Name: Date: Period:

G9-12.ECRS.B6-A: What Is a Conjunction?

Link to the ECRS: SSF.13A Use conjunctions or punctuation to join simple clauses.
Key Information:
And is a CONJUNCTION. Conjunctions work to join together single words or groups of words. They make
connections in your speech. There are seven conjunctions:
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So

(See those first letters? FANBOYS is a good way to help you remember all seven of the conjunctions!)

Each conjunction serves a different purpose and has a different meaning:
For: shows reason or purpose (similar to because)
We went to the store, for we had no bread.
And: indicates one idea is a result of another
We went to the store, and we bought crackers.
Nor: indicates negation (negativity)
We had neither bread nor crackers.
But: suggests an unexpected contrast
We bought crackers but forgot bread.
Or: indicates an option
We could have used bread or crackers.
Yet: suggests an unexpected contrast
We wanted bread, yet we bought crackers.
So: indicates for that reason or therefore
We had no bread, so we used crackers instead.

(Want a little early practice on finding conjunctions? Go back to those sample sentences and circle the
conjunction in each one.)

The Basics: Circle the conjunction in each sentence below.
Example:
1. He wanted a red or blue sweatshirt for his birthday.
2. Tyra had jelly and butter on her toast.
3. Mom doesnt watch American Idol, for she cant stand Simon Cowell.
4. The road was closed to cars, so they had to walk.
5. We had neither time nor money to fix the broken window before Mom saw it.
Practice:
Using complete sentences, use the provided conjunction to link the items given.
Example:
6. Conjunction: so Items: an ice sidewalk, my mom falling
The sidewalk was icy, so my mom fell down._______
7. Conjunction: or Items: pencil, pen
______________________________________________________________________
8. Conjunction: and Items: brothers, sisters
______________________________________________________________________
9. Conjunction: but Items: wanting a truck, getting a bike
______________________________________________________________________

Writing Connections
Tell a story about your favorite thing to do during your free time. You must use three of the FANBOYS
conjunctions in your paragraph. Please circle your conjunctions.

__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________



How This Looks on the EPAS:
Certain words and/or phrases below are underlined and numbered. In the right-hand column, you will find alternatives for the
underlined part. Choose the alternative that best expresses the idea and makes the statement appropriate for standard written
English. If the original version is best, choose NO CHANGE.
The best wings are in a little place on the
South Side. Those wings are so hot theyll
leave you gasping for water. I wish I loved
closer, so I live on the far north side.
10
10. A. NO CHANGE
B. but
C. and
D. nor

Whats the Rule?
A conjunction is a word that ___________ single words or groups of words. There are
seven conjunctions, which you can remember because their first letters together spell out the word
________________ . The seven conjunctions are ________ , ________ , ________ , ________ , ________ ,
________ , and ________ .