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FANBOYS

Joining Independent Clauses with Coordinators

fan dancer

 

FANBOYS is an acronym made from the first letter of each connector word below.
Before you begin, make sure that you know about an independent clause.

 

 

FANBOYS
COORDINATORS

A coordinator joins like elements, such as, noun phrases, verb phrases, and so on. The coordinator expresses the relationship between the two elements, such as, reason (for) conjunction (and) negation (nor) contrast (but) disjunction (or) unexpected outcome (yet) result (so).

CONNECTOR CLAUSE 1 CLAUSE 2

FOR
reason

He couldn't go home.

He had no place to go.

AND
addition

I took a taxi.

She drove home.

NOR   
and not

He didn't want help.

He didn't ask for it

BUT
contrast

I wanted to go late.

She wanted to go on time.

OR   
option

She cooked dinner.

He took her out to a restaurant.

YET 
outcome

She owned a car.

She didn't know how to drive it.

SO   
result

She had to go.
 

She called a friend to drive her.

 CLAUSES

A coordinator may coordinate parts of a clause (subclausal) or it may coordinate two independent clauses.  In traditional grammar, the clause following the coordinator is called a dependent clause. In linguistic description, the clauses are coordinates of the coordinator. 

COMPOUND SENTENCE / COORDINATE CLAUSES

He couldn't go home , for¹ he had no place to go. 

I took a taxi , and she drove home.

He didn't want help, nor did he ask for it.

I wanted to go late, but she wanted to go on time.

She cooked dinner, or he took her out to a restaurant.

She owned a car, yet she didn't know how to drive it.

She had to go, so she called a friend to drive her.

 

¹for as a connector, is not commonly used in American English
like (adj.) – alike, having similary qualities or characteristics

Also see Grammar Notes , Punctuation and Subject / Predicate.

 

 

 

 

Coordinators

Joining Like Structures

 

 

Elements and Clauses
COORDINATED ELEMENTS

A coordinator joins like elements from various categories: two nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, adjective phrases, adverb phrases, prepositional phrases, noun phrases, etc.

ELEMENT A COORD. ELEMENT B

She waved  a hand  (NP)

and 

a fan (NP)

She played the piano  (VP)

but 

preferred dancing ( VP)

Did she play in the evening ( PP)

or 

in the afternoon ( PP)
 

COORDINATED CLAUSES

A coordinator may also join two clauses that are closely related (share a common idea).  In traditional grammar, this is called an independent clause.  In linguistic description, this is called a nonfinite clause.

CLAUSE A COORD. CLAUSE B

She waved a hand  (CL)

, and    

she waved a fan.    (CL)

She played the piano (CL)

, but

we preferred dancing. (CL)

Did she play in the afternoon (CL)

, or  

did John play in the afternoon? (CL)

 

*The subject may be understood as in a command: Go!  See sentence details.
See Grammar Notes (below) for various terms.

 

 

 

 

Coordinated Clause

Punctuation

 

 

A Comma vs. a Semicolon
TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES SPECIFICALLY RELATED

commaA comma may be placed before a coordinator when joining two independent clauses. Commas separate longer more complicated clauses. Shorter pairs of clauses are often joined without commas.

COMMA

Jack took a taxi, and Anne drove home. / Jack took a taxi and Anne drove home.

Jack didn't want help, nor did he ask for it.

Jack wanted to go late, but Anne wanted to go on time.

Anne had to go, so she called a friend to drive her home.
 

TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES SOMEHOW RELATED

semicolonA semicolon may also be placed between two independent clauses when the idea of the two clauses is closely related. No coordinator is used; the relationship is understood from the context.

SEMICOLON

Jack took a taxi; Anne drove home. (addition)

Jack didn't want help; he didn't ask for it.  (negative addition)

Jack wanted to go late; Anne wanted to go on time.  (contrast)

Anne had to go; she called a friend to drive her home. (result)

 

comma use – "In coordination, punctuation is commonly used to separate one coordinate from the next.  The comma is the default mark; under certain conditions, however, a semicolon (but not a colon) is used instead… CaGEL (20 §3.2.1) 
"Usually a comma immediately precedes the conjunction"  (Azar 16-4)
heavy vs. light punctuation — For some writers, this commas use is an example of "heavy" punctuation. These writers opt for "light" punctuation– no commas. (CaGEL 1727, 1746)   (PEU 510.4)

Also see commas usage in Comma Series.

