Coordinating Conjunctions

When it comes to coordinating conjunctions, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. In this article, we will discuss some tips and tricks that will help you get the job done right! Coordinating conjunctions are words like ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘or’, and so on. They connect two independent clauses. If you want to learn how to use them correctly, read on!

What Are Coordinating Conjunctions?

The words that join two or more items of equal grammatical importance are Coordinating conjunctions. In other words, they join together parts of a sentence that could stand alone as separate sentences. The most common coordinating conjunctions are, ‘but’, ‘or’, ‘yet’, ‘for’, ‘and’, ‘nor’ and ‘so’.

Coordinating Conjunctions Examples

Coordinating conjunctions can be used to join two independent clauses together into a single sentence. For example:

I love skiing, and I love snowboarding.

In this example, ‘and’ is the coordinating conjunction that joins together the two independent clauses ‘I love skiing’ and ‘I love snowboarding’. The result is a single, complex sentence.

Here are some more examples of complex sentences created with coordinating conjunctions:

• I wanted to go out, but it was raining.
• She wasn’t sure what she wanted to study, so she took a gap year.
• He didn’t study for the test, yet he still got an A.
• I am going to the store, and I need money.
• She is a very good dancer, but she is not a good singer.
• The party was yesterday, yet I am still tired.

Rules of Coordinating Conjunctions In A CLAT Exam

There are three important rules that you must keep in mind while using coordinating conjunctions in a CLAT exam:

1. Coordinating conjunction must always be followed by a comma.
2. You can use only one coordinating conjunction at a time.
3. Coordinating conjunction can never be used to connect two independent clauses.

Sample Questions: 

Now that we know the rules of using coordinating conjunction, let us see how to use them in a sentence. Read the following questions and answer them by choosing the option which uses the coordinating conjunction correctly.

1. I) She didn’t study for the test ____ she still got an A.
2. a) so
3. b) and
4. c) but
5. d) because

1. b) and

The coordinating conjunction “and” is used to connect two independent clauses. In this sentence, the first clause (She didn’t study for the test) is not connected to the second clause (she still got an A). Therefore, “but” is the correct coordinating conjunction to use.

1. II) The flowers ____ the bees were blooming.
2. a) and
3. b) so
4. c) or
5. d) yet

1. a) and

The coordinating conjunction “and” is used to connect two independent clauses. In this sentence, both the flowers and the bees are mentioned. Hence, “and” is the correct coordinating conjunction to use.

III) I don’t know whether to go ____ stay.

1. a) or
2. b) and
3. c) so
4. d) but

1. c) so

The coordinating conjunction “so” is used to show a result. In this sentence, the speaker is not sure whether to go or stay. The use of “so” shows that the speaker has decided to do one of the two things mentioned.

1. IV) We went out ____ it started raining.
2. a) but
3. b) and
4. c) so
5. d) or

1. a) but

The coordinating conjunction “but” is used to connect two independent clauses. In this sentence, the first clause (We went out) is not connected to the second clause (it started raining). Therefore, “but” is the correct coordinating conjunction to use.

Conclusion 

Coordinating conjunctions are words like and, but, or, for, so, and yet that connect two independent clauses. They help to make your writing smoother and more concise. In English class, we learn about the different types of coordinating conjunctions and how to use them in a sentence. But what about in the real world? How do we use coordinating conjunctions when we’re emailing a client or sending a text message? Let’s take a look at some examples. When you’re emailing someone, you can start a new sentence with a coordinating conjunction to show continuity between ideas. For example, “I wanted to let you know that I received the package, but I haven’t had a chance to open it yet.” You can also use coordinating conjunction in the middle of a sentence to connect two ideas. For example, “I opened the package, and I was surprised to see what was inside.” When you’re sending a text message, you can use coordinating conjunction at the beginning of a sentence to start a new thought. For example, “I’m really tired tonight, and I don’t think I can go out.” You can also use coordinating conjunction in the middle of a sentence to connect two thoughts. For example, “I went out anyway, but I didn’t stay out for long.” As you can see, coordinating conjunctions are a versatile tool that can be used in a variety of situations. Keep them in mind the next time you’re writing, and see how smoothly your sentences flow!