COORDINATING

CONJUNCTIONS

And

COMPUND SENTENCES
 CMPUND SENTENCE
• A CMPUND SENTENCE is composed of
two INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
(IC)joined together with one of the 7 (seven)
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
(CC) and a COMMA (,).
 
• This simple formula can help us remember
how to use coordinating conjunctions to
form a compound sentence:
• IC, CC IC
 
 INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
An INDEPENDENT CLUASE (IC) has a
SUBJECT, PREDICATE, and a
COMPLETE THOUGHT. Therefore, it
can stand alone, or it is INDEPENDENT.
 
• Example: IC (Independent Clause)
• Most of the NASA astronauts are engineers.
 
• Many are also talented musicians and
artists.
 
7 COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

• The 7 coordinating conjunctions are

often remembered by these words:
“FAN BOYS.¨
 
• For And Nor
 
• But Or Yet So
 Meanings of Coordinating Conjunctions and
Examples of Their Use
• For to add a reason – connects a
reason to a result
• Ex. NASA engineers constantly check all
systems before liftoff, for they want to take
precautions to prevent any possible accident.

• And to add a similar equal idea –

connects equal ideas that are alike
• Ex. Most of the NASA astronauts are
engineers, and many are also talented
musicians and artists.
 
 Meanings/Use of Coordinating Conjunctions
•   Nor to add a negative equal idea –
connects two negative sentences
• Ex. Fishermen do not go out to sea
during a storm, nor do they go fishing
when it is lightening.
 
• But to add an opposite idea –
connects equal different ideas
• Ex. Many people really like using
technology, but they can become too
dependent on it.
Meanings /Use of Coordinating Conjunctions
Or to add an alternative possibility
– connects two equal choices
• Ex. I can travel to Peru, or I can go to
Argentina
 
• Yet to add an unexpected or
surprising continuation of the idea –
connects equal contrasting ideas
• Ex. Cigarette smoking is a factor in
longevity, yet Japanese and other long-
lived Asians have a very high tobacco
use.
Meanings /Use of Coordinating Conjunctions

• So to add an expected result –

connects a result to a reason
• Ex. Maria and Juan got very cold, so
they both came down with a bad cold.
 Exercises: Coordinating Conjunctions
• Please fill in the blanks by choosing one of the 7
coordinating conjunctions and a comma to join
these independent clauses together. Remember
that but and yet are often used interchangeably.
 
• Too much sun damages the skin_________many
people still sunbath for long periods of time.
 
• Too much sun damages the skin________too little
sun also causes health problems.
 
• The mining company´s sales increased last
year____its profits declined.
 Exercises: Coordinating Conjunctions
• The mining company moved its marketing
division to Santiago____the operations
division stayed in Antofagasta.

• Population growth has slowed down in most

developing countries_____it has not slowed
enough to avoid serious global problems.
 
• The fertility rate in India has decreased from 6
to 3 births per female____India´s population is
expanding at the rate of 18 million per year.
 
 Exercises: Coordinating Conjunctions
•  Add another independent clause to the ones
shown here using the coordinating conjunction
provided. Remember to add a comma before the
coordinating conjunction as well, and a period or
question mark must conclude the compound
sentence.

• The college campus is located in the center of the

city__so____
 
• According to the Big Bang Theory, the universe
began expanding about 13.7 million years
ago___and___
 
 Exercises: Coordinating Conjunctions
•  Does the universe have an outer edge
___ or___
 
• Scientists predict that intelligent life
exists somewhere in the
universe___but___
 
• Mars probes have photographed rocks
with water markings on them__yet___
 
 Exercises: Coordinating Conjunctions
• Rewrite these independent clauses to form
compound sentences by joining them with
one of the 7 coordinating conjunctions.
 
• Mining accidents can happen. Mining
companies must have strict safety controls in
place.
 
• The accident at the nuclear power plant at
Three Mile Island in the United States
created fears about the safety of this energy
source. The disaster at Chernobyl in the
former Soviet Union confirmed these fears.
 Exercises: Coordinating Conjunctions
• Solar heating systems are economical to
operate. The cost of insulation is very
high.
 
• Energy needs are not going to decrease.
Energy sources are not going to increase.
 
• Burning fossil fuels causes serious
damage to our planet. We need to
develop alternate sources of energy.
 
 Exercises: Coordinating Conjunctions
•  Ecologists know that burning fossil fuels
causes holes in the ozone layer. People
continue to use fossil fuels.
 
• Developing nations especially will continue
this harmful practice. They do not have the
money to develop “clean” energy sources.
 
• All nations of the world must take action.
Our children and grandchildren will suffer
the consequences.
 
 HOMEWORK: Coordinating Conjunctions
•   Use the 7 coordinating conjunctions to create
10 compound sentences. Use each coordinating
conjunction at least once.
• Find a short newspaper article in English on the
Internet. Print it out. Find the 7 coordinating
conjunctions in the article. Type out the
sentences, identify the coordinating conjunction,
be prepared to discuss them in class, and hand
them in.
• Find examples of the 7 coordinating
conjunctions used in compound sentences in our
reading. Again, be prepared to present and hand
them in.