CONJUNCTIONS

A conjunction is a part of speech that (1) joins words, phrases, and clauses and (2) indicates a relationship between the joined elements. Coordinating Conjunction A coordinating conjunction is a single word that joins words, phrases, and clauses of equal grammatical construction. Examples are knives and spoons (noun & noun), run or shout (verb & verb), down the stairs and round the house (prepositional phrase & prepositional phrase). Coordinating conjunctions also join complete sentences, i.e., independent clauses. These conjunctions also imbue equal grammatical weight, or rank, to the joined elements.
I. COORDINATING CONJUNCTION

(Joins words, phrases, clauses) There are seven coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so --> F-A-N-B-O-Y-S. A coordinating conjunction joins elements of equal grammatical construction, e.g., two or more nouns, verbs, phrases, or clauses. Additionally, coordinating conjunctions can join two or more independent clauses into a single sentence. When joining independent clauses, a coordinating conjunction also joins the propositions, or ideas, expressed in each independent clause. Coordinating conjunctions lend equal weight, or importance, to the grammatical elements and the ideas they join. In the following examples, coordinating conjunctions appear in accentuated text; the joined elements are underlined. 1. Jack and Jill went up the hill. (Coordinating conjunction joins two grammatically equal elements: two nouns, Jack and Jill. Additionally, the elements joined by the coordinating conjunction are equally important to the idea of the sentence, i.e., the nouns Jack and Jill are equally important to sentence meaning.) 2. The fur of polar bears is often pure white, but sometimes one will find a bear with grey fur. (A coordinating conjunction joins two independent clauses. The conjunction gives equal weight to the idea expressed by each clause.) 3. You'll find shampoo products on aisle two or on aisle three. (Coordinating conjunction joins two prepositional phrases, grammatically equal elements. Also, the coordinating conjunction gives equal weight to both phrases.) 4. The industrialists are monsters, so we believe their doctrine is monstrous. (Two independent clauses are joined.) 5. The parish priest is desperate and anxious, for his congregation is nearly gone. (Two nouns are joined; in addition, two independent clauses are joined by for.) The Irish famine of 1846-50 took a million lives, nor was a single household spared hardship.The Universal Declaration of Human Rights seeks to protect humankind, yet abuses around the world continue to rage unchecked.
Semantic Relationship of Coordinates

As we have seen, coordinating conjunctions, or coordinates, all share the same function of connecting words, phrases, and clauses with equal emphasis to the joined elements. These same coordinates, however, each express a specific semantic relationship between the joined elements.

joins two propositions (ideas) and Ex: In 376 B.C.E., several Greek cities joined in a naval alliance against Sparta; and Athens won back control of the sea.

joins two contrastive propositions (ideas) but Ex: The wine is sweet, but the bread is moldy.

joins two alternative propositions (ideas) or Ex: Is that a distant oasis, or do my eyes deceive me?

first idea (the cause) results in second idea (the effect) so Ex: The honeymooners began quarreling, so now they sleep in different rooms.

used to mean seeing that, since, or because for Ex: He went to the party alone, for I refused go with him.

The conjunction NOR is not extinct, but it is not used nearly as often as the other conjunctions, so it might feel a bit odd when nor does come up in conversation or writing. Its most common use is as the little brother in the correlative pair, neither-nor (see below): nor
y y

He is neither sane nor brilliant. That is neither what I said nor what I meant.

used in negative expressions Ex: He nor I plan to attend any social functions this year.

used to mean though, still, and nevertheless yet Ex: The pudding is good, yet it could have been better. Usage Note The conjunctions and, but, or, so, and nor can join words, phrases, or clauses. However, for and yet can join only independent clauses. Consequently, some grammarians consider the former a preposition and the latter a subordinating conjunction.