WRITING CENTER "INFORMATION PICK-UP"  (S.S.C.C.)

 

 

COORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS:

 

•   WHAT ARE COORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS?

•   WHAT RELATIONSHIPS DO THEY SHOW?

•   FANBOYS (FOR, AND, NOR, BUT, OR, YET, SO)

•   WHAT ARE COMPOUND SENTENCES?  EXAMPLES

 

•   WHAT ARE COORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS?

 

            Coordinate (coordinating) conjunctions are words which connect information.  These words have the power of connecting two independent clauses into one sentence--a compound sentence. 

 

            Coordinate conjunctions treat both independent clauses of a compound sentence as equally important.  In contrast, subordinate conjunctions treat one clause--the dependent clause--as less important than the main independent clause.

 

•   WHAT RELATIONSHIPS DO THEY SHOW?

 

            Coordinate conjunctions connect sentences in various ways:

 

FOR:  (cause)

 

Examples:  The chimney sweep earned extra pay, for he worked

                                    overtime.

                        The administrators called an emergency meeting, for they

                                    had a pending strike on their hands.

                        The Boys and Girls Club held a major fund-raiser, for they

                                    needed to raise cash for a new site.

 

AND:  (addition)

 

Examples:  The P.T.S.A. took charge of student photographs and annuals,

                                    and the parents were responsible for the school

                                    spelling bee.

                        She took the calculus examination, and she aced it.

 

NOR:  (negative)

 

Examples:  Travis did not bring out the garbage, nor did he complete his

                                    assigned homework.

                        The swimming pool was not open, nor was it even clean.

 

Note:  Pay attention to the inversion of the subject and the verb after "nor".  In other words, the verb comes before (not after) the subject after "nor."

 

BUT:  (contrast)

 

Examples:  The computers are on sale, but there are many hidden costs.

                        The Little League team has been competing well, but

                                    recently a few members have fallen ill or suffered

                                    injuries.

                        Cirrus clouds may be thin and feathery, but cumulus clouds

                                    tend to be puffy and cottony.

 

OR:  (option, possibility, choice)

 

Examples:  We could donate some money, or we could try to fund-raise

                                    before June 30.

                        The psychic could be a greedy fake, or she could be the real

                                    thing.

 

YET:  (contrast)

 

Examples:  The choir sang well and earned loud applause, yet the choir

                                    did not win any prizes.

                        The book sale brought in many window shoppers or

                                    browsers, yet few books sold.

 

SO:  (effect)

 

Examples:  Jack borrowed my wheelbarrow, so I ought to call him up to

                                    ask him to return it.

                        The weather will be favorable tomorrow, so we should all go

                                    sailing.

 

 

•   FANBOYS    (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

 

            Using the nonsense word "FANBOYS" is one method of memorizing which words are coordinate conjunctions.  The term "FANBOYS" includes all the first letters of each of the seven coordinate conjunctions.

 

 

•   WHAT ARE COMPOUND SENTENCES?  EXAMPLES

 

            Compound sentences consist of two independent clauses connected by a coordinate conjunction, with a comma in front of the coordinate conjunction:

 

                                    S + V, coordinate conjunction  S + V.

 

Examples:  Agitators broke up the city council meeting, but they left

                                    soon after the police arrived.

                        The Seattle Solid Waste Department sent out mailers to

                                    all its customers, and it raised its rates soon after.

 

                                    S + S + V, coordinate conjunction S + V.

 

Examples:  Trish and Anna bought a table at the garage sale, and

                                    they called Misha to swing by in his truck to pick

                                    them up.

                        Finals week and graduation both occur in June, and we

                                    need to prepare extensively for both!

 

                                    S + S + V + V, coordinate conjunction S + V.

 

Examples:  The golf team and their coaches showed their discount

                                    passes and boarded the Greyhound buses, and the

                                    group headed out to California.

                        High school students and their friends went to the beach

                                    party and played loud music for hours, and they

                                    returned home happy and energized.

 

                                    S + V, S + V, coordinate conjunction S + V.

 

Examples:  George and Michelle attended the symphony, Michael and

                                    Maryanne saw a movie, and Travis

                        At the science fair, the fruit flies buzzed around the room,

                                    the organizers scrambled for cover, and participants

                                    laughed with glee.

 

S + V, coordinate conjunction, S + V, coordinate conjunction S + V

 

                        Actors of the Actors Guild called a strike, but they soon

                                    settled with the theatre, and the proverbial show went

                                    on.

                        Contestants scored high on the geography question, so the

                                    television show host changed his line of questioning to

                                    biology questions, and only one savvy winner rose

                                    from the group.

 

Note:  There are other possible structures of compound sentences.

(Revised 1998)