Coordinating Conjunctions

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Coordinating Conjunctions
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• The short, simple conjunctions are called
  "coordinating conjunctions"
• They are and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so
• Many people memorize them by using the acronym
  FANBOYS

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What is a coordinating conjunction?

• A coordinating conjunction joins parts of a
  sentence (for example words or independent
  clauses) that are grammatically equal or similar.
  
• A coordinating conjunction shows that the
  elements it joins are similar in importance and
  structure.

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• Look at these examples - the two elements that
  the coordinating conjunction joins are shown in
  square brackets
• I like tea and coffee.
• Ram likes tea, but Anthony likes coffee.

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• Coordinating conjunctions always come between the
  words or clauses that they join.
• When a coordinating conjunction joins independent
  clauses, it is always correct to place a comma
  before the conjunction
• I want to work as an interpreter in the
  future, so I am studying Russian at university.

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Combine the following sentences

• Barack Obama uses figurative language. He writes
  descriptively.
• Barack Obama uses figurative language and writes
  descriptively (NO COMMA BECAUSE THE SECOND CLAUSE
  IS NOT INDEPENDENT)
• Barack Obama uses figurative language, and he
  writes descriptively. (COMMA BECAUSE THE SECOND
  CLAUSE IS INDEPENDENT)

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Does the following sentence need a comma?

• Derek Jeter may be interesting but Barack Obama
  really makes readers think deeply.
• YES.
• Derek Jeter may be interesting full sentence
• Barack Obama really makes readers think deeply.
  full sentence
• Correctly, it reads Derek Jeter may be
  interesting, but Barack Obama really makes
  readers think deeply.

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Coordinating conjunctions connect
words, phrases, and clauses. Look at the examples
that follow

• The bowl of squid eyeball stew is
  hot and delicious.
• The squid eyeball stew is so thick that you can
  eat it with a fork or spoon.
• Rocky, my orange tomcat, loves having his head
  scratched but hates getting his claws trimmed.
• Rocky terrorizes the poodles next door yet adores
  the German shepherd across the street.
• Rocky refuses to eat dry cat food, nor will he
  touch a saucer of squid eyeball stew.
• I hate to waste a single drop of squid eyeball
  stew, for it is expensive and time-consuming to
  make.