worksheets library | Conjunctions Worksheets - Free Printable

Let's solve the Conjunctions Worksheet (Circling Part 1) step by step.

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🔹 Understanding the Task

We are asked to circle the conjunction in each sentence that connects two phrases or clauses.
Conjunctions include: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so, etc.

Each sentence has two parts connected by a conjunction. We need to identify and circle that word.

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✔ Solutions with Explanations

1. Sharon loves to go on roller coasters, yet she has a fear of heights.
→ Conjunction: yet
*Explanation:* "Yet" shows contrast between loving roller coasters and fearing heights.

2. Donald ate all his dinner, so he was able to have dessert.
→ Conjunction: so
*Explanation:* "So" shows cause and effect — eating dinner allowed dessert.

3. Raccoons must push lids off of garbage cans, or else they will go hungry.
→ Conjunction: or
*Explanation:* "Or" introduces a consequence if they don’t push the lids off.

4. Darren loves to play football, but he does not like to be the running back.
→ Conjunction: but
*Explanation:* "But" shows contrast between loving football and not liking a specific role.

5. May loves to cook, for she has a special talent for it.
→ Conjunction: for
*Explanation:* "For" gives a reason — she loves cooking because she’s talented.

6. David has to wake up early, so he can climb the mountain.
→ Conjunction: so
*Explanation:* "So" shows purpose — waking up early is for climbing.

7. Sophia ate a lot, yet she is still hungry.
→ Conjunction: yet
*Explanation:* "Yet" highlights contradiction — ate a lot but still hungry.

8. The man is fast, but the woman is faster.
→ Conjunction: but
*Explanation:* "But" contrasts their speeds.

9. Derek went to the mall, so he could shop.
→ Conjunction: so
*Explanation:* "So" explains the purpose of going to the mall.

10. May loves to cook, but she needs a new stove.
→ Conjunction: but
*Explanation:* "But" shows contrast — loves cooking, but lacks equipment.

11. Stephen loves to play baseball, for he is good at it.
→ Conjunction: for
*Explanation:* "For" gives a reason — he loves it because he's skilled.

12. We are going to the mall, once my friends get here.
→ Conjunction: once
⚠️ Wait! "Once" is not a coordinating conjunction. It’s a subordinating conjunction. But the worksheet focuses on coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
→ This sentence uses "once", which is not one of the listed conjunctions. However, since it connects two clauses ("We are going..." and "my friends get here"), and the instruction says to circle the conjunction, we might assume an error in the worksheet.
✔ But looking again: “once” is not among the standard coordinating conjunctions. So likely, this sentence may have a typo or mislabeling.
→ However, based on context, "once" is the connector. But if only coordinating conjunctions are acceptable, then this sentence doesn't fit.
✘ Possible mistake: The intended conjunction might have been "and", but it's not present.
→ Since "once" is not a coordinating conjunction, and the worksheet asks for circling the conjunction, perhaps it should be skipped?
But let’s check: maybe the student is supposed to recognize subordinating conjunctions too?
→ The example uses "for", which is a coordinating conjunction.
→ So likely, the correct answer is: none — but that contradicts the directions.
✔ Let's recheck: Is there another possibility? No.
→ Conclusion: The sentence uses "once" as a subordinating conjunction. If the worksheet only wants coordinating ones, then this might be an error. But assuming the task allows any conjunction, we circle once.

🟨 Note: This is a possible issue in the worksheet. But for now, we’ll circle once.

13. I’m having a great time, while you are at home watching television.
→ Conjunction: while
⚠️ Again, "while" is a subordinating conjunction, not a coordinating one.
→ Similar problem as above.
→ But it connects two contrasting ideas.
→ If the goal is just identifying connectors, then while is correct.
✔ So, circle while.

14. We’re going to win the championship, since you guys are not prepared.
→ Conjunction: since
⚠️ "Since" is a subordinating conjunction.
→ But again, it connects two clauses and shows cause.
→ If we're being strict about the list (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so), since is not on it.
→ However, in many contexts, it's accepted as a conjunction.
→ But according to the example, only coordinating conjunctions are expected.
→ So perhaps the worksheet intends only those.
→ But "since" is not one of them.
→ Therefore, this sentence may also be flawed.

🟨 Important Note: The worksheet seems to focus on coordinating conjunctions, but some sentences use subordinating ones (like "once", "while", "since"). These are not in the original list.

✔ However, since the instructions say “conjunctions” broadly, and the example includes “for”, which is a coordinating conjunction, we should stick to the list.

Let’s review:

- Coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so — FANBOYS

Now, let’s go through each sentence again and only pick from these.

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✔ Corrected Answers Based on FANBOYS List

1. yet ✔
2. so ✔
3. or ✔
4. but ✔
5. for ✔
6. so ✔
7. yet ✔
8. but ✔
9. so ✔
10. but ✔
11. for ✔
12. once ✘ (Not a coordinating conjunction) → No valid FANBOYS word
13. while ✘ (Subordinating) → Not in FANBOYS
14. since ✘ (Subordinating) → Not in FANBOYS
15. since ✘ → Not in FANBOYS

Wait — Sentence 15: We’re going to win the championship, since you guys are not prepared.
→ "since" is not in FANBOYS.

But look: "since" is not a coordinating conjunction. It’s subordinating.

So what’s wrong?

Possibility: The worksheet may have mixed conjunction types.

But the example uses "for", which is a coordinating conjunction.

So likely, the intended answers are only from FANBOYS.

Let’s check if any of the later sentences actually contain FANBOYS.

Wait — Sentence 15 says:
> "We’re going to win the championship, since you guys are not prepared."

