Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions are words that link equal parts of a sentence, such as independent clauses, phrases, or words. The seven coordinating conjunctions can be easily remembered using the acronym F.A.N.B.O.Y.S.
Functions of Coordinating Conjunctions
To better understand coordinating conjunctions and their functions, let’s look at them in the table below:
| Coordinating Conjunction | Function |
|---|---|
| For | Explains a reason or purpose. |
| And | Adds one thing to another. |
| Nor | Presents an alternative negative idea to an already stated negative idea. |
| But | Shows contrast or an exception. |
| Or | Presents an alternative or a choice. |
| Yet | Introduces a contrasting idea that follows logically. |
| So | Indicates a consequence or result. |
Example Sentences Using Coordinating Conjunctions
For:
Example: I decided to bring an umbrella, for the weather forecast predicted rain.
➔Explanation: “For” explains the reason why the speaker decided to bring an umbrella.
And:
Example: She enjoys reading novels, and she also likes writing her own stories.
➔Explanation: “And” adds one activity (liking to write stories) to another (enjoying reading novels).
Nor:
Example: He didn’t want to go to the party, nor did he feel like staying at home.
➔Explanation: “Nor” presents another negative idea (not feeling like staying at home) alongside the first negative idea (not wanting to go to the party).
But:
Example: I wanted to go for a run, but it started to rain heavily.
➔Explanation: “But” shows a contrast between wanting to run and the obstacle of heavy rain.
Or:
Example: We can go to the beach, or we can visit the museum.
➔Explanation: “Or” presents two alternatives (going to the beach or visiting the museum).
Yet:
Example: She was tired, yet she continued to work on her project.
➔Explanation: “Yet” introduces a contrasting idea (continuing to work) that follows logically from being tired.
So:
Example: He studied hard for the exam, so he was confident he would pass.
➔Explanation: “So” indicates the consequence (being confident) of studying hard.