FANBOYS

I am going on a bike ride, so I

will need to wear my new

helmet.

What are coordinating conjunctions?

Coordinating conjunctions are the words we use to link ideas
together to make a compound sentence. They always connect
phrases, words and clauses.

In the compound sentence below, two ideas have been combined
into one sentence with the coordinating conjunction ‘so’.

What is FANBOYS?

FANBOYS is an acronym used to help us remember the seven
coordinating conjunctions used in the English language.

It stands for:

The word ‘for’ is used to explain a reason or
purpose. It can be used in a similar way to
‘because’.

e.g. I think we will need to stay
inside during lunch time today,
for it is raining heavily outside.

The word ‘and’ is used to show and link
additional ideas into one sentence.

e.g. We are going on a holiday
to visit my grandparents and to
go snorkelling on the reef!

e.g. I would rather not have to
play basketball, nor do I want
to play football.

We can use ‘nor’ to offer an alternative
negative idea to another negative idea.

The conjunction ‘but’ is used to show
contrast or to compare ideas.

e.g. The ferris wheel was pretty
fun, but the roller coaster was
my favourite!

e.g. You can finish the leftover pasta for
lunch, or you can make a toasted sandwich..

We use the word ‘or’ to present a choice or
alternative idea.

The word ‘yet’ is used to link a different or
contrasting idea to the first idea in the
sentence. It can be used in a similar way to
‘but’.

e.g. I always buy the large pack
of bobby pins, yet I can never
find one when I need it!

e.g. I am allergic to peanuts, so
I need to be very careful when I
eat out.

We use ‘so’ in compound sentences to help
highlight a consequence or result.