1. Conjunctions

2. Preview
If we cross off all the noun, pronoun, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and prepositions in the following sentences, what are we left with?
I finished my homework and practiced the trumpet.
Will you go to the game or babysit your sister?
For dinner, I ordered a salad and a bowl of soup.
I wanted a new bike, so I had to find a job.

3. Conjunctions The words left over are called conjunctions.
A conjunction is a word used to join together words or groups of words.
There are three types of conjunctions:
Coordinating conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions

4. Coordinating conjunctions
A coordinating conjunction joins together words or groups of words that are used in the same way.
By “same way,” we usually mean that the words are the same part of speech, or sometimes that they are the same type of phrase or clause.

5. Coordinating conjunctions, examples
Joining together two nouns:
Give this letter to your mom and dad.
Joining together two adjectives:
He is excited yet nervous about the game.
Joining together two phrases:
I went to the movies and to my friend’s house.
Joining together two clauses:
My sister can be really fun, but she can also be cruel sometimes.

6. There are seven coordinating conjunctions:
For
And
Nor
But Or
Yet So

7. Practice Get there quickly but carefully. We will buy a cat or a dog.
They went to the mall and to the library.

8. Practice The car is very nice, but it doesn’t get good gas mileage.
We hiked through the forest and across the river.
They are tired but happy.

9. Correlative conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions are just like coordinating conjunctions, except that instead of one word, correlative conjunctions consists of a pair of two words.
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that join words or word groups that are used in the same way.

10. Correlative conjunctions
The five pairs of correlative conjunctions are:
both… and
either… or
neither… nor
whether… or
not only… but also

11. What this looks like
Both Kristin and Jessica are moving to San Francisco.
They not only won the game but also clinched a spot in the district tournament.
I will either go to the game or watch it on TV.
I can’t decide whether to work out or study for my test after school.

12. Practice They brought both cake and brownies to the birthday party.
I don’t know whether to take the bus or find a ride to school.
Either help me cook dinner, or wash the dishes after we finish.

13. Practice
Not only was she late, but also she forgot to bring her part of the project.
Both Tim and I watched Monday Night Football.
Neither David nor I will be able to go to the movies with you guys.