this out together