 

 

 

 

Coordinator / Subordinator

Similarities and Differences (properties)

called a taxi

 

 

 

 

1) Coordinators Join Grammatically Alike Elements
EQUAL

A coordination is a relation between elements of equal status; they must be syntactically alike.  A coordinator joins like elements. (CaGEL  15.2.1.b)

COORDINATOR

We went to a show, but Anne didn't feel well.  clause + clause

 

Anne called a taxi, and she left.    clause + clause

  

UNEQUAL

A subordinator can join elements that are not grammatically alike(before, after, when, while)

SUBORDINATOR

Anne had a headache when arriving.   *clause + gerund

Anne had a headache when she arrived. clause + clause  

Anne called a taxi before leaving.   *clause + gerund

Anne called a taxi before she left.   clause + clause

 

*nonfinite clause + finite clause  (linguistic term)

 

 

 

2) Coordinators Occur Mid-position (not initial-position)
MID-POSITION CONNECTOR

A coordinator or a subordinator may be placed between two like elements or structures.  However, "a coordinator and its coordinate cannot be moved to front position."   (CaGEL  15.2.1.d)

COORDINATOR

Anne wanted leave the theater early, but we wanted to stay.

Anne wanted to leave the theater, so she called a taxi.

Anne wanted to leave, yet she stayed and watched the end of the show.

Anne stayed until the end of the show, for she didn't want to upset us.

SUBORDINATOR

Anne wanted to leave though the show hadn't ended.

Anne wanted to leave because she had a headache.

Anne called a taxi before she left the theater.   (because, though, before, etc.) 

Anne called a taxi when the show ended. (at the moment that)

 

INITIAL-POSITION CONNECTOR

A subordinator and its subordinate clause may be moved to "front position". This is a property of a subordintor not a coordinator; therefore, for, and, nor, but, or,  yet, and so  are not like subordinators in this aspect.

COORDINATOR

*But we wanted to stay, Anne wanted to leave.

*So she called a taxi, Anne wanted to leave.

*Yet she stayed and talked, Anne wanted to leave.

*For she didn't want to upset us, Anne stayed until the end of the show. 

SUBORDINATOR

Though the show hadn't ended, Anne wanted to leave.

Because she had a headache, Anne wanted to leave.  

Before she left the theater, Anne called a taxi.  

When the show ended, Anne called a taxi.  

 

 

Coordinators do not permit "fronting". (CaGEL  15.2.1.d)
? borderline usage (requires special context)   /   * not used
theatre (BrEng)  theater (USEng)

 

 

 

3) Coordinators Permit Clause Reversal  "Reversibility"
CLAUSE A + CLAUSE B

The elements joined by a coordinator are reversible (except so, for and yet).  That is, the order of the coordinates (clauses) does not affect meaning (interpretation or acceptability.)

COORDINATOR

Anne wanted to leave, for it was late.    (for – reason)

Anne wanted leave, and we wanted to stay.

Anne didn't want to walk, nor did she want to take a taxi.

Anne wanted leave, but we wanted to stay.

Anne wanted to walk, or she wanted to take a taxi.

Anne wanted leave early, yet she stayed late.

Anne wanted to leave, so she called a taxi.

SUBORDINATOR

Anne called a taxi before she left.   (After/ Before/ When, etc.)

Anne walked though she was tired.

Anne called a taxi because she needed to leave.   (Because / though)

CLAUSE B + CLAUSE A

The elements joined by a subordinator are not reversible. That is, the order of the clauses affects the interpretation or makes the sentence unacceptable. → Note that for, so, and yet are like subordinators in this aspect.

COORDINATOR

*It was late, for she wanted to leave.

