What is a coordinating conjunction?
Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases or sentences of the same importance.
There are seven coordinating conjunctions. The acronym FANBOYS can be used to help you remember them.
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
What are coordinating conjunctions?
Learn about coordinating conjunctions as Julius Caesar prepares his legion to invade the British Isles. Then, put your knowledge to the test in the quiz!
How to use coordinating conjunctions
You use coordinating conjunctions to connect ideas that are equally important. They can join words, phrases, or sentences.
Coordinating conjunctions can be used to connect words:
The Roman soldiers carried a sword or a spear.
They can be used to connect phrases:
They marched through the forest and across the river.
They can be used to connect sentences:
The Romans built roads, but they also faced difficult terrain.
When joining two full sentences, a comma is sometimes used before the conjunction.
There are seven coordinating conjunctions in English:
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
A simple way to remember them is the acronym FANBOYS.
It’s important to use coordinating conjunctions with purpose, so your ideas make sense and are easy to follow.
Example 1
Which coordinating conjunction works best in this example?
The Romans invaded Britain _______ they found it a bit cold!
a) nor
b) because
c) but
✓ c) but
The word ‘but’ is a coordinating conjunction that shows a contrast between two ideas.
- The Romans invaded Britain
This is something that you might expect of a powerful army.
- They found it a bit cold
This is something you might not expect of a powerful army.
When you put these two ideas together, 'but' helps show this is a contrast.
The Romans invaded Britain, but they found it a bit cold.
Example 2
What are the seven ‘coordinating’ conjunctions?
a) for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
b) because, if, although, when, before, after, since
✓ While all these words are conjunctions, only the words in group a) are coordinating conjunctions.
The second group contains subordinating conjunctions, which also join parts of a sentence.
However, subordinating conjunctions join parts that are not equally important. One part of the sentence depends on the other, unlike with coordinating conjunctions, which link ideas of equal importance.
Task
Memory inventions!
Can you think of a fun way to remember the seven coordinating conjunctions?
FANBOYS is a great place to start.
Make your own mnemonic phrase to help you remember FANBOYS.
You could you make a poster? A song? A poem?
Play our fun English game Crystal Explorers! game
Use grammar, punctuation and spelling skills to explore jungles, caves and tombs on your mission.
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