FANBOYS: 7 Important Coordinating Conjunctions

FANBOYS! Coordinating conjunctions are the most popular category of English conjunctions. Simply put, they bring ideas together. They can join words, phrases, and clauses. In this lesson, you will learn a common coordinating conjunctions list in English.

Table of Contents

FANBOYS – Coordinating Conjunctions

FOR

The meaning of FOR is because or since. For as a conjunction is used to explain reason or purpose. (like “because” or ”since”)

Examples:

He doesn’t want to buy any electronical devices, for they are very expensive these days.
My teacher loves me very much, for I am a successful student.
I have to find a new job, for I am unemployed.
She gets weight easily, for she eats everything very quickly.
Scientists are trying to find a new livable planet, for the world is coming to the end.

AND

One of the most used words in English is ‘AND‘. It can be shortened by “&” sign in English. It means in addition to. And is used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that have the same grammatical function in a construction.

Examples:

I’m a husband and father.
He came in the house and the phone began to ring.
I work in a post office. And I also work in a library.
She talked and listened.
Please calm down, Let’s wait and see.

NOR

It means and not. NOR is used before the second or last of a set of negative possibilities, usually after “neither”.

Examples:

She didn’t talk to her friends nor did she call her family.
He can’t attend the meeting and nor can Ally.
Neither Klevin nor Janny were at the school yesterday.
Neither my son nor my daughter like drinking milk.
Today is neither the first nor the last day of the month.
Neither my parents nor my friends supported me.

BUT

The meaning of BUT is however. It is used to show a disagreement between clauses, or to connect ideas that contrast.

Also BUT means “except” when it is used after words such as all, everything/nothing, everyone/no one, everybody/nobody.

Examples:

I have got a home, but I haven’t got a car.
I go to work on Mondays, but I don’t go to work on Saturday.
He is very good at playing football but not at riding a bike.
Emmy goes to bed early, but She is always late for work.
He loves to read books on that date, but he hates taking notes.
He said he would live with his family, but he gave up after that.

OR

It means either. OR is used to connect different possibilities.

Examples:

Sally lives in London or New York.
Which color do you like red or blue?
Does Clark have any brothers or sisters?
Do you spend more time with your friends or with your family?
Teenagers need to sleep seven or eight hours a night.
We can cook soup for dinner, or we can just eat leftovers.
She studies hard for this exam or she fails.
I will go to the party or stay at home.

YET

It means but. YET is used to introduce a contrasting idea that follows the preceding idea logically.

Examples:

Tomy plays basketball well, yet his favorite sport is football.
Supporters of both teams complained about extreme heat, yet they continue to watch the match.
I really wanted my son to study at university, yet he left the school.
She lost the racing, yet she was happy to take part in such a contest.