Coordination
Name all coordinating conjuctions
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
Once we were at college, Maura and I started having long talks on the phone, first about nothing at all and then about everything.
Once we were at college, -Maura- and I started having long talks on the phone, -first about nothing at all- (and) -then about everything.-
What stands for "Parallel Structure"?
As a general rule, units in a series should have parallel structure, that is, they should be the same kind of grammatical unit, and they should fit into the same "slot" in the sentence.
Define the function of the coordinating conjunction:
Or
Presents an alternative or choice
Coordinating conjunctions are used for?
They are used to join two or more independent clauses or smaller units within a clause.
INSERT THE COORDINATING CONJUNCTION:
I've started dating one of the soccer players, _______ now I have an excuse to watch the game each week.
SO
"The children enjoyed ice cream and jumping around."
Is this sentence has parallel structure?
In this sentence, the coordinating conjunction and joins a noun (ice cream) and a gerund phrase (jumping around).
To correct the problem, turn the noun ice cream into the gerund phrase eating ice cream:
The children enjoyed eating ice cream and jumping around.
No one could persuade the little girl to behave nor keep her from running around.
Is this sentence has parallel structure?
In this sentence, the coordinating conjunction nor joins two main verbs and the words that go with them: persuade the little girl to behave + keep her from running around. The structure is parallel because both elements are verb phrases (sharing the helper could).
Describe the usage of commas with coordinating conjuctions.
When a coordinator joins two independent clauses, it is usually preceded by a comma. When it joins smaller units within a sentence, no comma is nccessary.
INSERT THE COORDINATING CONJUNCTION:
Rocky, my orange tomcat, loves having his head scratched _______ hates getting his claws trimmed.
But
James didn’t know which utensil to use for the first course: a fork, teaspoon or a tablespoon.
Is this sentence has parallel structure?
The conjunction or is joining two noun phrases (a fork, a tablespoon) and one noun by itself (teaspoon), so the structures are not parallel. To correct the error, use three noun phrases, each beginning with a (a fork, a teaspoon or a tablespoon) or three nouns, all sharing the article a (a fork, teaspoon or tablespoon).
For the Christmas party, Claire has agreed to decorate the hall, sew a Santa suit and to bake gingerbread cookies.
Is this sentence has a parallel structure?
In this sentence, the coordinating conjunction and joins a series of infinitive phrases. But the first and last phrase begin with to and the middle one does not. Therefore, the structure is not parallel. The problem can be fixed in two ways:
Claire has agreed to decorate the hall, to sew a Santa suit and to bake gingerbread cookies. (To is used to begin each infinitive phrase.)
Claire has agreed to decorate the hall, sew a Santa suit and bake gingerbread cookies. (All the phrases share to, which is used only once at the beginning of the series.)
Define the function of the coordinating conjunction:
"For"
Explains reason or purpose (just like "because")
Geraldine was not surprised to see the lock of the cupboard smashed. She was not surprised to see the violin gone.
Geraldine was not surprised to see -the lock of the cupboard smashed- and -the violin gone-.
Rosina looked beautiful and stylish, but as if she was feeling nervous.
Is this sentence has parallel structure?
In this sentence, the coordinating conjunction but joins a dependent clause (as if she was feeling nervous) to a series of adjectives (beautiful and stylish). The structure is not parallel. To fix the problem, change the dependent clause to an adjective: Rosina looked beautiful and stylish, but nervous.
Define the function of the coordinating conjunction:
Yet
Introduces a contrast, despite something [synonyms = nevertheless, but still]
Define the function of the coordinating conjunction:
"Nor"
Used to present an alternative negative idea to an already stated negative idea
Reverend Wright is a man who served his country as a United States Marine. He is a man who has studied and lectured at some of the finest universities and seminaries in the country. He is a man who for over thirty years led a church that serves the community by doing God’s work here on Earth.
Reverend Wright is a man -who served his country as a United States Marine, who has studied and lectured at some of the finest universities and seminaries in the country-, and -who for over thirty years led a church that serves the community by doing God's work here on Earth-.
The suspect told the officer that he had an alibi and to leave him alone.
Is this sentence has parallel structure?
In this sentence, the coordinating conjunction and joins a dependent clause (that he had an alibi) and an infinitive phrase (to leave him alone). Therefore, the structure is not parallel. To fix the problem, reword:
The suspect told the officer that he had an alibi and that the officer should leave him alone. (two dependent clauses, both beginning with that)
The suspect said that he had an alibi and told the officer to leave him alone. (two predicates beginning with the simple past verbs said and told
Why is 'because' not a coordinating conjunction?
“Because” does not coordinate two main clauses as do the conjunctions, “and” or “but.” The two main clauses which are joined by coordinating conjunctions are in equal value to one another. “Because” is a conjunction, of course, but it is used to introduce a subordinate clause that carries the reason or explanation for the main clause.