Most native English speakers do not know what coordinating conjunctions are. As a native English speaker one does not really pay much attention to the structure of sentences. So when it comes to connecting sentences we use the words that we know in our vocabulary unconsciously. The beauty of being an advanced level English teacher in Medellin is that I get to dissect the language.
In the English language, like in Spanish, we have words that connect other words, phrases and clauses (parts of a sentence); these words are called conjunctions. In this post I will go over the most common type of conjunction, the coordinating conjunction.
What are Coordinating Conjunctions?
As a kid in California I remember watching Saturday morning cartoons and seeing a really cool cartoon short about conjunctions, Schoolhouse Rock, Conjunction Junction:
Did you notice the conjunctions in the cartoon? The conjunctions they showed were all coordinating conjunctions.
Coordinating conjunctions are the easiest to learn. Coordinating conjunctions join parts of a sentence, specifically words, phrases or clauses, that are grammatically the same or similar.
There are 7 coordinating conjunctions
7 examples:
- I have an arepa and chocolate for breakfast.
- You can take the metro or the bus to get to my house.
- Samuel, one of my crazy students, likes a redheaded girl, but he already has a girlfriend.
- I want to eat healthy, yet I can’t stop eating chicharron!
- I do not like to abuse animals, nor do I like people who do so.
- We must conserve water, for it is a scarce natural resource.
- It was my friends birthday last night, so we got drunk.
An easy way to remember all of the coordinating conjunctions is with the acronym FANBOYS. This is how I learned them when I was in grade school.
Notice that the coordinating conjunctions are all in the middle of the sentences connecting information. That’s why coordinating conjunctions are also known as connectors.
Punctuation with coordinating conjunctions
If the coordinating conjunction is connecting two independent clauses then it is correct to place a comma before the conjunction.
For example: Esteban would like to ride his bike every day, but he doesn’t have the time to do so.
If the independent clauses are short then you do not need a comma.
For example: Wendy is nice so she helps people.
If the coordinating conjunction connects an independent clause to a dependent clause then you do not need a comma.
For example: I play basketball during the week and soccer on the weekends.
Starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction
It is not wrong to start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. Some teachers will teach against using a coordinating conjunction at the beginning of a sentence. This is usually for 3 reasons.
- Ignorance – they just don’t know that it is not wrong to start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction.
- Fragments – to help students avoid fragment sentences (a sentence that cannot stand alone.)
- Preference – some teachers just prefer not to start sentences with coordinating conjunctions. So it is a good idea to ask your teacher for their preference before writing.
Here are some examples of the correct usage of a coordinating conjunction at the beginning of a sentence.
- It was pouring, the metro was really crowded, there was an accident on Avenida Oriental, and I stepped in a puddle. So I decided to turn around and walk home instead of coming to class.
- I’m a foodie, I love to discover new restaurants around town. There are many great restaurants in Medellin. But in my opinion my mom’s cooking is better than any restaurant I’ve been to.
It’s Easy
Using coordinating conjunctions is simple and easy. Many students get frustrated because they try to translate directly from Spanish to English when writing. This is a really complicated way to write. The best thing to do is to think of what you want to write in English, not Spanish.
You are going to make mistakes, and that’s okay, that’s how you learn. Your teacher will correct you and you’ll get over the hurdle.
My advice:
- Do not translate directly from Spanish to English!
- Do not complicate your sentences. As you advance in English you will be able to write more complicated sentences. For now just stick to easy sentences, so that you ingrain the correct structures.
- Proof read – read what you write multiple times in order to correct yourself.
- Peer edit – have friends or classmates read your writing and have them correct you or give you suggestions.
- Write – Many students do not like to write, yet it is such a fundamental skill and it will always be tested in English proficiency exams. Go out and find something that you are passionate about and write about it.
About Andrew Macia
Hello, my name is Andrew Macia and I am the founder of the Medellin Buzz. I am an advanced level English teacher here in Medellin, and I also have a website development, and marketing company which I run from home.
