What is a conjunction for kids?

A joining word. Conjunctions like and, but, so and because link words or ideas together: "I wanted to swim, but the pool was closed."

What are the coordinating conjunctions?

There are seven: for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so. Their first letters spell FANBOYS, which makes them easy to remember.

What are subordinating conjunctions?

Words like because, when, if, although, until and since. They start a clause that depends on the main clause, as in "We stayed in because it was cold."

Is "because" a coordinating conjunction?

No. Because is a subordinating conjunction. The clause it starts, such as "because it was cold," can't stand on its own.

Do you need a comma before "and"?

Use one when and joins two complete sentences: "I washed the dishes, and Sam dried them." Don't use one when it joins two words. In a list, the comma before the final and is a style choice: "red, white and blue" and "red, white, and blue" are both correct.

Is there a free conjunctions worksheet with answers?

Yes. Use the Print a worksheet button on this page for a fresh worksheet each time, with an answer key showing answers only or answers with worked steps.

Grades 1 to 5 (Years 2 to 6 in England)

Conjunctions for kids: FANBOYS, subordinating conjunctions and more

A conjunction is a joining word, like and, but or because. This page explains coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS), subordinating conjunctions and pairs like either and or, with clear examples and comma rules, then gives you free practice and a printable conjunctions worksheet with an answer key.

The rule, step by step

Decide how the two ideas are linked: adding, contrast, choice, result, reason, time or condition.
To join two equal sentences, use a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) with a comma before it.
To join a main idea to one that depends on it, use a subordinating conjunction such as because, when, if, although or until.
If the part with the subordinating conjunction comes first, put a comma after it: "When the bell rang, we lined up."
Read the joined sentence aloud to check it makes sense as one complete thought.

CCSS L.2.1.FCCSS L.3.1.HCCSS L.3.1.ICCSS L.5.1.ACCSS L.5.1.EEngland: Y2 GPS (co-ordination)England: Y3 GPSEngland: Y3 GPS (conjunctions)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Worked example

Join these two sentences with a conjunction: It was raining. We played outside.

Playing outside is surprising after rain, so the link between the ideas is contrast.
The coordinating conjunctions for contrast are but and yet. Put a comma before the conjunction: "It was raining, but we played outside."
The subordinating conjunction for contrast is although: "Although it was raining, we played outside."
"Although it was raining" can't stand alone, so it is the subordinate clause. It comes first, so a comma follows it.
Either answer works: "It was raining, but we played outside." or "Although it was raining, we played outside."

Practice now

Question 1 of 100 correct

Choose the conjunction that makes the most sense. The road was icy, ___ we drove slowly.

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What is a conjunction?

A conjunction is a joining word. It links words, phrases or whole clauses and shows how the ideas connect. In "salt and pepper," and joins two words. In "I was tired, so I went to bed," so joins two clauses and shows that one caused the other.

There are three main kinds: coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions and correlative conjunctions. Each one links ideas in a different way.

Coordinating conjunctions: FANBOYS

Coordinating conjunctions join things of equal weight: two words, two phrases or two complete sentences. There are seven of them, and the word FANBOYS helps you remember them.

For gives a reason, in a formal way: "She smiled, for she knew the answer."
And adds: "I fed the cat, and Dad walked the dog."
Nor adds a second negative: "He doesn't like peas, nor does he like beans."
But shows contrast: "The path was steep, but the view was worth it."
Or gives a choice: "We can walk, or we can take the bus."
Yet shows a surprising contrast: "The test was long, yet nobody complained."
So shows a result: "The store was closed, so we went home."

When a coordinating conjunction joins two complete sentences, put a comma before it, as in every example above. When it joins two words or a short phrase, leave the comma out: cats and dogs, tired but happy.

Subordinating conjunctions

A subordinating conjunction starts a clause that can't stand on its own. "Because it was late" is not a complete sentence. It needs a main clause to lean on: "We went home because it was late." The conjunction makes one idea depend on the other.

Time: when, while, before, after, until, since, as soon as.
Reason: because, since, as.
Condition: if, unless, as long as.
Contrast: although, though, even though, whereas.

