2nd grade coordinating conjunctions worksheets
Coordinating conjunctions are the small joining words: and adds ideas together, but points out a difference, or offers a choice. Second graders pick the joiner that fits the meaning of the sentence.
Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core L.1.1.g.
A new sheet every click.
The kind of sentences you'll get
Circle the letter of the joining word that fits the sentence.
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You can be the pitcher the catcher, not both.
but · or · and
Answer: or
- We can either visit Grandma call her tonight. or · and · but
- Priya tried to catch the ball, it bounced away. and · but · or
Every print pulls a fresh set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling never gets the same sheet.
What's on each sheet
- Choose the word. Circle the letter of the joining word that fits the sentence. 8 questions per page.
Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.
How to teach this
Frame each conjunction as a job: and is the adder, but is the difference-spotter, or is the chooser. Read the sentence twice with different joiners and ask which one tells the truth about the two ideas. That "tells the truth" framing works better with 7-year-olds than talking about clauses.
Watch for: The conjunctions aren't interchangeable: 'I fell and I laughed' tells a different story than 'I fell, but I laughed'. Because is a joining word too, but it isn't a coordinating conjunction. The core set here is and, but, or, so, yet.
Common questions about coordinating conjunctions
- What are coordinating conjunctions for a 2nd grader?
- The joining words: and, but, or. And glues two ideas that agree, but joins two that pull apart, or offers a pick between them. Second graders just need those three jobs; the fancier terms can wait.
- How can my child tell whether to use "and" or "but"?
- Ask whether the two halves point the same way. "I like dogs ___ I like cats" points the same way: and. "I like dogs ___ my brother is scared of them" pulls apart: but. Reading both halves before choosing is the whole skill.
Related worksheets
- 1st grade coordinating conjunctions A step easier, same skill
- 3rd grade coordinating conjunctions A step harder, same skill
- 4th grade coordinating conjunctions A step harder, same skill
- 2nd grade action verbs Same grade, nearby skill
- 2nd grade adverbs of how, when, and where Same grade, nearby skill
- 2nd grade articles (a, an, the) Same grade, nearby skill
- Coordinating conjunctions, all grades The full progression
- All 2nd grade English worksheets Every skill at this level
- All 2nd grade worksheets Everything at this level
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Aligned to Common Core L.1.1.g. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 137, updated August 2026.
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