Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions

Objectives:

• Identify and describe compound and complex sentences
• Identify and use coordinating conjunctions
• Identify and use subordinating conjunctions

Compound Sentence

• A compound sentence is made by joining two simple sentences together, using a coordinating conjunction. .
• Examples:
• He opened the door. He walked into the streets. ( two simple sentences)
• He opened the door, and he walked into the streets. (one compound sentence)

Complex Sentence

• A complex sentence is a sentence that contains an independent clause and a dependent clause linked by a subordinating conjunction.
• Example:
• I warmed the soup in the microwave because it was too cold.
• Because the soup was too cold, I warmed it in the microwave.

Complex Sentence

• A complex sentence is a sentence that contains an independent clause and a dependent clause linked by a subordinating conjunction.
• Example:
• I warmed the soup in the microwave because it was too cold.
• Because the soup was too cold, I warmed it in the microwave.

Conjunctions

• A conjunction is a word that is used to join words, phrases, or sentences.
• Examples:
• The meat was tough and tasteless. (joining 2 words)
• His house was over the hills but not far away (joining 2 phrases)
• I bought this DVD because you told me it was good (joining 2 sentences)

Coordinating Conjunctions

• Coordinating conjunctions such as and, but, and or are used to combine two or more subjects, predicates, or sentences to make compound subjects, predicates, or sentences.

Example:

• Chariot races and foot races were part of the game. (compound subject)
• Chariot races and foot races were part of the game. (compound subject)
• I wanted to see the long jump, but I was too late. (compound sentence)

Subordinating Conjunctions

• Subordinating conjunctions such as because, if, when, although, before, and after are used to link dependent clauses and independent clauses in complex sentences.

Example:

• She is a good runner because she practices.
• Before the game began, all was stopped.