Anne wanted to stay, and we wanted leave.

Anne didn't want to take a taxi, nor did she want to walk.

We wanted to stay, but Anne wanted to leave.

Anne wanted to take a taxi, or she wanted to walk.

?Anne stayed late, yet she wanted to leave early.

*Anne called a taxi, so she wanted to leave.

SUBORDINATOR

*Anne left before she called a taxi.

*Anne was tired though she walked.  

*Anne needed to leave because she called a taxi.
 

 

? borderline usage (requires special context)   /   * not used

 

 

 

 

Common Mistakes

Focus and Solutions

 

 

 

FOCUS    SOLUTION

*We went food shopping, and bought dinner. (clause + phrase)

 

*We bought meat, and vegetables.  (noun + noun) 

We went food shopping and bought dinner. We went food shopping, and we bought dinner.

We bought meat and vegetables.

A comma is not placed before and when joining two similar sentence elements (verb phrases, noun phrases, adjective phrases, adverb phrases, etc.). 

 

*We went food shopping and he washed the car.   (clause + clause)
 

Place a comma before "and" when joining two independent clauses – both elements have a subject and a verb. 

 

We went food shopping, and he washed the car. (comma + and)
We went food shopping.  And he washed the car. (period + And)
We went food shopping; he washed the car. (semi-colon)
We went food shopping. He washed the car. (period)

A comma is placed before and when joining two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning.

We bought meat, vegetables, and fruit.   (OK – items in a series)

We bought meat, vegetables and fruit
Place a comma after items in a series. The last item is joined with an optional comma and
and. 

We bought meat, vegetables, and fruit. (the Oxford comma)

 

*Leave your luggage with your responsibility.  (?)

lightbulb PopQ Leave

You may leave your luggage, but it is your responsibility to watch it.
Leave your luggage at your own risk.

 

 

 

 

 

Coordinators

Beginning a sentence with And, So or But

miracle puppy

 

 

 

The Miracle Puppy  (article without punctuation)

An old cage with five puppies was left outside of an Oklahoma animal shelter but the animal shelter was overcrowded and the puppies were very weak. There was no more room for five puppies so they had to euthanize (kill) them.

All of the puppies except one died. In fact, they euthanized one puppy twice but he wouldn't die  so instead they decided he was a miracle puppy and found him a good home!

 

 

Two Options
MID-SENTENCE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SENTENCE

For some writers, a coordinator (and, but, so, or, yet) is only used between two independent clauses (separated by a comma.) That is, a "conjunction" is not used at the beginning of a sentence. Grammarians (scholars in language use) do not support this restricted use.  (See comments below.)

For other writers, including journalists and academic writers, a coordinator or "conjunction" is used both between two clauses and at the beginning of a sentence.  Read the comments below from well-known grammarians. 

The animal shelter was overcrowded, and the puppies were very weak.

The animal shelter was overcrowded.  And the puppies were very weak.  (emphasis)

There was no more room for five puppies, so they had to euthanize them. kill

There was no more room for five puppies.  So they had to euthanize them. (emphasis)

They euthanized one puppy twice, but he wouldn't die.   (contrast)  

They euthanized one puppy twice.  But he wouldn't die.  (emphasis)

The vet decided he was a miracle puppy, and he found him a good home!
 

So the vet decided he was a miracle puppy. And he found him a good home!

Solution - lightbulb  Pop-Q "but" | The miracle puppy's story

 

 

Grammar Notes

Terms and Comments on Usage

 

 

TRADITIONAL GRAMMAR LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION

In traditional grammar, a conjunction and a coordinating conjunction differ in that a conjunction joins grammatically alike subclausal elements, whereas a coordinating conjunction joins grammatically alike clausal elements. (Azar )  (PEU 510.1-2)

In linguistic description, "coordination is the relation between elements of equal syntactic status, and as such contrast with subordination [unequal syntactic structure]."    (CaGEL  "Properties of prototypical coordinators"  15 §2.1)   

conjunction – is a term for a word that joins two like elements, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, or phrases (but not clauses).

