Reading and Writing · 10 · Grammar Foundations
Conjunctions
Notes
Key points
- Coordinating: FANBOYS — for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
- Two full sentences joined by FANBOYS need a comma before it.
- Subordinating: because, although, while, since, when, if — they make a clause dependent.
- Correlative pairs: either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also, both/and.
- Pick by logic: but/yet = contrast, so = result, and = addition.
Rules
Comma + FANBOYS joins two independent clauses.
The test was hard, but most students passed.
The test was hard but, most students passed.
Correlative pairs must match.
Neither the map nor the guide was helpful.
Neither the map or the guide was helpful.
One link, one conjunction.
Although it rained, the game continued.
Although it rained, but the game continued.
Common traps
- Putting the comma after “but” or “and” instead of before it.
- Opening with “Although” and then adding “but” or “however”.
- Writing “not only … and” instead of “not only … but also”.
SAT tip
Read both halves: same direction → and / so; opposite direction → but / yet / although.
Test yourself
10 official SAT questions on Conjunctions, easiest first.