Is there a typo? Could it be "so" instead of "since"? That would make sense:
> "We’re going to win the championship, so you guys are not prepared." → Doesn’t make sense.

Alternatively:
> "We’re going to win the championship, because you guys are not prepared." → Still not FANBOYS.

But none of the last three sentences use FANBOYS.

Let’s double-check:

- Sentence 12: "once" → not FANBOYS
- Sentence 13: "while" → not FANBOYS
- Sentence 14: "since" → not FANBOYS
- Sentence 15: "since" → not FANBOYS

Only sentences 1–11 use FANBOYS.

But wait — sentence 12:
> "We are going to the mall, once my friends get here."

"Once" is not FANBOYS.

Similarly, sentence 13:
> "I’m having a great time, while you are at home watching television."

"while" is not FANBOYS.

So either:
- The worksheet is incorrect, or
- The definition of "conjunction" is broader than FANBOYS.

But the example says:
> Example: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

These are all coordinating conjunctions.

So likely, the worksheet expects only those.

Therefore, the correct answers are only for sentences where FANBOYS appear.

But let’s see if any of the later ones actually have a FANBOYS word.

Wait — sentence 15:
> "We’re going to win the championship, since you guys are not prepared."

There is no FANBOYS word here.

So unless there’s a typo, these sentences are problematic.

But let’s assume the worksheet meant to include any conjunction, even subordinating ones.

In that case:

- "once" → subordinating
- "while" → subordinating
- "since" → subordinating

So if we accept all conjunctions, then:

12. once
13. while
14. since
15. since

But that contradicts the example list.

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✔ Final Decision

Given the example and the list provided (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so), we conclude that only FANBOYS are intended.

So we should only circle words from that list.

Now, re-evaluate each sentence:

1. yet ✔
2. so ✔
3. or ✔
4. but ✔
5. for ✔
6. so ✔
7. yet ✔
8. but ✔
9. so ✔
10. but ✔
11. for ✔
12. once ✘ (not in list) → no valid FANBOYS
13. while ✘ → not in list
14. since ✘ → not in list
15. since ✘ → not in list

So sentences 12–15 do not contain a FANBOYS conjunction.

But that can't be right — the worksheet expects an answer.

Wait — let’s check sentence 12 again:

> "We are going to the mall, once my friends get here."

Is there a typo? Maybe it should be:

> "We are going to the mall, and my friends get here." → But that doesn’t make sense.

Or:

> "We are going to the mall, when my friends get here." → still not FANBOYS.

Alternatively, maybe it’s:

> "We are going to the mall, for my friends get here." → That makes more sense.

But it says "once".

So likely, the worksheet contains errors.

However, in real teaching, sometimes "once", "while", "since" are taught as conjunctions.

So perhaps the intended answer is to circle:

- 12: once
- 13: while
- 14: since
- 15: since

Even though they are not FANBOYS.

But the example only lists FANBOYS.

So we must reconcile.

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✔ Best Approach

Given the constraints, here is the most accurate answer key based on the FANBOYS list:

| Sentence | Conjunction | Reason |
|--------|------------|-------|
| 1 | yet | Contrast |
| 2 | so | Cause-effect |
| 3 | or | Choice/consequence |
| 4 | but | Contrast |
| 5 | for | Reason |
| 6 | so | Purpose |
| 7 | yet | Contrast |
| 8 | but | Contrast |
| 9 | so | Purpose |
| 10 | but | Contrast |
| 11 | for | Reason |
| 12 | once | ✘ Not FANBOYS — possibly error |
| 13 | while | ✘ Not FANBOYS |
| 14 | since | ✘ Not FANBOYS |
| 15 | since | ✘ Not FANBOYS |

But since the worksheet expects answers, and the example includes "for", which is FANBOYS, we should assume only those.

So for sentences 12–15, there is no correct FANBOYS conjunction.

But perhaps the teacher meant to include "and" or other.

Wait — sentence 12 says: "We are going to the mall, once my friends get here."

If it were: "We are going to the mall, and my friends get here." — that would be awkward.

Alternatively, maybe it's a typo and should be:

> "We are going to the mall, for my friends get here." → That makes sense.

But it says "once".

So unless corrected, we cannot circle a FANBOYS word.

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✔ Final Answer Key (Based on FANBOYS)

Circle the following:

1. yet
2. so
3. or
4. but
5. for
6. so
7. yet
8. but
9. so
10. but
11. for
12. (No FANBOYS) — possibly error
13. (No FANBOYS)
14. (No FANBOYS)
15. (No FANBOYS)

But since the worksheet has 15 items, likely the intention is to circle all connecting conjunctions, even if not FANBOYS.

So in practice, teachers often accept:

- once, while, since as conjunctions.

So final answer, as per common classroom practice:

1. yet
2. so
3. or
4. but
5. for
6. so
7. yet
8. but
9. so
10. but
11. for
12. once
13. while
14. since
15. since

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✔ Final Answer (Recommended):

Circle:

1. yet
2. so
3. or
4. but
5. for
6. so
7. yet
8. but
9. so
10. but
11. for
12. once
13. while
14. since
15. since

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📝 Explanation:

While the worksheet defines conjunctions using FANBOYS, in broader grammar, subordinating conjunctions like once, while, since are also considered conjunctions. Given that the worksheet includes "for" (which is FANBOYS), but then uses others not in that list, it's likely aiming for any conjunction that joins clauses.

Thus, the most practical solution is to circle the word that connects the two clauses, even if it's not a coordinating conjunction.

✔ Final Answer: Circle the underlined words in each sentence as shown above.