 

conjunction – is a logic function of A + B "both";   ("and" and sometimes "or") Caffeine is found in coffee and tea. Caffeine is found in coffee or tea. ("both").
disjunction – is the logic function of  A / B "one or the other, but not both", "either"; ("or" / "nor") Would you like coffee or tea?  ("one not the other")
 

coordinating conjunctions —for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so — join independent clauses.  The resulting construction is a compound sentence.

 

coordinatorsand, but, or, and nor— join a variety of syntactically alike structures both subclausal (NP, VP, AdjP, Adv, etc.P) and clausal

symmetric constructions –  He got up and he poured some coffee.  (Clause + Clause)
asymmetric constructions – He got up and  __ poured some coffee. (Clause + NP)   (CaGEL "gapped coordination" 15 §4.2);

conditional constructions with and – Look at it and you'll see what I mean.  (CaGEL 15 §2.2.2.4)
 

yet and so – In traditional grammar, yet and so are coordinating conjunctions. In linguistic description, they are connective adverbs, but they may be regarded as "marginal members of the coordinator category" when used in combination with a coordinator:  He took a taxi, and so he arrived early.  He took a taxi, and yet he arrived late. (CaGEL 15 §2.10)

connective adverbsso (result) and yet (contrary to expectation)— join a subordinate clause which may be of unequal syntactic status; do not allow reversible clause position; and may be fronted.   (CaGEL 15 §2.10)  

for, only and so+that  are borderline connectors / prepositions (which take clausal complements)  Huddleston and Pullum (CaGEL)  call them "problematic".   He called a taxi, for he wanted to go home; He wanted to call a taxi, only (except) he had no phone number; He called a taxi, so that he could go home.  (CaGEL 15 §2.11)

compound sentence– In traditional grammar, the joining of two independent clauses is called a compound sentence.

In current linguistic description, "compound" is limited to the joining of two words: sweetheart, blackbird, copycat, egghead, socio-economic, etc.)  See  Hyphens  compounds.
 

CATEGORIES:  NP –noun phrase; N – noun; VP – verb phrase; V – verb; PP – prepositional phrase; P – preposition; AdvP – adverb phrase; Adv – adverb; AdjP– adjective phrase; Adj – adjective: Clause – nonfinite / finite

 

 

 

What grammarians have to say about beginning a sentence with and or but:

and. 3 There is a persistent belief that it is improper to begin a sentence with And, but this prohibition has been cheerfully ignored by standard authors from Anglo-Saxon times onwards. An initial And is a useful aid to writers as the narrative continues.  The OED provides examples from the 9c. to the 19c. ...   Fowler's Modern English Usage (52)

but.  2 Used at the beginning of a sentence.  The widespread public belief that But should not be used at the beginning of a sentence seems to be unshakable.  Yet it has no foundation.  In certain kinds of compound sentences, but is used to introduce a balancing statement of the nature of an exception, objection, limitation or contrast to what has gone before; sometimes, in its weakest form, merely expressing disconnection, or emphasizing the introduction of a distinct or independent fact.  In such circumstances, but is most commonly placed after a semi-colon, but it can legitimately be placed at the beginning of a sentence and frequently is.  Fowler's Modern English Usage (121)

and 1. Everybody agrees that it's all right to begin a sentence with and, and nearly everybody admits to having been taught at some  time in the past that the practice was wrong.  Most of us think the prohibition goes back to our early school days.  Bailey 1984 points out that the prohibition is probably meant to correct the tendency of children to string together independent clause or simple declarative sentences with ands...   — Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage (93)

but 1. Part of the folklore of usage is the belief that there something wrong in beginning a sentence with but: "Many of us were taught that no sentence should begin with but.  If that's what you learned, unlearn it — there is no stronger word at the start.  It announces total contrast with what has gone before, and the reader is primed for the change." — Zinsser 1976  (Several more quotes and examples are included.)   — Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage ( 211)

