Definition of Coordinating Conjunctions
A coordinating conjunction is a grammatical part of speech in the English language that joins words, phrases, or clauses of equal rank.
Coordinating Conjunction Examples
Some examples of coordinating conjunctions:
For: He was very tired, for he hadn’t slept since the weekend.
And: Shameka and Austin ran at the track meet.
Nor: Neither Vilma nor her sister were interested in the movie.
But: I’d like to meet with you over some coffee, but I have another appointment.
Or: Shelly, Justine, or Gustav will meet you at the front gate.
Yet: She wanted to go to the party, yet she knew it was important to study.
So: Jasmine prepared for her test in advance, so she met her friends that evening.
Coordinating Conjunctions in Context
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Our unique and memorable video footage helps solidify the understanding of challenging grammar concepts.
Watch this video to better understand the concept of coordinating conjunctions!
Why You Should Use Coordinating Conjunctions in Your Writing
On a general level, coordinating conjunctions play an important role in your writing because they help you to create clear sentences that are concise, and they do that by tying together common elements that have equal importance.
Those common elements from a grammatical standpoint can be words, phrases, or clauses, and you can connect them with the following coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
Some examples:
“I want cake, but I also love ice cream.” Here, “but” connects two contrasting ideas (clauses).
“She enjoys swimming and hiking.” In this case, “and” joins two similar activities (words).
Using coordinating conjunctions in your writing enhances its readability and conveys your ideas in a clearer fashion. Keep mind that coordinating conjunctions are different from subordinating conjunctions. They are both types of conjunctions, but they function differently.
Download a Free Worksheet on Coordinating Conjunctions!
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Do your students know the difference between coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions?
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