Identify Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions

In this activity, we’re going to be looking at conjunctions.

Conjunctions are joining words which link ideas together.

Can you think of a word to fill the gap in the sentence below?

I am going to test out my new scooter  - I will need to wear a helmet.

We can use the conjunction so to link these two ideas together.

I am going to test out my new scooter so I will need to wear a helmet.

So is a coordinating conjunction.

Coordinating Conjunctions

There are 7 coordinating conjunctions and we can use the acronym FANBOYS to help us remember them all.

For

And

Nor

But

Or

Yet

So

Which coordinating conjunction would link these two sentences together?

The ice cream was really tasty ___ the brownie was my favourite.

The coordinating conjunction but would work best here.

The ice cream was really tasty but the brownie was my favourite.

Subordinating conjunctions

Can you think of a word to fill the gap below?

Diya felt much better ___ taking her medicine.

We can link these two sentences together using the subordinating conjunction after to make one sentence.

Diya felt much better after taking her medicine.

A subordinating conjunction introduces a subordinate clause.

A subordinate clause doesn’t make sense if you just say it on its own.

In our sentence, after taking her medicine is the subordinate clause.

Here are some other subordinating conjunctions:

When

Because

If

While

Although

Which subordinating conjunction would fit the gap in the sentence below?

You don’t have to come to the park __ you don’t want to.

Here, the missing subordinating conjunction is if.

You don’t have to come to the park if you don’t want to.

In this activity, you’ll be on the hunt for both coordinating and subordinating conjunctions. Remember FANBOYS for coordinating conjunctions.