Year 7 English: Use Coordinating Conjunctions

In English, we use coordinating conjunctions to join words, phrases, or sentences together. These conjunctions help us make our writing smoother and more connected. There are seven coordinating conjunctions, and they can be easily remembered with the acronym FANBOYS:

• F – For
• A – And
• N – Nor
• B – But
• O – Or
• Y – Yet
• S – So

Each coordinating conjunction has a specific role, and knowing how to use them will improve your writing by helping you combine ideas in a clear and logical way.

What Are Coordinating Conjunctions?

1. For

• For is used to explain the reason or purpose for something. It works like “because” but is more formal.
• Example: “She stayed home, for she was feeling unwell.”
• (This means she stayed home because she was unwell.)

2. And

• And is used to add information or join two similar ideas together.
• Example: “I like apples and oranges.”
• (This means both apples and oranges are liked.)

3. Nor

• Nor is used to show that two things are both untrue or not happening. It is usually paired with a negative phrase.
• Example: “He doesn’t like pizza, nor does he enjoy pasta.”
• (This means he doesn’t like pizza or pasta.)

4. But

• But is used to show contrast or difference between two ideas.
• Example: “I wanted to go out, but it was raining.”
• (This means something different or unexpected happened – I wanted to go out, but the rain stopped me.)

5. Or

• Or is used to give a choice between two or more things.
• Example: “Do you want tea or coffee?”
• (This means you can choose one – tea or coffee.)

6. Yet

• Yet is used to show contrast, like “but,” but it implies something surprising or unexpected.
• Example: “She was tired, yet she continued working.”
• (This means she was tired but still kept working, which is unexpected.)

7. So

• So is used to show a result or consequence of something.
• Example: “I was hungry, so I made a sandwich.”
• (This means being hungry caused me to make a sandwich.)

Key Rules for Using Coordinating Conjunctions

1. Connecting Two Clauses: Coordinating conjunctions join two complete ideas (clauses) together.

• Example: “I was tired, so I went to bed.”

1. Comma Before the Conjunction: When connecting two independent clauses (complete ideas), you need a comma before the conjunction.

• Example: “She likes ice cream, but she doesn’t like cake.”

1. No Comma for Simple Lists: If you’re using a conjunction in a simple list (like apples and oranges), you don’t need a comma before the conjunction.

• Example: “I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.”

Tips and Tricks

• Remember FANBOYS: This is an easy way to remember the seven coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.
• Use them to avoid short, choppy sentences: Instead of writing separate short sentences like “I was tired. I went to bed,” you can combine them with “so”: “I was tired, so I went to bed.”
• Different conjunctions for different meanings:
• Use and to add information.
• Use but or yet to show contrast.
• Use or to offer choices.
• Use for or so to show reasons or results.

Examples in Sentences

• For: “He stayed home, for he was feeling ill.”
• And: “I went to the shop and bought some milk.”
• Nor: “He didn’t call, nor did he send a message.”
• But: “I wanted to go to the park, but it started raining.”
• Or: “Do you want pizza or pasta for dinner?”
• Yet: “It was late, yet he kept working.”
• So: “I was bored, so I started reading a book.”

Questions

Easy Difficulty

1. Which coordinating conjunction do we use to add two similar ideas?
2. Which coordinating conjunction do we use to show a reason, similar to “because”?
3. Complete the sentence: “I want to go out, __ it’s raining.” (but/and)
4. What coordinating conjunction would you use to offer a choice between two options?
5. Which conjunction do we use to show contrast, like “but,” but in a surprising way?
6. Complete the sentence: “She didn’t study, __ she still passed the exam.” (yet/for)
7. Which coordinating conjunction would you use to join these ideas: “I am hungry. I made a sandwich.”
8. Complete the sentence: “He wanted pizza, __ she wanted pasta.” (but/so)
9. Which coordinating conjunction do we use to show that two negative things are true?
10. Complete the sentence: “I like apples, __ I don’t like oranges.” (but/or)
11. What coordinating conjunction do you use to show the result of something happening?
12. Complete the sentence: “It was raining, __ I stayed inside.” (for/so)
13. Which conjunction is used to add information: “or” or “and”?
14. Which conjunction would you use to give a choice: “but” or “or”?
15. Complete the sentence: “I’m tired, __ I need to finish my work.” (but/so)
16. Which conjunction do we use to show a reason: “and” or “for”?
17. Complete the sentence: “I didn’t see the movie, __ did I watch the trailer.” (nor/for)
18. Which coordinating conjunction do we use to show a result, like “so”?
19. Complete the sentence: “She called her friend, __ they talked for hours.” (and/but)
20. Which conjunction is used to connect two contrasting ideas: “and” or “but”?

