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Compound Sentences with Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)

A compound sentence contains two separate subject and verb pairs. You can
combine two simple sentences together with a comma and a coordinating
conjunction to make one compound sentence. Here are some examples:

F – for I drank some water, for I was thirsty.

She put on a sweater, for it was cold outside.

*For means the exact same thing as because. The only difference is that when you
use for to join two sentences together into one compound sentence, you need to use
a comma before it. When you use because to join to sentences, you don’t use a
comma before it.

A – and He was tired, and he had a headache.

N – nor She doesn’t drink milk, nor does she eat butter.

I can’t whistle, nor can I sing.

He didn’t study last night, nor did he read his book.

They were not wearing jackets, nor were they carrying

umbrellas.

*Nor means “also not”. Nor requires unusual grammar. The first sentence will
contain a negative verb. The second sentence will contain what looks like an
interrogative affirmative verb form.
An auxiliary verb (do/does/did, is/am/are/was/were), modal verb
(can/could/will/would/may/might/must/should), or be main verb
(is/am/are/was/were) comes after nor and before the subject, and then the main
verb comes after the subject.

B – but Tom studied a lot, but he didn’t pass the test.

O – or He can buy the book, or he can borrow it from the library.

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Y – yet Tom studied a lot, yet he didn’t pass the test.

*yet means the same thing as but.

Unexpected outcome ( although. Even though)

S – so Maria was thirsty, so she drank some water.

(result) It was cold outside, so she put on a sweater.

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Exercises

I - Fill in the blanks with the suitable coordinate conjunction. Use commas if necessary.

1. Karen wanted to leave _______ she had a headache.

2. Some of team members wanted to go to the party ______ and the rest wanted to
go home and rest.
3. The workers did not complain ______ did they insist in having extra wages for
working long hours.
4. The actors finished the play early _______ they have to stay until the closing
time.
5. We can watch the movies during the afternoon _______ the final section at 10:00
pm.
6. The girls informed me that they felt tired ________ the stayed and watched the
end of the show.
7. My friends and I did not desire to walk under the rain ______ we called a taxi.

II - Fill in the blanks using the appropriate conjunction. Use commas if necessary.

1. My dad _______ I are going fishing this afternoon.

2. The old man doesn’t have much money _____ he always seems to have nice
things.
3. Either we are going to win ______ they are going to win.
4. I don’t have much time _____ hurry up!
5. He wasn’t a popular king _____ all of his countrymen hated him.
6. I want to get there early ____ we should leave soon.
7. It doesn’t matter whether they get the job ___ not.
8. We don’t like red ____ do I like blue.
9. I ran after the cat _____ could not catch her.
10. We played very well ____ we still lost the game.