Name: ________________________________________________

Section: _____

Date: _______________________

6^th Grade English

Conjunctions

1. A conjunction is a part of speech that connects words, phrases, or clauses.

2. A clause is any group of words with a subject and a predicate.

3. Coordinating conjunctions (or coordinate conjunctions) join equal words, phrases, or clauses.

a. Simple coordinate conjunctions occur alone.

i. For, and, nor, but, or yet

ii. FANBOYS mnemonic

iii. “for” and “yet” only join clauses.

iv. We usually do not start sentences with simple coordinate conjunctions.

b. Correlative conjunctions occur in pairs.

i. Either-or, neither-nor, both-and, not only-but also, and whether-or

4. The word compound is used to describe pairs or groups of words that are equal.

a. “Compound” comes from the Latin prefix com- (together) and ponere (to place)

b. Many parts of speech or parts of a sentence can be compound.

c. If the subject of a sentence is compound, the verb should be plural.

d. Sentences in which clauses are joined by coordinate conjunctions are called compound sentences. In a compound sentence, the clauses are equal.

5. Subordinating (or subordinate) conjunctions join independent clauses to dependent clauses.

a. Common subordinating conjunctions are after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, in order that, if, now that, once, since, so that, than, unless, until, when, where, whereas, and while.

b. Some subordinating conjunctions are called “adverbial conjunctions” because they act as adverbs in the subordinate clause.

c. The clause beginning with the subordinate conjunction is the dependent clause, also called the subordinate clause.

i. A subordinate clause does not stand by itself as a complete sentence.

ii. Independent clauses and dependent clauses can be in any order.

6. Sentences in which clauses are joined by coordinate conjunctions are one type of complex sentence.

7. Another type of complex sentence includes as relative clause.

8. A relative clause is one that begins with a relative pronoun.

a. Relative pronouns include that, which, whichever, who, whoever, whom, and whose.

b. A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Notes:

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Conjunction Vocabulary

Clause.............................................. any group of words with a subject and predicate.

Complex sentence............................ a sentence in which two or more clauses are joined by subordinating conjunctions

Compound sentence......................... sentence in which clauses are joined by coordinate conjunctions

Compound....................................... Made of two or more parts.

Compound-complex sentence........... a sentence with at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause

Conjunction...................................... a part of speech that connects words, phrases, or clauses.

Coordinating conjunction.................. A conjunction that connects equal words, phrases, or clauses.

Correlative conjunction..................... A type of coordinate conjunction that occurs in pairs: either-or, neither-nor, both-and, not only-but also, and whether-or

Dependent clause............................. a subordinate clause, beginning with a subordinate conjunction. The same as a subordinate clause.

Independent clause........................... a clause that can stand by itself as a complete sentence

Relative clause.................................. a clause that begins with a relative pronoun.

Simple coordinate conjunction .......... a coordinate conjunction that occurs alone: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS)

Subordinate clause............................ a dependent clause, beginning with a subordinate conjunction. The same as a dependent clause.

Subordinate conjunction.................... a conjunction that joins a dependent clause to an independent clause.