Medium Difficulty

1. What is the difference between using “but” and “yet”?
2. Which coordinating conjunction shows a result?
3. Complete the sentence: “He didn’t study, __ he still passed.” (but/yet)
4. In which sentence would you use “for” instead of “because”?
5. Which conjunction do we use to show an unexpected contrast?
6. Complete the sentence: “She was tired, __ she kept running.” (but/for)
7. What coordinating conjunction joins these sentences: “I wanted pizza. She wanted pasta.”
8. Complete the sentence: “He didn’t call, __ did he send a message.” (nor/so)
9. Which coordinating conjunction would you use to add two positive ideas?
10. Complete the sentence: “We could go to the cinema, __ we could stay home.” (so/or)
11. Which conjunction do you use to offer a choice between two or more options?
12. Complete the sentence: “I didn’t enjoy the film, __ it had good reviews.” (but/nor)
13. What conjunction would you use to show that two things are both not happening?
14. Complete the sentence: “She wanted to go out, __ it was too cold.” (but/and)
15. Which coordinating conjunction would you use to add two contrasting ideas?
16. Complete the sentence: “I didn’t study for the test, __ I still did well.” (yet/or)
17. Which conjunction would you use to connect two reasons: “but” or “for”?
18. Complete the sentence: “I’m full, __ I’ll eat dessert later.” (for/so)
19. Which conjunction shows a surprising result: “so” or “yet”?
20. Complete the sentence: “He finished his homework, __ he went to bed.” (and/but)

High Difficulty

1. Explain the difference between using “for” and “so” in a sentence.
2. Complete the sentence: “She wanted to go for a run, __ it started raining.” (for/so)
3. Which coordinating conjunction shows contrast, like “but,” but adds a surprising twist?
4. Complete the sentence: “I didn’t finish my homework, __ I tried my best.” (but/yet)
5. What is the difference between using “nor” and “or”?
6. Complete the sentence: “She didn’t want to go out, __ did she want to stay home.” (nor/for)
7. Which coordinating conjunction would you use to join these ideas: “It was sunny. We went to the park.”
8. Complete the sentence: “He was tired, __ he went to bed early.” (so/yet)
9. Which coordinating conjunction shows a reason, like “because”?
10. Complete the sentence: “We could go to the beach, __ we could go to the park.” (or/so)
11. Which conjunction would you use to show a result between two clauses?
12. Complete the sentence: “I didn’t like the book, __ it was too long.” (but/for)
13. What coordinating conjunction joins two negative ideas?
14. Complete the sentence: “The shop was closed, __ we couldn’t buy any milk.” (so/nor)
15. Which coordinating conjunction shows an option or choice?
16. Complete the sentence: “He didn’t go to the party, __ did he stay home.” (nor/so)
17. Which conjunction would you use to join these contrasting ideas: “It was cold. She wore a coat.”
18. Complete the sentence: “She was hungry, __ she made a sandwich.” (for/so)
19. Which conjunction would you use to show an unexpected result?
20. Complete the sentence: “They wanted to stay home, __ the weather was bad.” (for/yet)

Answers

Easy Difficulty

1. And
2. For
3. But
4. Or
5. Yet
6. Yet
7. So
8. But
9. Nor
10. But
11. So
12. So
13. And
14. Or
15. But
16. For
17. Nor
18. So
19. And
20. But

Medium Difficulty

1. “But” shows contrast; “yet” shows contrast with a surprising twist.
2. So
3. Yet
4. “She didn’t go out, for she was feeling tired.”
5. Yet
6. Yet
7. But
8. Nor
9. And
10. Or
11. Or
12. But
13. Nor
14. But
15. But
16. Yet
17. For
18. So
19. Yet
20. And

High Difficulty

1. “For” shows a reason; “so” shows a result.
2. For
3. Yet
4. Yet
5. “Nor” joins two negative ideas, “or” gives a choice.
6. Nor
7. And
8. So
9. For
10. Or
11. So
12. For
13. Nor
14. So
15. Or
16. Nor
17. But
18. So
19. Yet
20. For