Combining Sentences and Clauses
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions are used with commas to connect two independent clauses (complete
sentences with a subject and a verb). Remember FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.
The sentence pattern is IC, cc IC. The goat ate my hat, and the horse ate my Cheerios.
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions join an independent clause to a dependent clause.
DC, IC.
Because the goat ate my hat, my head was sunburned.
IC DC.
The horse ate my Cheerios because I left them in the barn.
(common examples)
After
Even
though
Since
Although
How
So
Whenever
As
If
So that
Where
As if
In case
Than
Whereas
As though
In (order) that
That
Wherever
Because
In so far as
Though
Whether
Before
Once
Unless
While
Even if
Rather than
Until
When
Conjunctive Adverbs
Conjunctive adverbs (ca) (sometimes called adverbial conjunctions) may be used with a
semicolon to join two independent clauses.
The sentence pattern is IC; ca, IC. My team lost; consequently, it dropped in the rankings.
(common examples)
Accordingly Finally
Likewise
Specifically
Also
Furthermore
Meanwhile
Still
Anyway
Hence
Moreover
Then
Besides
However
Nevertheless
Thereafter
Certainly
Incidentally
Now
Therefore
Consequently Indeed
Otherwise
Thereafter
Conversely Instead
Similarly
Thus
Undoubtedly
Prepositions
A preposition comes before a noun to create a phrase that modifies another word in the sentence.
I threw a wrench into the works. A prepositional phrase at the beginning of a sentence generally
ends in a comma:
Below the waterline, barnacles were building a city on the keel of my boat.
Prepositions inside or at the end of an independent clause do not require commas, as in the
sentence above.
(common examples)
About
Below
Except
Only
To
Via
Above
Beside
For
Out
Toward
Across
Between
From
Over
Underneath
After
But
In
Past
Unlike
Along
By
Into
Respecting
Until
Among
Around
As
Before
Behind
Concerning
Considering
Despite
Down
During
Like
Near
Next
Of
On
Round
Since
Than
Through
Till
Up
Upon
With
Within
Without
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns refer to nonspecific persons or things.
Someone took all the Hershey's kisses. Everybody in the class is in deep trouble.
All
Any
Anybody
Anything
Anyone
Both
Each
Either
Everybody
Everyone
Everything
Few
Many
Neither
No one
Nobody
Nothing
Several
Some
Somebody
Someone
Something