Connections and Combinations

Connections and Combinations

Amber is Eliza's friend. Brandon is Derek's friend. Derek is Amber's friend. Amber is Brandon's friend. Eliza is Brandon's friend. Derek is Eliza's friend.

Amber, Eliza, Derek, and Brandon are all friends.

The word and is a conjunction. We use conjunctions to show connections among ideas in sentences. Other examples of conjunctions are but, or, yet, and so.

Remember to put a comma before your conjunction!

Some sentences can be short. Others can be long. (and)

Marcella likes Ahmed. He has never noticed her. (but)

You may choose a short story. You may prefer a novel. (or)

Mr. Johnson became rich. He never forgot his poor childhood. (yet)

Eliza was going to have a Spanish test on Monday. She studied all weekend. (so)

Use the conjunction and to connect words, phrases, and sentences. Follow these four rules.

Connect only related ideas.

Incorrect: Brandon plays tennis and eats lunch.

Correct: Brandon plays tennis and jogs.

Use commas to separate three or more words or phrases in a series.

Incorrect: We like tennis swimming and golf.

Correct: We like tennis, swimming, and golf.

Always put the comma before the conjunction.

Incorrect: The children were lost, tired and, hungry.

Correct: The children were lost, tired, and hungry.

Use a comma before the conjunction when you combine two or more sentences. Remember that a sentence must contain a complete idea.

Incorrect: Amber had a French test on Monday and she studied very hard.

Correct: Amber had a French test on Monday, and she studied very hard.

Using the Conjunction but

You have learned that the conjunction and connects related ideas. Use the conjunction but to point out a difference between ideas.

Related Ideas: I like apples and pears.

Contrasting Ideas: I like apples but not pears.

Related Ideas: I enjoy reading, and I have many books.

Contrasting Ideas: I enjoy reading, but I read only magazines.

Multiple Choice

Amber has a dog, ___ Eliza does not.

• and

• but

Multiple Choice

Both Amber ___ Eliza are friends of Derek.

• and

• but

Multiple Choice

Amber wanted to go to dancing class, ___ it was canceled.

• and

• but

Multiple Choice

Eliza sings in the chorus, ___ she did not sing tonight.

• and

• but

Multiple Choice

Springfield has city parks ___ golf courses

• and

• but

Multiple Choice

Brandon won his match, ___ the scores were 6-0, 6-0.

• and

• but

Multiple Choice

The family enjoys hiking, camping, ___ fishing.

• and

• but

Multiple Choice

A dictionary is one useful source for writers, ___ a thesaurus is another.

• and

• but

Multiple Choice

Most soups are hot, ___ some are cold.

• and

• but

Multiple Choice

The island has birds and lizards ___ no mammals.

• and

• but

Using the Conjunctions or, so, and yet

Examples

I like milk or juice.

Will he travel by plane, or will he take the train?

The house was old yet looked new.

The play had begun, so everyone hurried.

Some conjunctions work in pairs:

either... or

neither... nor

not only... but also

Multiple Choice

Some plays are funny, ___ others are sad.

• and

• so

Multiple Choice

She may choose a red hat, ___ she may choose a green hat.

• but

• or

Multiple Choice

The fruit tasted sweet, juicy, ___ fresh.

• and

• but

Multiple Choice

The dog ran around the tree ___ jumped into the water.

• yet

• and

Multiple Choice

Helen paints landscapes ___ portraits.

• and

• but

Multiple Choice

Most snakes are harmless, ___ many people fear them anyway.

• and

• but

Multiple Choice

The drivers honked their horns, ___ the traffic did not move.

• so

• yet

Multiple Choice

We have neither the time ___ the patience for this.

• or

• nor

Multiple Choice

Either the doorbell rang, ___ I was hearing things.

• or

• nore

Multiple Choice

The shoes were not only too small ___ too worn.

• or

• but also