Conjunctions and Transitions

Mrs. Larimore’s 6th gradeEnglish/Language Arts

The class will watch a short video clip called “From Pong to Today” accessed on Flocabulary.com. This transitions rap song uses the history of video games, from Pong, Space Invaders, Final Fantasy, and Angry Birds, to demonstrate how to use conjunctions and transitional words.

Click on the link to watch the video:http://www.flocabulary.com/transitions/

Student Objectives

• Heighten student’s awareness of the use of conjunctions and transitional words and phrases

• Better understanding of how to connect sentences

• Enhanced understanding how to transition logically between thoughts

• Improve writing skills

Different types of conjunctions

Conjunctions are divided into:• coordinating conjunctions• correlative conjunctions• subordinating conjunctions• transitional words or phrases

Coordinating conjunctions

• Coordinating conjunctions connect words of the same kind such as two or more nouns or verbs.

• They can also connect larger groups of words such as prepositional phrases or even complete sentence.

• Students can add variety to their writing by placing subordinating conjunctions, such as “if,” in different locations in a sentence.

Example: If it snows, they will cancel school. They will cancel school if it snows.

Coordinating conjunctions

Common coordinating conjunctions include the following words:

andbut or noror so yet

In the following examples, notice the coordinating conjunctions that connect the underlined words:

Connecting nouns: My cousin and his wife left today for a trip to Washington, D. C.

Connecting verbs: They printed directions but forgot to bring them.

Connecting prepositional phrases: Put the luggage onto the doorstep or into the garage.

Connecting two sentences: The flowers were blooming, yet it was still cold outside.

Correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that connect similar kinds of words or groups of words:

Both . . . and Neither . . . norEither . . . or Whether . . . orNot only . . . but also

In the following examples, notice the correlative conjunctions that connect the underlined words:

Connecting nouns: Either the van or the bus will pick us up.

Connecting pronouns: Neither he nor she is to be blamed.

Connecting verbs: Every morning, she both swims and runs.

Connecting prepositional phrases: She will come, whether by train or by plane, I can’t say.

Connecting two clauses: Not only do they sing but also they dance.

Subordinating conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions connects two types of clauses:• An independent clause - one that can stand

on its own as a complete sentence.• A dependent clause – one that cannot stand

on its own and must be attached to an independent clause. The subordinating conjunction always introduces the dependent idea and connects it to the main idea.

Subordinating conjunctions

Common subordinating conjunctions include the following words: after because than when although before that whenever as where as if till though wherever if since unless while as so that until even though unless as long as in order that whether as soon as 

In the following examples, notice the subordinating conjunctions connecting the underlined dependent idea:

I did the planning after he made the date.When he rested, he felt better. The examples show that the main idea can come at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. When the dependent idea comes first, it must be separated from the main idea with a comma. If the dependent idea comes second, no comma is necessary.

Conjunctive adverbs• Conjunctive adverbs are used as

conjunctions to connect complete ideas.

• They are often used as transitions, connecting different ideas by showing comparisons, contrasts, or results.

• The transitional words and phrases are used in writing to provide coherence and improve organization.

Conjunctive adverbs

Common conjunctive adverbs include the following words: accordingly consequently indeed otherwise again finally instead then also furthermore moreover therefore besides however nevertheless thus

Conjunctive adverbs phrasesCommon conjunctive adverb phrases include the following:

on the contraryin addition to

In the following example, notice the transition connecting the underlined two ideas.

The film was great; however, I prefer the play.

The steak looked delicious; although, the fish smelled more appealing.

Works Cited

Anderson, Jeff, and Kelly Gallagher. Prentice Hall Writing Coach: Writing and Grammar for the 21st Century. Boston: Pearson Education Inc., 2012. 234-242. Print.