Identify Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions

In this activity, we are going to be looking at two different types of conjunction.

Conjunctions are joining words that link ideas together.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Here we have two simple sentences:

I like cheese.

I like bread.

We can join these two simple sentences together with a coordinating conjunction.

I like cheese and I like bread.

The coordinating conjunction is and.

There are seven 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 could link these two simple sentences together to make one sentence?

I am scared of heights.

I do not ride on roller coasters.

The coordinating conjunction and could link these two sentences but so is the best option.

I am scared of heights, so I do not ride on roller coasters.

Subordinating Conjunctions

A subordinating conjunction introduces a subordinate clause.

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

Look at the sentence below:

Joe felt warm ___ sitting by the fire.

Can you think of a word (a subordinating conjunction) to fill the gap so that the sentence makes sense?

We could use the subordinating conjunction after.

Joe felt warm after sitting by the fire.

Or we could use the subordinating conjunction while.

Joe felt warm while sitting by the fire.

Here are some other subordinating conjunctions:

When

Because

If

While

Although

After

Before

As

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 to use the acronym FANBOYS to help you remember those coordinating conjunctions.