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Coordinating conjunctions Maria studied hard for the test. Maria didn’t pass the test. Maria is going to study harder for the next test.

Connecting ideas in the text

What are coordinating conjunctions?  Coordinating conjunctions are words which connect phrases, sentences, or clauses of equal rank.  They connect phrases, sentences, or clauses which do not depend on each other to make sense.  They connect complete thoughts in a text.

John went to school. Mariana went to school. Michael went to school. John, Mariana, AND Michael went to school. Sebastian worked very hard today. Sebastian is very tired now. Sebastian worked very hard today, SO he is very tired now. Francis studied hard for the exam. Francis failed. Francis studied hard for the exam, BUT he failed.

FANBOYS  The coordinating conjunctions are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.  The acronym FANBOYS makes it easier to remember them.  Notice that all the sentences above can stand alone. So, they don’t need the others to make sense. They are complete thoughts.

FANBOYS For: reason; And: addition; Nor: negative alternatives; But: opposition, contrast; Or: affirmative alternatives; Yet: opposition, contrast; So: result.

What are subordinating conjunctions?  Subordinating conjunctions are linking words which connect one dependent clause to an independent clause.  It always comes in the beginning of a dependent (subordinate) clause. A subordinate clause cannot make sense on its own.

 Although it was raining.  While I was sleeping.  When the class started.  After the test was finished.  Marcos went jogging.  She was enjoying the local night life.  Phelix was still in the hallway.  Everybody was confident.

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