The subordinate clause can come first or second. If it comes first, put a comma after it: "If it snows, school will close." If it comes second, you usually don't need one: "School will close if it snows."

Correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions work in pairs: either and or, neither and nor, both and and, not only and but also, whether and or. "You can have either soup or salad." "Neither my brother nor I can whistle." The words after each half should match in form: "She likes both swimming and running," not "both swimming and to run".

Can you start a sentence with because?

Yes, as long as the sentence is complete. "Because it rained, we stayed in" is a full sentence. "Because it rained." on its own is a fragment, and that is what teachers are warning against. Starting a sentence with and or but is also grammatically correct, though some teachers ask young writers to avoid it while they practice joining clauses.

Conjunctions examples at different levels

Grade 1: "I like apples and grapes." And joins two nouns.
Grade 2: "It was cold, so we wore hats." So shows a result.
Grade 3: "We waited until the bus came." Until starts a clause about time.
Grade 4: "Although the puzzle was hard, Rosa finished it." Although shows contrast.
Grade 5: "Neither the map nor the compass helped." Neither and nor work as a pair.

How conjunctions are taught in school

In the US, Common Core asks grade 1 children to use frequently occurring conjunctions such as and, but, or, so and because (L.1.1g). Grade 3 covers coordinating and subordinating conjunctions and simple, compound and complex sentences (L.3.1h, L.3.1i). Grade 5 children explain what conjunctions do in general and in particular sentences (L.5.1a) and use correlative conjunctions such as either/or and neither/nor (L.5.1e).

In England, Year 1 pupils join words and clauses with and. Year 2 adds co-ordination with or, and and but, and subordination with when, if, that and because. In Year 3, pupils use conjunctions to show time, place and cause, and "conjunction", "clause" and "subordinate clause" join the grammar terms. The national curriculum spells co-ordination with a hyphen. Conjunctions are tested on the KS2 grammar, punctuation and spelling test at the end of Year 6.

Conjunctions practice at home

Say a sentence starter like "I was hungry" and take turns finishing it with because, but and so. Each one forces a different idea.
Write FANBOYS on a sticky note on the fridge and tick off each one you hear in a day.
When your child writes lots of short sentences in a row, pick two and ask which joining word would link them best.
Try the practice set below. It asks your child to choose the conjunction that makes sense, join two sentences, find the subordinating conjunction, say whether it shows time, reason, condition or contrast, and complete pairs like neither and nor. Then print a fresh conjunctions worksheet with an answer key.

Common mistakes

Joining two sentences with only a comma: "It was late, we went home" needs a conjunction: "It was late, so we went home."
Leaving out the comma before a coordinating conjunction that joins two sentences, or adding one between two single words, as in "cats, and dogs".
Writing a subordinate clause on its own as a sentence: "Because I was tired." needs a main clause.
Choosing a conjunction that doesn't fit the meaning: "I was hungry, but I ate a sandwich" should use so.
Mixing up the pairs: "neither... or" should be "neither... nor", and "either... nor" should be "either... or".
Putting a comma straight after a subordinating conjunction: "Although, it rained" should be "Although it rained, ..."

Questions people ask

What is a conjunction for kids?: A joining word. Conjunctions like and, but, so and because link words or ideas together: "I wanted to swim, but the pool was closed."
What are the coordinating conjunctions?: There are seven: for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so. Their first letters spell FANBOYS, which makes them easy to remember.
What are subordinating conjunctions?: Words like because, when, if, although, until and since. They start a clause that depends on the main clause, as in "We stayed in because it was cold."
Is "because" a coordinating conjunction?: No. Because is a subordinating conjunction. The clause it starts, such as "because it was cold," can't stand on its own.
Do you need a comma before "and"?: Use one when and joins two complete sentences: "I washed the dishes, and Sam dried them." Don't use one when it joins two words. In a list, the comma before the final and is a style choice: "red, white and blue" and "red, white, and blue" are both correct.
Is there a free conjunctions worksheet with answers?: Yes. Use the Print a worksheet button on this page for a fresh worksheet each time, with an answer key showing answers only or answers with worked steps.

Updated November 1, 2026.

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