Conjunctions list
A conjunction joins words, phrases or clauses. There are three kinds: coordinating conjunctions join equal parts, subordinating conjunctions start a clause that cannot stand alone, and correlative conjunctions come in pairs. This list gives all three.
Free printable PDF, 2nd grade to 8th grade.
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What is on the sheet
Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)
| Conjunction | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| for | gives a reason | We went inside, for it was cold. |
| and | adds | I like apples, and my sister likes pears. |
| nor | adds a second no | He did not call, nor did he write. |
| but | shows a difference | The test was long, but it was easy. |
| or | gives a choice | We can walk, or we can ride our bikes. |
| yet | shows a surprise | The sun was out, yet it felt cold. |
| so | shows a result | It started to rain, so we ran home. |
Subordinating conjunctions
| To show | Conjunctions | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Time | after, before, when, whenever, while, since, until, once, as soon as | Wash your hands before you eat. |
| Reason | because, since, as, so that | We stayed in because it was raining. |
| Condition | if, unless, as long as, even if, in case | You can play if you finish your work. |
| Contrast | although, though, even though, whereas, while | Although he was tired, he kept going. |
| Place | where, wherever | Sit wherever you like. |
| Comparison | than, as if, as though | She runs faster than I do. |
Correlative conjunctions
| Pair | Example |
|---|---|
| both ... and | Both Mia and Leo can swim. |
| either ... or | You can have either soup or salad. |
| neither ... nor | Neither the cat nor the dog was hungry. |
| not only ... but also | She sings not only well but also loudly. |
| whether ... or | Tell me whether you are coming or staying. |
The three kinds
FANBOYS spells the seven coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. They join two parts of the same weight, such as two sentences. When they join two sentences, a comma goes before the conjunction.
A subordinating conjunction starts a clause that leans on the rest of the sentence: "because it was raining" is not a sentence alone. When that clause comes first, put a comma after it: Although he was tired, he kept going. Correlative conjunctions work in pairs, and both halves have to be there.
Which grade learns which
1st grade uses the common conjunctions, such as and, but, or, so and because (CCSS L.1.1g). 3rd grade explains coordinating and subordinating conjunctions (L.3.1h), and 5th grade adds the correlative pairs such as either ... or (L.5.1e).
Common questions
- Is because a coordinating conjunction?
- No. Because is a subordinating conjunction: the clause it starts cannot stand alone. The coordinating conjunctions are only the seven FANBOYS words.
- Can since and while be more than one kind?
- Yes. Since can show time (since Monday) or a reason (since you asked). While can show time (while we waited) or contrast (while I like tea, he likes coffee). The list puts them under both.