FANBOYS: Coordinating conjunctions, just like the name indicates, coordinate two grammatical elements in a sentence. These are words that can join two separate components that are ranked equally in the grammatical sense. These coordinating conjunctions can join two adjectives or two verbs and so on. They can also join two independent clauses in a sentence or two separate parts in a speech. FANBOYS stands for seven important coordinating conjunctions, and are ‘for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so’ respectively. Easy to remember, right? These are by far the most popularly used conjunctions in English.
FANBOYS
Usage Of The FANBOYS
- For: Used to explain a reason for something. Yes, it might be confusing because ‘for’ is also used as a preposition, but it also successfully describes why a particular thing is happening.
- And: Used to join two or more ideas. It joins two separate parts of a speech, or any two verbs and so on.
- Nor: Used to present a next negative idea. It joins one negative clause with the other. While using ‘nor’ in a sentence, the verb present in the second clause gets reversed.
- But: Used to introduce an opposite idea to a sentence. It shows the contrast or difference between two clauses or phrases.
- Or: Used to show an option or alternative. It is often correlative conjunction, much like ‘nor’, and combined with ‘either’.
- Yet: Used to introduce some contrasting ideas to the sentence. This idea logically follows its initial concept. It often seems that ‘but’ and ‘yet’ are interchangeable, but it is not. The use of ‘but’ introduces a sense of finality to the sentence, but ‘yet’ suggests that the action can be modified.
- So: Used to show a consequence or some final effect or result. It is often used to modify a previously used word.
Examples Of Using FANBOYS
For
- He left the class early for his meeting with his friends.
- My mother eats only healthy food, for she likes to stay fit.
- I go to the theatre, for I love drama.
- Mrs Roy goes to the park daily for her dog loves to run in the grass.
- It would be best if you forgot yesterday’s fight, for each day is a new one.
And
- You can have both pizza and burger if you like.
- He likes to play both volleyball and football.
- I am fluent in English, French and German.
- We should invite both the Patels and the Nairs to the house party.
- Kittens and puppies are all adorable.
Nor
- She could not write nor speak any Spanish.
- Max did none of his tasks, nor did he complete his homework on time.
- I have not been to Canada nor the USA.
- Lily manages her work so well. She does not miss her classes nor her days of work.
- Carl does not like to cycle, nor does he want to walk.
But
- She is in her late 60s but still goes running every day.
- She did not agree at first but could not say no when her mother asked her to go.
- She is pretty well-behaved, but I still do not like her.
- I want to go for a run, but this torrential rain.
- Although he did not say it, but his actions were successful in depicting his anger.
Or
- What would you like to do? Watch a movie indoors or go out and eat?
- I think he might be having dinner or already asleep?
- I cannot decide if I want to take geography for honours or economics.
- Are you an early morning person or a late-night person?
- Tea or coffee, you can choose an option that you like.
Yet
- Although her words do not seem believable, yet I somehow believe them.
- The dessert was extremely sweet, yet it managed to please the food critics.
- I am pretty allergic to prawns, yet I somehow enjoy eating them.
- I’m not particularly eager to go shopping, yet my best friend manages to take me with her.
- I wouldn’t say I like rainy or cloudy weather, yet I chose to settle in the rainiest state of the country.
So
- I like to read, so I keep buying new books every month.
- The stationary shop was closed, so we went to the mall instead to buy the papers.
- Jaspreet was not feeling well, so she went to sleep early.
- I can understand that you had a hectic day, so why don’t you take some rest?
- It would help if you tied your shoelaces so you don’t fall by tripping.