PDF Printable List Of Conjunctions
The List Makes Learning Easy

The first printable below is a list of conjunctions and it teaches the coordinating, subordinate, and correlative conjunctions. The two worksheets offer practice, one in manuscript, and the other in cursive writing.

A list is super helpful for beginners both to understand the function and to recognize the actual words.

ESL students need only translate to their own language. 

As with the English definition of many terms, descriptive words usually have the same definition or meaning that they have in other uses. 

If you recognize the base or root word of the grammar term you can figure its definition. Their functions are the same no matter what the newest text book calls it.

So what are conjunctions in English grammar?

Definition Of Conjunction

Conjunction - A conjunction is a word, or group of words, that joins sentence parts, sentences, and paragraphs. It does not take an object as does a preposition.

There are, generally, subordinating, coordinating, and correlative conjunctions (these last are the same as correlative coordinating).

• Conjunction definition: Conjunction means "to join", 
• subordinate means "lower in order", 
• coordinate means "with order", and 
• correlate means "with relation" and so on. 

Basically, the words mean what they mean in other English uses.

List of Conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunction Definition

 What is a coordinating conjunction?

• A coordinating conjunction is a word, or group of words that join sentence parts, sentences, and paragraphs that are of the SAME order or rank (coordinate): two subject nouns, two predicate verbs, two adjective modifi ers, two independent clauses, two dependent clauses, etc.

See examples below. See more grammar definitions here.

Coordinating Conjunction List

Coordinating Conjunction List (means with order): These seven can be rearranged to form the acronym FANBOYS:

• and, 
• but, 
• or, 
• nor, 
• for, 
• so, 
• yet

Correlative Conjunctions Definition

What are correlative conjunctions?

• A correlative conjunction is a coordinating conjunction that is PAIRED with another. The common correlative conjunctions are: both – and; either – or; if (whether) – or; neither – nor; not only – but also; whether – or.
  

See examples below and more definitions here.

Correlative Conjunction List

Correlative Conjunctions List (means with relation): These words work in pairs to join words and phrases of equal importance:

Subordinating Conjunction Definition

What is a subordinating conjunction?

• (means subordinators) Words that connect dependent and independent clauses, words that introduce an adverb clause. 
  

Subordinating Conjunction List

Subordinate Conjunction List - same as a Subordinating conjunctions.

Subordinate means under or lower order: These words join a dependent clause to an independent clause in a complex sentence.

At first this looks like a huge list of conjunctions; yet once kids understand that there's a joining and that these words make the rest of the phrase so it cannot stand on its own, it's easier for them to see the subordination because they can see the dependence on the main part of the sentence.

A very good question is "Can the clause stand on its own?" If not, the first word is a subordinate conjunction.

Subordinating conjunctions examples:

List Of Subordinating Conjunctions

More than 20 examples of subordinating conjunctions:

Subordinating Conjunctions Exercises

Have your students choose 5 examples of subordinating conjunctions and use them in an original sentence. This sure gets kids thinking and helps them remember over time.

Is Because A Coordinating Conjunction?

Is because a conjunction?

Yes because it joins two clauses.

Is it coordinating?

No, the word because is a subordinating conjunction and can be used to show cause and effect.

• I help you, because I love you.

Love is the cause of the effect help.

Because is subordinate because the clause "because I love you." cannot stand on its own in a simple sentence.

Basic Conjunctions Worksheets PDF

These English grammar conjunction worksheets use quick examples of conjunctions in a simple manner for beginners.

An example of joining subjects where and is the conjunction:

• The cat and dog are his.

An example of joining verbs where and is the conjunction:

• They play and run.

2 PDF Conjunction Worksheets With Paired Conjunctions

This first printable has two worksheets that can be printed back to back on two sides. 

Manuscript Print Conjunctions Exercises

The next two grammar downloads have conjunction example sentences. The first download is in manuscript handwriting and the second is in cursive writing. Both show how conjunctions are used.

These super simple sentences show basic conjunctions in light gray font.

Cursive Grammar Exercises Conjunctions Worksheets 5th Grade

This last download is the same as the one above; yet in cursive writing and it runs to three pages showing how to use conjunctions in a sentence.

Diagramming Conjunctions

Sentence diagramming is easier when you can tell the difference between a simple sentence, a compound sentence, and a complex sentence.

A list of conjunctions is a huge help with this.

It's best to memorize the list, yet usually repeating the list a few times once in a while is very helpful for recognizing them in sentences. You can make this review briefly before each lesson and kids won't even realize they're "studying". 

Compound-complex sentences are easier to recognize, too.

Get students familiar with the list of conjunctions to make it easier to recognize these kinds of sentences with their subordinate clauses.

We have diagramming sentence charts and worksheets here that will let kids practice using conjunctions in compound and complex sentences.

Diagramming will help kids "see at a glance" what conjunctions do with compound nouns and subject verb agreement (singular and plural noun worksheets).

Diagramming is like having a road map to grammar.

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