FANBOYS - connectors and punctuation

Connectors
Combining Independent Clauses	Framed \| Unframed

Read & Contrast

Two "independent clauses' (each has its own subject and verb) can be joined together using a comma and a connector:

PHRASE CONNECTORS			SENTENCE CONNECTORS
COMPLETE THOUGHT		INCOMPLETE THOUGHT	COMPLETE THOUGHT		COMPLETE THOUGHT
She won election	but	wasn't popular.	She won the election	, but	she wasn't popular.
She played piano	and	directed the choir.	She played piano	, and	he directed the choir.

FANBOYS - For And Nor But Or Yet So

These connectors can join two "independent clauses' together.

	CLAUSE 1	CLAUSE 2	JOINED WITH A COMMA & CONNECTOR
FOR because	He couldn't go home.	He had no place to go.	He couldn't go home , for he had no place to go.
AND addition	I took a taxi.	She drove home.	I took a taxi , and she drove home.
NOR	He didn't want help.	He didn't ask for it	He didn't want help, nor did he ask for it.
BUT contrast	I wanted to go late.	She wanted to go on time.	I wanted to go late, but she wanted to go on time.
OR	She cooked dinner.	He took her out to a restaurant.	She cooked dinner, or he took her out to a restaurant.
YET though	She owned a car.	She didn't know how to drive it.	She owned a car, yet she didn't know how to drive it.
SO result	She had to go.	She called a friend to drive her.	She had to go, so she called a friend to drive her.

Practice

Punctuate the following sentences by adding periods (.) and commas (,) Do not add any words.
Then, check your answer.
Use the Reset button to erase your answers and retest yourself.

Burned out Computer

	YOUR RESPONSE	ANSWER
1.	I heard the news about a fire on the radio and my family saw it on the television. Use your arrow keys to scroll the answer.
2.	They say it was caused by an exploding computer but I didn't understand how.
3.	The fire chief called in all his men but he pulled them back.
4.	The building became engulfed in flames so they stood by.
5.	The police wanted to inspect the scene of the fire and the fire chief did too.
6.	They needed to examine everything for they did not think it was an accident.
7.	The police could not find the source of the fire nor could the fire chief.
8.	Either someone set the fire or someone cause the fire accidentally.
9.	Not only did the dogs find the source of the fire but they also found the burned-out computer.
10.	The fire chief wanted to close the case yet the police needed to keep it open.

Go to Grammar Check | Previous | Next Page

Julie Sevastopoulos - ESL Department - College of San Mateo - San Mateo, CA 94402 USA