Sentence Structure (Combining Sentences through Coordination and Subordination)

Combining Sentences through Coordination Definition

Coordination joins clauses that are equally important.

Coordination uses a comma plus one one of the seven coordinating conjunctions to join independent clauses.

Each of the seven coordinating conjunctions clarifies a specific relationship between equally important ideas:

Conjunction Relationship Example

For Cause Sharon bought an iron with an automatic shut-off, for she was always forgetting to unplug it.

And Addition The temperature has fallen rapidly this afternoon, and the roads are beginning to freeze.

Nor Alternative (negative) Neither his mother nor his father finished college.
Note that in this sentence, the coordinating conjunction joins equal phrases rather than equal clauses. Both applications of coordination are correct.

But Contrast His car isn't running right now, but he intends to repair it before weekend.

Or Alternative We can eat dinner now, or we can wait and eat after the movie.

Yet Contrast He always arrives late, yet he expects everyone else to arrive on time.

So Consequence My mom was born in Italy, so I've always wanted to visit that country.

You can easily remember these seven coordinating conjunctions by remembering the acronym FANBOYS.

Conjunction	Relationship	Example
For	Cause	Sharon bought an iron with an automatic shut-off, for she was always forgetting to unplug it.
And	Addition	The temperature has fallen rapidly this afternoon, and the roads are beginning to freeze.
Nor	Alternative (negative)	Neither his mother nor his father finished college. Note that in this sentence, the coordinating conjunction joins equal phrases rather than equal clauses. Both applications of coordination are correct.
But	Contrast	His car isn't running right now, but he intends to repair it before weekend.
Or	Alternative	We can eat dinner now, or we can wait and eat after the movie.
Yet	Contrast	He always arrives late, yet he expects everyone else to arrive on time.
So	Consequence	My mom was born in Italy, so I've always wanted to visit that country.