FANBOYS (Coordinating Conjunctions)
What do the letters in FANBOYS stand for?
What is For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So?
What is the exposition in a story?
What is the beginning of the story where the characters and setting are introduced?
What is an antecedent?
A. A verb that shows what the subject is doing
B. A noun that a pronoun replaces or refers to
C. A word that connects two sentences
D. A describing word that tells what something looks like
What is B. A noun that a pronoun replaces or refers to?
Example:
Liam lost his backpack.
(“Liam” is the antecedent; “his” is the pronoun.)
What does the prefix "un-" mean?
A. Again
B. Before
C. Not or opposite of
D. Under
What is C. Not or opposite of?
Explanation:
“Un-” means not or the opposite of.
Example: unhappy = not happy.
Which sentence is an example of a simile?
A. The classroom was a zoo.
B. Her smile was as bright as the sun.
C. The thunder grumbled in the distance.
D. He runs faster than sound.
What is B. Her smile was as bright as the sun?
Explanation:
A simile compares two things using like or as.
I wanted to go outside, but it started to rain.
What is but?
During which part of the plot does the main character face the biggest problem or turning point in the story?
What is the climax?
The climax - it's the most exciting or intense moment where the main conflict reaches its peak.
In this sentence, what is the antecedent of the pronoun she?
Mia said she would help clean the classroom.
What is Mia?
Explanation:
“She” refers back to “Mia,” so “Mia” is the antecedent.
What is the root word in replay?
A. play
B. re
C. replay
D. plays
What is A. play?
Explanation:
“Re-” is the prefix meaning again, and “play” is the root or base word.
Which sentence uses personification?
A. The wind whispered through the trees.
B. The clouds were fluffy like cotton.
C. The snake was a slippery rope.
D. The rain poured a million gallons.
What is A. The wind whispered through the trees?
Explanation:
Personification gives human qualities to nonhuman things (the wind can’t whisper in real life).
Combine these two sentences using a FANBOYS conjunction to make a compound sentence:
I studied for the test. I still felt nervous.
What is I studied for the test, but I still felt nervous?
or
What is I studied for the test, yet I still felt nervous?
(Either “but” or “yet” shows contrast and works correctly.)
Put these plot diagram parts in the correct order:
1. Resolution
2. Exposition
3. Climax
4. Rising Action
5. Falling Action
What is exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, then resolution?
Choose the correct pronoun to complete the sentence:
The dogs barked loudly until ______ owner came home.
A. its
B. their
C. it's
What is B. their?
Explanation:
“Dogs” is plural, so the plural pronoun “their” agrees with it.
The word preview has the prefix “pre-.”
What does the word preview most likely mean?
A. To watch something after it happens
B. To watch something before it happens
C. To avoid watching something
D. To change how something is watched
What is B. To watch something before it happens?
Explanation:
“Pre-” means before, and “view” means to see → to see before.
What does the idiom “break the ice” mean?
A. To literally break frozen water
B. To ruin a fun moment
C. To start a conversation and make people feel comfortable
D. To make a big mistake
What is C. To start a conversation and make people feel comfortable?
Explanation:
An idiom has a meaning different from its literal words.
Which sentence uses correct punctuation with a FANBOYS conjunction?
A. I like to read, but, I do not like to write.
B. I like to read but I do not like to write.
C. I like to read, but I do not like to write.
D. I like to read but, I do not like to write.
What is C. I like to read, but I do not like to write?
Explanation:
A comma ALWAYS has to to go in front of FANBOYS words.
In the story "The Three Little Pigs", which events are part of the rising action?
A. The Big Bad Wolf falls into the pot of boiling water.
B. The pigs build their houses out of straw, sticks, and bricks.
C. The Big Bad Wolf runs away and never returns.
What is B. The pigs build their houses out of straw, sticks, and bricks?
This happens before the main problem (the wolf attacking), and it builds up to the climax when the wolf tries to blow the houses down.
Choose the sentence that shows correct pronoun–antecedent agreement:
A. Every student turned in their paper.
B. Every student turned in his or her paper.
C. Every students turned in his or her paper.
What is B. Every student turned in his or her paper?
Explanation:
“Every student” is singular, so it needs a singular pronoun: “his or her.”
What does the word misbehave most likely mean based on the prefix and root?
A. To act the right way
B. To act before others
C. To act wrongly or badly
D. To act again and again
What is C. To act wrongly or badly?
Explanation:
mis- = wrong or badly
behave = to act
→ misbehave means to act wrongly or badly.
Which sentence contains alliteration?
A. The pancakes popped on the pan.
B. The big brown bear boldly bounced a ball.
C. The cat purred softly on the couch.
D. The stars twinkled in the sky.
What is B. The big brown bear boldly bounced a ball?
Explanation:
Alliteration is the repetition of the same beginning sound in words close together (the “b” sound here).
Which sentence uses the FANBOYS conjunction correctly to show cause and effect, and why is it correct?
A. I wanted to go to the game, but my friend gave me a ride.
B. I wanted to go to the game, so my friend gave me a ride.
C. I wanted to go to the game, for my friend gave me a ride.
What is B. I wanted to go to the game, so my friend gave me a ride?
The conjunction “so” correctly shows cause and effect — I wanted to go (cause), so my friend gave me a ride (effect).
“But” shows contrast (not cause/effect).
“For” means “because,” but it sounds awkward in this context and is not how people normally speak.
A story ends with the main character learning to forgive a friend after a big argument.
Which part of the plot diagram does this even belong to, and why?
What is resolution?
Resolution – It shows how the conflict is solved or wrapped up, and the character’s growth or lesson learned.
Which sentence uses pronouns correctly?
A. When Jake and Ryan saw the storm, they ran inside.
B. When Jake and Ryan saw the storm, he ran inside.
C. When Jake saw the storm, they ran inside.
What is A. When Jake and Ryan saw the storm, they ran inside?
Explanation:
The pronoun “they” correctly refers to the plural antecedent “Jake and Ryan.”
The other options mismatch singular/plural forms.
What does the word unpredictable mean based on its prefix, root, and suffix?
A. Able to be predicted again
B. Not able to be predicted
C. Always predicted correctly
D. Before being predicted
What is B. Not able to be predicted?
Explanation:
un- = not
predict = to say what will happen
-able = able to be
→ Not able to be predicted.
What type of figurative language is being used in this sentence, and what does it mean?
“He has the strength of Hercules.”
What is Allusion and the person is very strong?
Allusion – It refers to Hercules, a hero from Greek mythology known for great strength.
Meaning: The person is very strong.
Explanation:
An allusion is a reference to a famous person, story, or event to create a comparison or connection.