Grammar, Punctuation, and All That Jazz

Coordinating Conjunction Exercises

Please do these exercises with members of your writing group.

Read each sentence below. Then, decide what kind of relationship is being expressed. Watch for
the presence of inverted word order. Fill in the blanks with the correct coordinating conjunctions
(FANBOYS). See the examples below.

EXAMPLE 1:
I would like to come, ______ I do not have time.
Relationship/Conjunction Choice: Negation/ but
Reason: The second independent clause states that the first one will
not happen.
I would like to come, but I do not have time.
Food for thought: Can a different coordinating conjunction be used here without
changing the meaning of the sentence?

EXAMPLE 2:
He has not written, ______ has he called me.
Relationship: Negative addition
Reason: -- A negative added to another negative.
He has not written, nor has he called me.

EXERCISES
1. I opened the door, __________ then I looked out.
Relationship/ Conjunction Choice: __________/__________
Reason:
________________________________________________________________

2. She was not in the back yard, __________ was she upstairs.
Relationship/ Conjunction Choice: __________/__________
Reason:
________________________________________________________________

3. The sun had set, __________ it was still light outside.

Relationship/ Conjunction Choice: __________/__________
Reason:
________________________________________________________________

4. Do you know his address, __________ do you have his telephone number?

These exercises were partially excerpted from http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/durrus/153/gramex28.html#1

and then extensively modified by your kind and understanding instructor, Mary Kelly Klein, MHCC.
 Relationship/ Conjunction Choice: __________/__________
Reason:
________________________________________________________________

5. He has not arrived yet, __________ have they.

Relationship/ Conjunction Choice: __________/__________
Reason:
________________________________________________________________

6. I read the book, __________I did not understand it.

Relationship/ Conjunction Choice: __________/__________
Reason:
________________________________________________________________

7. We searched diligently, __________ we found nothing.

Relationship/ Conjunction Choice: __________/__________
Reason:
________________________________________________________________

8. I invited Norton to our house for dinner, __________ my roommate invited

Gladys.
Relationship/ Conjunction Choice: __________/__________
Reason:
________________________________________________________________

9. After going to traffic court, I found myself $250 poorer, __________I was
speeding on my way to class and got caught.
Relationship/ Conjunction Choice: __________/__________
Reason:
________________________________________________________________

10. My 89-year old grandmother fell and broke her arm, __________ we
hired a Certified Nurse Assistant to help her until she fully recovered.
Relationship/ Conjunction Choice: __________/__________
Reason:
________________________________________________________________

These exercises were partially excerpted from http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/durrus/153/gramex28.html#1

and then extensively modified by your kind and understanding instructor, Mary Kelly Klein, MHCC.