Identify Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions

A conjunction is a word that links two clauses in a sentence.

 

Peter likes football, but Josh likes rugby.

I stayed indoors because it was raining.

 

Some conjunctions are called coordinating conjunctions. They link clauses in compound sentences, where both clauses are equally important and one clause does not depend on the other. Coordinating conjunctions include and, or and but.

 

I love swimming and I love diving.

I may go outside but I may stay indoors.

 

The coordinating conjunctions can be remembered by the word FANBOYS!

The full list is for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so.

 

 

Conjunctions that are used in complex sentences are called subordinating conjunctions. A complex sentence is a sentence with a main clause and a subordinate clause.

 

Subordinating conjunctions come at the beginning of the subordinate clause and include words such as because, although, unless and whenever.

 

We went to the beach although it was raining.

Joe was tired because he stayed up late last night.

Whenever it snows, we go outside and build a snowman.

 

 

In this activity, we will practise identifying coordinating and subordinating clauses in sentences.

 

Are you ready to begin?