Coordinating Conjunctions
A conjunction is a joining word. It connects words or ideas together in a sentence.
What You'll Learn
- How to use the word "and" to join words together
- How to use "and" to join two simple ideas in one sentence
When to Use
- Joining two things: "I have a pen and a book."
- Joining two actions: "She runs and jumps."
- Joining two ideas: "I like cats and he likes dogs."
How to Form
The word "and" goes between the words or ideas you want to join.
| What you want to say | How to join with "and" |
|---|---|
| I like rice. I like noodles. | I like rice and noodles. |
| She is kind. She is smart. | She is kind and smart. |
| Tom reads. Tom writes. | Tom reads and writes. |
| I drew a cat. I drew a dog. | I drew a cat and a dog. |
Remember: Put "and" between the two words or ideas you want to join. You do not need to say the same thing twice!
Key Rules
- "And" joins things that go together: Use "and" when both things are true or happen together. "I eat rice and chicken."
- "And" can join words or sentences: You can join two nouns, two verbs, or two short sentences. "Mum and Dad are home." / "I read and write every day."
- Do not start a sentence with "and": In writing, begin your sentence with a different word. Write "I like apples. I also like oranges." instead of "And I like oranges."
Common Mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I like cats and like dogs. | I like cats and dogs. | No need to repeat "like" after "and" |
| I have a pen, a ruler, and a book and an eraser. | I have a pen, a ruler, a book, and an eraser. | Use commas for a list, with one "and" before the last item |
| She is tall and she is tall. | She is tall. | Do not join the same idea twice |
Clue Words
Words you can join with "and":
two nouns, two verbs, two describing words
- "a cat and a dog" (two nouns)
- "run and jump" (two verbs)
- "big and strong" (two describing words)
Tip: Think of "and" as a plus sign (+). "Cats + dogs = cats and dogs."
Practice Tips
- The plus sign trick: When you see two things that go together, think of a plus sign (+) between them. Then change the plus sign to "and".
- Cut the repeat: After you write a sentence with "and", check if you said the same word twice. If you did, cross out the extra word.
Quick Reference
| Use "and" to join | Example |
|---|---|
| Two nouns | I eat rice and fish. |
| Two verbs | We sing and dance. |
| Two describing words | She is kind and funny. |
| Two ideas | I play at home and she plays at the park. |