1. Conjunctions

2. What is a conjunction?
In grammar, a conjunction is a word that joins (connects) two or more equal/similar things
It can join two nouns, two verbs, two adjectives, two sentences, etc.

3. Try finding the conjunction
Which word is joining two things in these sentences?
My brother and my mother went to Argentina last year.
Did you see the movie or read the book?
She liked the movie, but she didn’t like the book.
And is joining two nouns
Or is joining two verbs
But is joining two sentences

4. Our focus…
Today, we’re focusing on how to join two sentences with a conjunction

5. One type of conjunction: coordinating conjunctions
These are very common
They are For, And, Nor, Or, But, Yet, Or, So
They spell FANBOYS (to help you remember them). You MUST memorize these
We always put a comma , before these when they join two sentences (not when they join two other things)

6. How to join sentences with coordinating conjunctions

7. What the coordinating conjunctions mean:
For=because
And=two equal sentences that go together
Nor=same as or, but negative
But=two opposite or opposing things
Or=two options; a choice
Yet=But
So=shows an effect

8. Which coordinating conjunction makes sense?
She has no money, ____ she couldn’t buy anything.
She went to the doctor, ____ he didn’t help her.
The students will do this, ____ the teachers will help them.
You can go to the movies, ___ you can stay home. so
But,yet
and or

9. Something to remember
You only need one conjunction to join two sentences
She needed help, and so I helped her. (we don’t need and & so)
The remote didn’t work, but yet we went on without it. (we don’t need but & yet)

10. Another kind of conjunction: subordinating conjunctions
These are also used to join sentences
We do NOT use commas before these
They show a more specific relationship, like when or how

11. Subordinating conjunctions
These are
SOME of them.
They can go in
the middle or
at the beginning of
the joined sentence
after although as as soon as because before even if even though if in case now that  
once since the first time though unless until when  whenever while

12. Examples: can you see how the conjunction joins two sentences?
While I sleep, my parents work.
She goes to school because she has to.
Unless you give me a good excuse, you will be marked tardy.
If your cousin wants to go, he needs an invitation.
You’re my friend even though you annoy me sometimes.

13. A few last rules about conjunctions
1. Again, only 1 conjunction per sentence. That means none of this:
Even though she hates him, but she hangs out with him
Because she likes him, so she hangs out with him
You must choose one conjunction!
2. Put a comma only before the FANBOYS conjunctions
3. Two sentences cannot be put together by a comma only (like in Chinese. You must use a conjunction
4. THEN is NOT a conjunction

14. Practice time!
Fill in the blank with a conjunction that makes sense

15. When/after
_______ she get home at night, she goes to bed.

16. but
We have different opinions, _______ we can still be friends.

17. When/while
Did you go through my closet _____ I was sleeping?

18. NONE (we already have “so”)
______ she likes animals, so she wants to be an animal doctor.

19. NONE (we already have “although”)
Although she likes helping people, ______ she doesn’t want to be a doctor.

20. Although, even though, though
______ she has many friends, she still feels lonely sometimes.

21. Because
Your parents buy things for you _____ they love you.

22. since
I have known how to read _____ I was four years old.

23. or
You can take your punishment now, ____ you can take it later.

24. If
_____ you don’t take your punishment now, you will take it later.