Transcript File
What are coordinating
conjunctions?
Just remember the FANBOYS…
FANBOYS
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
For – means “because” or indicates a swap
And – joins similar ideas
Nor – joins negative alternatives
But – joins contrasting (disagreeing) ideas
Or – joins alternative ideas (choices)
Yet – means “but”
So – shows that the second idea is the result of
the first
Which FANBOY fits?
• I will trade my french fries _____ your tater
tots.
• I like to swim, _____ I don’t like to dive.
• My hobbies are reading _____ singing.
• I left my homework in my locker _____ by my
bed.
• We can go to the movies, _____ we can go to
the dance.
Which FANBOY fits?
• I like neither mushrooms _____ olives.
• We won the game, _____ we practiced hard
all week.
• English is difficult, _____ it’s important.
• Suzy is cold, _____ she’s not wearing her
jacket.
• I did my chores _____ finished my homework.
Coordinating conjunctions (fanboys) join like
grammatical forms. This is called parallel structure.
Incorrect (non-parallel) usage:
• Skunks are sneaky and they smell bad.
(1 adjective and 1 independent clause)
• I like to read, write, and drawing. (2 present-tense verbs
and 1 present progressive verb)
• I have looked for my shoes under the bed, in the closet, and
I looked behind the door. (2 prepositional phrases and 1
independent clause)
• I am going to the game, but not eating at McDonald’s. (1
independent clause and 1 dependent clause)
Coordinating conjunctions (fanboys) join like
grammatical forms. This is called parallel structure.
Correct (parallel) usage:
• Skunks are sneaky and smelly. (adjectives)
• I like to read, write, and draw. (present-tense
verbs)
• I have looked for my shoes under the bed, in
the closet, and behind the door. (prepositional
phrases)
• I am going to the game, but I am not going to
McDonald’s. (independent clauses)
Punctuation with FANBOYS
When a coordinating conjunction joins ONLY TWO
words, phrases, or subordinate clauses, NO COMMA
should be placed before the conjunction.
Examples:
words: cookies and milk
phrases: at the beach or by the lakeside
subordinate clauses: what you say and
what you do
Punctuation with FANBOYS
A coordinating conjunction joining THREE OR MORE words,
phrases, or subordinate clauses creates a SERIES and
REQUIRES COMMAS between the elements. The last
comma (before the conjunction) is optional.
Examples:
words: peanuts, cookies, and milk
phrases: in the mountains, at the beach, or by
the lakeside
subordinate clauses: what you think, what you
say, and what you do
Punctuation with FANBOYS
A coordinating conjunction joining TWO
INDEPENDENT CLAUSES (clauses that can stand
alone) creates a COMPOUND SENTENCE and
REQUIRES A COMMA before the coordinating
conjunction.
Examples:
Tom ate the peanuts, so Phil ate the cookies.
I live in Springhill, but I work in Shreveport.
Sample Item
Directions: Choose the sentence that has no errors in
structure.
A. Eileen bought new shoes for the party, a gold charm for
her mother, and to treat her best friend Maria to lunch.
B. Eileen decided to buy new shoes for the party,
purchasing a gold charm for her mother, and treating
her best friend Maria to lunch.
C. Eileen
Eileen purchased
purchasednew
newshoes
shoes
forfor
thethe
party,
party,
a gold
a gold
charm for
charm
forher
hermother,
mother,
and
and
lunch
lunch
forfor
Maria,
Maria,
herher
bestbest
friend.
friend.
Item 1
A. Barking dogs, kittens that were meowing, and
squawking parakeets greet the pet shop
visitors.
B. Barking
Barkingdogs,
dogs,meowing
meowing
kittens,
kittens,
andand
squawking
parakeets greet
squawking
parakeets
the pet greet
shop visitors.
the pet shop
C. visitors.
Dogs that bark, kittens that meow, and
C. parakeets
Dogs that bark,
squawking
kittensgreet
that meow,
the petand
shop
visitors. squawking greet the pet shop
parakeets
visitors.
Item 3
A. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—
under the bed, on his desk, and he searched
inside the refrigerator.
B. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—
viewing under the bed, searching on his desk,
and inside the refrigerator.
C. Alex
Alex looked
lookedeverywhere
everywhereforfor
hishis
math
math
book—
book—
under the
under
thebed,
bed,on
onhis
hisdesk,
desk,
and
and
inside
inside
thethe
refrigerator.
refrigerator.