If you’ve been teaching for more than five minutes, you know that grammar lessons can either be a snooze-fest or an engaging, lightbulb-moment experience. When it comes to teaching conjunctions, things can get a little dry—unless you bring in some fun! That’s where FANBOYS comes in. No, not the overly enthusiastic comic book collectors (though we love them too), but the seven coordinating conjunctions that help students write more fluid and complex sentences.
The Power of FANBOYS: Why Should We Care?
FANBOYS stands for For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So—seven tiny words with big power. If your students can master these, they’ll be well on their way to writing sentences that actually make sense (and don’t read like a robot programmed them). So, let’s break down each one with clear explanations, examples and some fun ways to teach them in your classroom.
You know that feeling when a student hands you an essay that reads like a bunch of random sentences strung together? “I like pizza. I eat it a lot. My brother likes it too. We go to a restaurant.” Yikes. Their writing needs something—connection, flow, logic. FANBOYS is here to save the day.
These coordinating conjunctions help students move beyond the choppy, one-thought-at-a-time writing style and start linking ideas in meaningful ways. They’ll sound more natural and confident... plus they'll make your marking and grading experience MUCH more enjoyable too!
Breakdown of FANBOYS
Mastering FANBOYS—For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So—helps make writing flow better. Without these small conjunctions, sentences can sound disconnected or choppy. Grammar can be tricky, but once you understand how these conjunctions work, they become a powerful tool for creating smoother, more natural sentences.
Whether you’re teaching it in the classroom or improving your own writing, knowing how to use FANBOYS effectively makes a big difference in how ideas come together.
FOR – The Fancy Way to Say “Because”
"For" is like that quiet kid in class who doesn’t say much but has important things to add when given the chance. It explains why something happened, just like “because.” The only difference? It sounds a little more formal.
Example:
- I didn’t eat dessert, for I was already full.
- She grabbed an umbrella, for the sky was turning dark.
How to Teach It: Challenge students to swap “because” for “for” in their writing. Warning: They’ll tell you it “sounds weird.” Tell them Shakespeare used it, and suddenly, it’s fancy.
AND – The Classic Connector
This one is easy—it adds things together. But be careful! Some students treat “and” like it’s the only conjunction in existence, creating never-ending sentences that should have been two (or three).
Example:
- We went to the zoo, and we saw the lions.
- She loves reading, and she writes her own stories.
How to Teach It: Have students write two related thoughts, then connect them with “and.” For fun, let them build ridiculously long (but still grammatically correct) sentences to see how many things they can connect before it gets out of hand.
NOR – The Drama Queen of the Group
"Nor" is fancy, dramatic and always paired with a negative statement. It’s usually best friends with “neither” and is great for making your students sound extra sophisticated (or like they’re in a Victorian novel).
Example:
- He neither called nor texted me back.
- She didn’t like spinach, nor did she enjoy broccoli.
How to Teach It: Play a game of “Neither/Nor” with students where they list things they absolutely do not like. Expect things like “I neither enjoy homework nor waking up early.”
BUT – The Great Contradictor
"But" is where the fun begins. It signals contrast, disagreementf or a twist in the sentence. It’s the equivalent of someone saying, “Hold up, there’s more to the story.”
Example:
- I wanted to go outside, but it started raining.
- She is very talented, but she lacks confidence.
How to Teach It: Ask students to write a sentence, then completely change its meaning by adding “but.” Example: “I love ice cream” → “I love ice cream, but I’m lactose intolerant.” Boom. Instant intrigue.
OR – The Decision Maker
"Or" is the conjunction of choices. It’s the one you use when you’re debating between pizza or tacos (the eternal struggle). It helps students express decisions and alternatives.
Example:
- Do you want to watch a movie, or would you rather play a game?
- We can go to the beach, or we can stay home and relax.
How to Teach It: Let students debate imaginary choices: “Would you rather fight a hundred duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?” (If nothing else, this will keep them awake.)
YET – The Unexpected Twist
"Yet" is a lot like “but,” but with a little extra surprise. It signals that something unexpected happened, as in “you’d think it would be one way, but it’s actually another.”
Example:
- The cake looked awful, yet it tasted amazing.
- He was tired, yet he kept running.
How to Teach It: Have students write “but” sentences and challenge them to swap in “yet.” If they’re confused, tell them “yet” has drama. It makes things more interesting.
SO – The Cause-and-Effect Expert
"So" is all about results. One thing happens, which so something else happens. It’s the reason kids say things like, “I forgot my homework, so my teacher got mad.”
Example:
- It was raining, so we stayed inside.
- She studied hard, so she passed the test.
How to Teach It: Have students write “cause” statements, then connect them to their “effect” with “so.” Bonus points for making them as dramatic as possible.
Using a FANBOYS Display to Support Students
Having a FANBOYS display in the classroom may be the "chef's kiss" when it comes to helping students - and luckily I have a free download with lots of different FANBOYS display options!
This visual reminder helps students remember how to use For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So in their writing. Consider a colourful bulletin board, an anchor chart, or even small desk references by printing these displays 2 or 4 to a page.
A FANBOYS display makes these conjunctions easily accessible when students need a quick refresher.
Seeing FANBOYS regularly helps students internalise their purpose, making it easier to use them naturally in sentences. You can make the display even more impressive with example sentences, sentence-building prompts, or interactive elements like sentence strips where students match conjunctions to the correct usage. This not only reinforces learning but also encourages students to apply FANBOYS correctly in their writing.
Bringing It All Together: FANBOYS in Action
Now that your students have conquered each individual FANBOYS conjunction, it’s time to put them to work. One of the best ways to reinforce learning is through writing exercises that require students to use all seven in a paragraph or story.
Fun Classroom Activities:
- FANBOYS Story Challenge – Have students write a short story using each of the seven conjunctions at least once. The crazier, the better.
- Grammar Detective – Give students a passage with conjunctions missing and have them fill in the blanks with the correct FANBOYS words.
- Conjunction Skits – Assign each student a FANBOYS conjunction and have them act out its function in a mini-drama (expect some Oscar-worthy performances).
Why This Matters
Understanding FANBOYS isn’t just about passing a grammar quiz—it’s about making students’ writing better, smoother, and more natural. When they can effortlessly connect ideas, their sentences stop sounding robotic and start sounding like real communication.
So next time you catch a student writing one disconnected sentence after another, remind them that FANBOYS exists for a reason. And if they ever forget? Just tell them it’s also the name of a super cool grammar superhero team. That should get their attention.
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