Conjunctions C&S

​

Coordinating conjunctions join two words or word groups of the same grammatical rank or importance (e.g., two nouns, two independent clauses). The coordinating conjunctions and, but, and or can be used to create a compound sentence.

​ I love candy bars.

I know they are not good for me.

My doctor has told me this.

​

I don’t want to listen

​

Coordinating conjunctions make these ideas sound more fluent.

I love candy bars, yet I know they are not good for me. My doctor has told me this, but I don’t want to listen.

​

Subordinating conjunctions tell where, when, why, or how. Some common subordinating conjunctions are after, although, as, because, before, if, since, so that, until, when, and while.

​

On its own, a clause beginning with because is incomplete.

Because he wouldn’t wear a seat belt.

​We have the sense that there is something missing here. Let’s add an independent clause so this statement has something to lean on.

Robin wasn’t allowed in the Batmobile any longer.

Robin wasn’t allowed in the Batmobile any longer because he wouldn’t wear a seatbelt.

​

As Sherri blew out the candles atop her birthday cake, she caught her hair on fire.

​Sara begins to sneeze whenever she opens the window to get a breath of fresh air.

​When the doorbell rang, my dog Skeeter barked loudly.

​I don’t want to go to the movies because I hate the smell of popcorn.

​You can eat your cake with a spoon or fork.

My dog enjoys being bathed but hates getting his nails trimmed.

​Bill refuses to eat peas, nor will he touch carrots.

​I hate to waste a drop of gas, for it is very expensive these days.