Investigate the Use of Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions

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

Conjunctions are words that link ideas together.

Can you identify the conjunction in the sentence below?

I like cheese, but I do not like pizza.

The conjunction here is but and it links together two main clauses.

Coordinating Conjunctions

In our sentence about pizza, but is a coordinating conjunction.

Coordinating conjunctions link two main clauses together to make a compound sentence. Sometimes, these main clauses are called independent clauses and they make sense on their own.

I like cheese = main clause (makes sense on its own)

but = coordinating conjunction (linking word)

I do not like pizza. = main clause (makes sense on its own)

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 a compound sentence?

I am allergic to dairy.

I do not eat cheese.

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

I am allergic to dairy, so I do not eat cheese.

Subordinating Conjunctions

A subordinating conjunction introduces a subordinate clause, which doesn’t make sense if you say it on its own.

Look at the sentence below:

Arthur felt nervous ____ stepping onto the stage.

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

We could use the subordinating conjunction before. 

Arthur felt nervous before stepping onto the stage.

This makes our subordinate clause before stepping onto the stage - which doesn’t make sense on its own.

Using a subordinate clause makes our sentence a complex sentence.

If we moved the subordinate clause to the start of the sentence, it would still make sense.

Before stepping onto the stage, Arthur felt nervous.

Here are some other subordinating conjunctions:

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

__ you like swimming, we can go to the pool.

Here, the subordinate clause was at the start of the sentence and there were a few subordinating conjunctions we could use:

If you like swimming, we can go to the pool.

Since you like swimming, we can go to the pool.

As you like swimming, we can go to the pool.

All of these are complex sentences as they have subordinate clauses.

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.