COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

Coordinating conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases, and sentences, but not all of them can connect all three .  All of the conjunctions are used to connect sentences.  To remember all of the conjunctions, use the acronym FANBOYS (for, and nor, but, or, yet, so).

AND
Use AND to connect words, phrases, and sentences.

Examples: WORD/WORDS:

              Reading and writing are important skills needed to succeed in college.

              I am taking ESL 082 and 092 this semester.

              Level 6 students review and practice verb tenses.
              PHRASES:

              In ESL 064 we review verb tenses and learn time management.

              Going to the ALC and practicing on the Internet are other ways to improve my English.
              SENTENCES

               Level 6 students can take ESL 084, and at the same time they can take Psychology 101.

              A grammar book is used in ESL 064, and a novel is used in the reading class.

OR
Use OR to connect words, phrases, and sentences.
Examples:

In Level 6 you can also take Math or Conversation.

In Level 6 you might have the same teacher or have three different teachers.

When I finish Level 6, I could start courses in my major, or I could take some required classes.

BUT
Use BUT to connect words, phrases, or sentences.

Examples:

In Level 6 you can’t take five classes but four.

After Level 6 you register for ENG 111 but not 112.

After Level 6 I can take any course in the college, but (yet) I can’t take courses with prerequisites.

NOR
Use NOR only with two negative sentences, and change the word order in the second clause to
NOR + Verb + Subject + Verb.

Examples:

I am not studying Psychology, nor am I studying Business.

I haven’t decided on my major yet, nor have I registered.

I won’t register this week, nor will I register the next.

PARALLEL STRUCTURE
When you are combining words and phrases, What the same grammatical structure must be written both before and after the conjunction.

Examples: