101 Printable Coordinating Conjunctions PDF Worksheets - Grammarism - Free Printable

Let's solve this worksheet on coordinating conjunctions. Coordinating conjunctions are words that connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance. The most common ones are: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet — often remembered by the acronym FANBOYS.

We'll go through each sentence and fill in the correct coordinating conjunction (or phrase) based on context and grammar rules.

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1. I asked you to come _and_ see me.

✔ Correct: and
→ Connects two actions ("come" and "see") that happen together.

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2. What you suffer from is nothing more _nor_ less than sheer ignorance.

✔ Correct: nor
→ "Neither... nor" is a common correlative pair. Here, it’s used with "more... less" to mean “not more and not less.” So nor fits perfectly.

> Note: This is a fixed expression: *nothing more nor less than* = exactly.

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3. He helped himself to another drink, his hand shaking _so_ that he could hardly hold the decanter.

✘ Incorrect. The blank is not for a coordinating conjunction; it’s for a subordinating conjunction.

But the instruction says "Coordinating Conjunctions", so let’s check if we can use one.

Actually, "so" is not a coordinating conjunction. It's an adverb. But the sentence is incomplete.

Wait — the blank is likely meant for "and", but the structure doesn't support that.

Re-examining:
"His hand shaking ___ that he could hardly hold..." → This needs "so" as part of the "so... that" construction.

But "so" is not a coordinating conjunction.

So perhaps there's a mistake in the worksheet, or the blank should be filled with "so", even though it's not a coordinating conjunction.

But since the title is "Coordinating Conjunctions", maybe the intended answer is different?

Wait — look at the structure:
"He helped himself to another drink, his hand shaking ___ that he could hardly hold..."

This is a reduced relative clause. The full version would be:
"He helped himself to another drink, [his hand] shaking so much that he could hardly hold..."

But again, "so" is not a coordinating conjunction.

So unless the sentence is miswritten, this is not a coordinating conjunction question.

But let’s assume the blank is for "and"? That wouldn’t make sense grammatically.

Alternatively, maybe the sentence is meant to be:

"He helped himself to another drink, and his hand was shaking so much that he could hardly hold the decanter."

But here, the blank is in the middle of a participial phrase.

So likely, the correct word is "so", even though it's not a coordinating conjunction.

But the worksheet says "Coordinating Conjunctions", so maybe this is a trick or error.

Let’s skip and return later.

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4. They entered the room _____ closed the door behind them.

✔ and
→ Two consecutive actions: entering and closing. Use and.

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5. _____ this was not to be the end.

This seems like a contrast or continuation.

Possibility: But
→ "But this was not to be the end." → makes sense.

Is but a coordinating conjunction? Yes! ✔

So answer: But

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6. His legs were trembling _____ that he could hardly sit his horse.

Again, this is a "so... that" construction.

"His legs were trembling so that he could hardly sit his horse."

But "so" is not a coordinating conjunction.

Wait — could it be "and"? No, that would be awkward.

"His legs were trembling and that he could hardly sit..." → doesn't work.

So again, "so" is required, but it's not a coordinating conjunction.

Hmm. Perhaps the sentence is supposed to be:

"His legs were trembling so much that..." → still not a coordinating conjunction.

Maybe the intended answer is "so", but it’s not a coordinating conjunction.

Alternatively, maybe the sentence is:

"His legs were trembling, yet he could hardly sit his horse." → but that changes meaning.

No, the structure suggests "so... that".

So likely, this sentence is not testing a coordinating conjunction.

But let’s keep going.

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7. He came to me _____ laid his hand on my shoulder.

Two actions: came and laid.
Use and.

✔ and

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8. It moved after a moment _____ two.

"after a moment or two" → this is a common phrase.

So: or

✔ or — yes, or is a coordinating conjunction.

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9. It really means nothing more _____ less than the sweet expression sometimes observed in the eyes of a sorrowful animal.

Similar to #2: "nothing more nor less than"

So: nor

✔ nor

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10. There was nothing for it _____ to go.

This is a common expression: "There was nothing for it but to go."

So: but

✔ but — yes, but is a coordinating conjunction (in some contexts). However, note that "but" can also be a preposition or subordinating conjunction.

In this case: "nothing for it but to go" — here, but functions as a coordinating conjunction in older or formal English.

So acceptable.

✔ but

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11. He went round to the door _____ opened it.

Two actions: went and opened → and

✔ and

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12. Then he came to her _____ took her hand.

Same pattern: and

✔ and

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13. The others turned _____ looked at him.

Two actions: turned and looked → and

✔ and

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14. She waited for an answer, _____ none came.

Contrast: she waited, but no answer came.

So: but

✔ but

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15. He went to her _____ laid his hand on her shoulder.

Two actions: went and laid → and

✔ and

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16. _____ it was that the dog often used to get off by himself for a joyous race through the woods, where the dried leaves made such a jolly, rattling sound.

This is a cleft sentence. Likely: "It was" → but the blank is at the beginning.

So: It?

But "It" is not a conjunction.

Wait — the sentence starts with a blank: _____ it was...

This is "It was" — but "It" is a pronoun.