My idea with the Medellin Buzz is to push those who are learning English and to integrate native speakers with non-native speakers.
I love living in Medellin and I love Colombia. I want to give back to the community and this is the best way I know how. Let’s practice English and Spanish and have a great time! Take a look at our upcoming events: Conversation Club Calendar.
About the Medellin Buzz
The Medellin Buzz is lighthearted resource for English as a Second Language learners in Medellin, Colombia to practice with. The Medellin Buzz is written in a way that is easy to understand. If you do not understand something feel free to make comments below.
Hi Andrew,
I find your points interesting, even if I do not always agree with them. I am a British Expat living on the outskirts of Medellin, and British English differs in many ways to American English, our list of conjunctions is different. We would not start a written sentence with a conjunction, but speaking, it is accepted. We have it drummed in to us that a conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence, ‘connects’ being the most important factor.
I therefore think you are being a bit harsh to accuse Teachers of being ignorant, if they object to a conjunction being used to start a sentence, it may be the American way, but many Teachers were educated in the UK, if that is the case, then their point of view should be respected not put down.
Regards
Hi Philip,
Thanks for the comment. I did some research before writing the article on the matter, and I just did some more. I have yet to find an authority that says that it is grammatically incorrect to start a sentence with a preposition. I even took the time to look for sources from England on the matter and they all stated that it is not incorrect.
Here’s what the Oxford Dictionary had to say: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/conjunctions
I am always interested in learning new things, and it would be great if you had any source that actually labels it as erroneous.
Your comment made me do more research, I appreciate that. Thanks again.
I appreciate the information in the link, and I would say that it supports both arguments, I accept that it says, that it is not grammatically incorrect to do this, however it also states ‘You might have been taught that it’s not good English to start a sentence with a conjunction…’ I certainly was, I hold my hands up, it is some years since I was at school, we were pilloried if we used a conjunction other than to join two sentences. I am also aware that standards change over time, whether for the better or worse is down to personal opinion.
However the quote also states that ‘…It’s best not to overdo it, but there is no reason for completely avoiding the use of conjunctions at the start of sentences.’ In other words as I understand it, although, not technically right, it is accepted. On the same site it states that the origin of ‘conjunction’ is ‘ late Middle English: via Old French from Latin conjunctio(n-), from the verb conjungere (see conjoin).
‘http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/conjunction’
If you look at the link for conjoin it states to ‘Join; combine’ which does not include, start.
As you have referred me to an English site, I will refer you to an American one:
http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/g31.html
Can I begin a sentence with a conjunction?
Many have tried to get writers of English to stop using coordinating conjunctions (e.g., and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet) to start sentences. Generally, coordinating conjunctions are used to join words, phrases, and clauses that are balanced as logical equals and are used to coordinate two independent clauses. Because coordinating conjunctions are used to hold together elements within a sentence, some teachers have discouraged their students from starting sentences with coordinating conjunctions. However, their real mission is to help their students learn to avoid sentence fragments like, “And smart, too.” It is important to know that when you are writing in informal contexts and decide to start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction, you must be sure that what follows it is an independent clause, capable of standing alone as a sentence. In formal writing, it is best to avoid beginning any sentence with a conjunction.’
It is obviously an emotive subject, and there are many thoughts on the subject. As I say I accept that things change, and what is not technically right, becomes accepted through use, but that still does not condone you putting down those Teachers who possibly still believe in trying to maintain a standard, by calling them ignorant.
If a teacher doesn’t know that it is technically okay to start a sentence with a correlative conjunction that’s them being ignorant, they just never learned it. I’m not putting them down, I’m just saying that there are plenty of teachers out there that just don’t know (who knows many of them may probably be like me and were taught as children that it was wrong and they never investigated further.) Furthermore, If I were more of a jerk (and sometimes I am) I would say that having my own blog condones me to call anyone I want ignorant, but my intention wasn’t to offend in this blog post, it was just an observation.