Beginning a sentence with a conjunction. There is a widespread belief — one with no historical or grammatical foundation — that it is an error to begin a sentence with a conjunction such as and, but, or so.  In fact, a substantial percentage (often as many as 10 percent) of the sentences in first-rate writing begin with conjunctions.  It has been so for centuries, and even the most conservative grammarians have followed this practice.  Charles Allen Lloyd's 1938 words fairly sum up the situation as it stands even today: "Next to the groundless notion that it is incorrect to end an English sentence with a preposition, perhaps the most wide-spread of the many false beliefs about the use of our language is the equally groundless notion that it is incorrect to begin one with 'but' or 'and'. — The Chicago Manual of Style (5.191)

Beginning a sentence with and or some other coordinating conjunction (but, or or nor) can be an effective means—if not overused— of giving special attention to the thought that follows the conjunction. No comma should follow the conjunction at the start of a new sentence unless a parenthetical element occurs at that point.  (Gregg 1101)

 

 

Resources

 

 

 

 

Practice 1

Agent James

hero

 

 

Complete the sentence with a connector.
  1. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence. 
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.

 

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.
(He's undecided.)

9.

10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practice 2

Laptops On Fire

Burned out computer

 

 

 

Read for errors

I heard news on the radio about a fire and my family saw it on the television. They said it was caused by an exploding computer but I didn't understand how. The fire chief called in all his men but he ordered them to stay back.  The building became engulfed in flames so they stood by. The police wanted to inspect the scene of the fire and the fire chief did too. They needed to examine everything for they did not think it was an accident.

The police could not find the source of the fire nor could the fire chief. Either someone set the fire or caused the fire accidentally so they brought in the K-9 unit. Not only did the dogs find the source of the fire but they also found the burned-out computer. The fire chief wanted to close the case yet the police asked to keep it open.

 

They said – "they" is an example of  impersonal pronoun use.

call in (v.) – order to come (to a work location)

engulfed (adj.) – surrounded, covered

inspect the scene (v.) – examine, look very carefully at the details where something happened

source (n.) – the cause of something, the place where it starts

set fire (v.p.) – start a fire; set the fire (past tense) started the fire

K-9 unit – a special canine (dog) search team

close the case (v.p.) – officially end the investigation, end the search for the cause

 

 

 

 

Edit for errors
  1. Edit the sentence in the text box. Punctuate the sentences by adding periods and commas. Do not add any words.
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.

 

11.
I heard news on the radio about a fire and my family saw it on the television.


12.
They said it was caused by an exploding computer but I didn't understand how.


13.
The fire chief called in all his men but he ordered them to stay back.


14.
The building became engulfed in flames so they stood by.


15.
The police wanted to inspect the scene of the fire and the fire chief did too.


16.
They needed to examine everything for they did not think it was an accident.


17.
The police could not find the source of the fire nor could the fire chief.


18.
Either someone set the fire or someone caused the fire accidentally so they brought in the K-9 unit. (to search for fire accelerants)


19.
Not only did the dogs find the source of the fire but they also found the burned-out computer.


20.
The fire chief wanted to close the case yet the police asked to keep it open.


 

 

 

 

 

Practice 3

Relax Jack

Jack relaxing

 

 

 

 

What two elements or structures does the coordinator coordinate?
  1. Select one or more responses.
  2. Read the feedback to check your response with the answer.

NP –noun phrase; VP – verb phrase; AdvP – adverb phrase; AdjP– adjective phrase; PP – prepositional phrase; Cls – clause (independent / nonfinite)

 

21.
After a long day, Jack comes home and relaxes for a while.
               

22.
He is usually very talkative but rather tired.
               

23.
He talks about his activities constantly and in detail.
               

24.
He never asks about my day nor my problems.
               

25.
Then he asks for a glass of water or for a soda.
               

26.
I tell him he can get it himself or do me a favor in the future.
               

27.
He laughs and I tell him "I'm serious."
               

28.
He tells me that I'm a nerd, and so I tell him that I am leaving. 
               

29.
I tell him that, but I get him his soda anyway. 
               

30.
I'm fourteen now, and yet my big brother treats me like a little kid.