✏️ WritingGrade 3Lesson 8
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Grammar — Conjunctions, Commas, and Punctuation

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Use conjunctions to join words, phrases, or complete sentences
  • 2Place a comma before a FANBOYS conjunction that joins two complete sentences
  • 3Place a comma after an introductory dependent clause
  • 4Use the Oxford comma in a list of three or more items
  • 5End every sentence with the correct punctuation mark
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Mini Lesson

A conjunction is a joining word. It connects words, phrases, or whole sentences together. Knowing when to add a comma with a conjunction makes your writing clearer and easier to read.

Coordinating Conjunctions — FANBOYS

  • The seven coordinating conjunctions are: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So — remember them as FANBOYS.
  • When a FANBOYS word joins two complete sentences (independent clauses), place a comma before the conjunction.
  • Example: She wanted a puppy, but her parents said no.
  • Example: We can swim today, or we can wait until Saturday.

Subordinating Conjunctions — because, although, when, if...

  • Subordinating conjunctions start a dependent clause — a group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence.
  • When the dependent clause comes first, place a comma after it before the main clause.
  • Example: Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
  • When the main clause comes first, no comma is needed: We stayed inside because it was raining.

Commas in a List (Oxford Comma)

  • When listing three or more items, put a comma after each item except the last.
  • The comma before the final and or or is called the Oxford comma — always use it to keep the meaning clear.
  • Example: She loves art, science, and reading.

End Punctuation

  • A period (.) ends a statement: He closed the door.
  • A question mark (?) ends a question: Did he close the door?
  • An exclamation mark (!) ends a sentence showing strong feeling: The door is open!
FANBOYS coordinating conjunctions tableA table showing the seven coordinating conjunctions spelled out as FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So. Below the table, a note reads: comma before FANBOYS when joining two complete sentences.Coordinating ConjunctionsF — A — N — B — O — Y — SF— ForA— AndN— NorB— ButO— OrY— YetS— SoComma BEFORE a FANBOYS wordwhen joining two complete sentences.
FANBOYS — the seven coordinating conjunctions. Use a comma before them when joining two complete sentences.
Comma placement in sentencesThree examples: compound sentence with comma before but, introductory clause starting with Because with comma after raining, and a list of three items with the Oxford comma before and.Comma Placement1. Before FANBOYS (two complete sentences)She wanted a puppy,buther parents said no.comma + FANBOYS joins two clauses2. After introductory clause (Because...)Becauseit was raining,we stayed inside.comma after the intro clause3. Oxford comma in a list of three itemsShe loves art,science,andreading.comma before 'and' = Oxford commaitem 1, item 2, and item 3
Three comma rules — before FANBOYS in a compound sentence, after an introductory clause, and the Oxford comma before the last item in a list.
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Ask yourself: Did I join two complete ideas with a FANBOYS comma? Did I put a comma after my introductory clause? Did I use the Oxford comma in my list?

Vocabulary
Conjunction
A joining word that connects words, phrases, or whole sentencese.g. and, but, or, because, when, if
FANBOYS
The seven coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, Soe.g. I was tired, so I went to bed.
Coordinating conjunction
A word that joins two equal parts — two words, two phrases, or two complete sentencese.g. She sang, and he danced.
Subordinating conjunction
A word that starts a dependent clause, such as because, although, when, or ife.g. Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
Oxford comma
The comma placed before and or or in a list of three or more itemse.g. We bought milk, bread, and eggs.
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