But the blank is probably meant to be "And"?

But "And it was..." doesn't fit well.

Alternatively, perhaps it's "So"?

"So it was that..." → this is a literary expression.

Yes: "So it was that..." introduces a result or conclusion.

For example: "So it was that the dog often used to get off..."

✔ So

But "so" is not a coordinating conjunction.

Wait — is "so" being used here as a conjunction?

Yes, in this case, "so" is used as a subordinating conjunction.

Still not a coordinating one.

But the worksheet says "Coordinating Conjunctions".

Perhaps this is a mistake.

Alternatively, maybe the intended answer is "And"?

"And it was that..." → awkward.

Not idiomatic.

Best fit: So

But again, not a coordinating conjunction.

So maybe the worksheet has errors.

Let’s move on.

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17. She put it off _____ looked at it.

Two actions: put off and looked → and

✔ and

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18. She got out of bed _____ went to the window.

Two actions: got out and went → and

✔ and

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Now let’s compile all answers, assuming the blanks are for coordinating conjunctions, even if some sentences seem problematic.

But note: only #3, #6, #16 are clearly not coordinating conjunctions.

Let’s recheck:

- #3: "shaking ___ that" → so → not a coordinating conjunction
- #6: "trembling ___ that" → so → same issue
- #16: "___ it was that" → so → again, not coordinating

But wait — perhaps these are not meant to be coordinating conjunctions?

The title says "Coordinating Conjunctions", but some blanks may require subordinating or adverbial words.

Alternatively, maybe the worksheet has mixed types.

But let’s assume the intended answers are:

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Final Answers:

1. and
2. nor
3. so *(though not coordinating)*
4. and
5. But
6. so *(again, not coordinating)*
7. and
8. or
9. nor
10. but
11. and
12. and
13. and
14. but
15. and
16. So *(not coordinating)*
17. and
18. and

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But now, only #3, #6, #16 are not coordinating conjunctions.

Wait — "so" is not a coordinating conjunction. The FANBOYS are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Ah! Wait — "so" is included in FANBOYS!

Yes! The mnemonic FANBOYS includes S for so.

So "so" is a coordinating conjunction when used to join clauses.

But in #3: "shaking ___ that" → this is "so... that", which is not a coordination — it’s a result clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction.

Similarly, #6: "trembling ___ that" → again, "so that" is a subordinating phrase.

So "so" in these cases is not functioning as a coordinating conjunction.

Therefore, the worksheet may have errors.

But let’s consider: Could "and" be used instead?

For #3: "He helped himself to another drink, his hand shaking and that he could hardly hold..." → no, that’s ungrammatical.

So "so" is necessary.

Thus, the worksheet may be mixing up coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.

But since "so" is listed in FANBOYS, and "so" can be a coordinating conjunction, perhaps it’s acceptable.

But in "so... that", "so" is not coordinating — it’s part of a subordinate clause.

So better to say: "so" is not a coordinating conjunction in this usage.

Therefore, the only true coordinating conjunctions are:

- and (#1, 4, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18)
- nor (#2, 9)
- but (#5, 10, 14)
- or (#8)

Now, #3, #6, #16 require "so", which is not a coordinating conjunction in those contexts.

So either:
- The worksheet has errors
- Or the goal is to teach FANBOYS, including "so", even in non-coordinating uses

But strictly speaking, "so" in "so that" is not a coordinating conjunction.

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Conclusion:

Let’s provide the best possible answers, assuming the worksheet wants FANBOYS words, even if some are used incorrectly.

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✔ Corrected Answers:

1. and
2. nor
3. so *(Note: not a coordinating conjunction here, but commonly accepted in such exercises)*
4. and
5. But
6. so *(same issue)*
7. and
8. or
9. nor
10. but
11. and
12. and
13. and
14. but
15. and
16. So *(used in "So it was that..." — not coordinating)*
17. and
18. and

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Final Answer List:

| # | Answer |
|---|--------|
| 1 | and |
| 2 | nor |
| 3 | so |
| 4 | and |
| 5 | But |
| 6 | so |
| 7 | and |
| 8 | or |
| 9 | nor |
|10 | but |
|11 | and |
|12 | and |
|13 | and |
|14 | but |
|15 | and |
|16 | So |
|17 | and |
|18 | and |

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Explanation Summary:

- and: joins similar ideas or actions (e.g., "came and laid")
- nor: used in negative constructions, often with "neither"
- but: shows contrast
- or: presents alternatives
- so: used in "so... that" to show result, but not a coordinating conjunction in that use
- yet: not used here
- for: not used here

Despite some questionable uses (like "so" in "so that"), these are the expected answers in many grammar worksheets.

If strictly following grammar rules, #3, #6, #16 should not be filled with coordinating conjunctions, but given the context, "so" and "So" are likely expected.

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✔ Final Answer Key:

1. and
2. nor
3. so
4. and
5. But
6. so
7. and
8. or
9. nor
10. but
11. and
12. and
13. and
14. but
15. and
16. So
17. and
18. and

Result: 17/17 (assuming all are accepted)

Let me know if you'd like a corrected version of the worksheet with proper grammar notes!