Coordinating Conjunctions, Simple Sentences, and Compound Sentences Pages 6, 7, and 8

A coordinating conjunction joins words or ideas of the same importance. Below are the seven most common coordinating conjunctions.

But Or Yet So For And Nor

A mnemonic (memory) device to remember these coordinating conjunctions is the acronym BOYSFAN, which comes from the first letter of each of the words above.

You have already used coordinating conjunctions to join two subjects or two verbs. Now you will use them to join two independent clauses. So what is an independent clause?

Definition of an Independent Clause: Whenever a subject-verb set expresses a complete thought, you have a clause that is independent. And every sentence should contain at least one independent clause; otherwise, it is probably a sentence fragment, which is an error we will study soon. When you join two independent clauses in a sentence, you have created a compound sentence.

Examples:

Combined: John went to the mall, and he spent all of his pay.

Combined: John went to the mall, and he spent all of his pay, but he was not there all day.

Notice how a comma is used before the BOYSFAN when it joins two independent clauses. These sentences illustrate the fourth comma rule:

Comma Rule 4: When you use a coordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses, a comma is placed before the coordinating conjunction. Make sure you know the difference between Comma Rule 4 and the first two comma rules.

Be careful: A comma alone cannot join two independent clauses and causes a run-on sentence called a comma splice. Here’s an example to illustrate the error, which you will study later this week.

INCORRECT: We went to Canada, we saw a moose. (comma splice)

CORRECT: We went to Canada, and we saw a moose.

The Meaning or Relationships Expressed by the Coordinating Conjunction

Each coordinating conjunction (BOYSFAN) expresses a certain meaning.

Use and to show addition:

We went to Canada, and we saw a moose.

Use but or yet to show contrast:

We went to Canada, but we did not see a moose. We went to Canada, yet we did not see a moose.

Use or to show an alternative:

We could go to Canada, or we could go to Washington.

Use nor to show a negative alternative:

We could not go to Canada, nor could we go to Washington.

Note: Notice how the subject (we) and the helping verb (could) reverse positions following nor.

Use for to show a cause and effect relationship, similar to “because.”

We could not go to Canada, for we did not have enough vacation days.

Use so to show a result or point to a consequence or show a cause and effect relationship.

He lost his ticket, so he could not attend the game.

Comma Usage Review of Rules 1 and 2

Comma Rule 1: Remember, do not use a comma before a coordinating conjunction when it only joins compound words (verbs, subjects, or nouns) or phrases.

John and Mary went to the mall. (compound subject)

John went and shopped at the mall. (compound verb)

Comma Rule 2: But do use a comma before and or or when it finishes a list.

John went to the mall, bank, and grocery store. (series of words)

John shopped at the mall, spent all of his pay, and was there all day. (series of phrases)

Compound Sentences and Simple Sentences

In the first half of this course you need to know about two kinds of sentences: simple sentences and compound sentences. Below you will find a quick explanation of the two structures.

A simple sentence contains only one independent clause (complete thought).

It has a subject-verb set, and it expresses a complete thought. (That’s why it is independent.)

Examples:

Traffic flowed across the narrow bridge. (one subject and one verb)

Traffic and pedestrians flowed across the narrow bridge. (compound subject)

Traffic flowed across the bridge and moved quickly into the city. (compound verb)

Traffic and people flowed across and moved into the city. (compound subject & compound verb)

A compound sentence contains at least two independent clauses: two complete thoughts.

Each could be a simple sentence by itself.

Examples: I joined the Army in 1998, and I served for 20 years.

I joined the Army in 1998. I served for 20 years.

Joining independent Clauses to Create Compound Sentences

The two independent clauses must be joined together correctly. Here are two ways to correctly join two independent clauses together:

● a comma with a coordinating conjunction (BOYSFAN)

● a semi-colon (;).

Examples: Traffic flowed across the narrow bridge, but it moved quickly into the city. Traffic flowed across the narrow bridge, and it moved quickly into the city. Traffic flowed across the narrow bridge; it moved quickly into the city.