Her manner was hurried yet polite.
She spoke slowly but firmly.
Sometimes coordinating conjunctions are used together.
The software is quite sophisticated and yet easy to use.
Eric moaned something and then lay still.
The linking of clauses, words, or phrases using coordinating conjunctions is called coordination. Coordinating conjunctions are sometimes called coordinators.
8.150 The different uses of coordinating conjunctions are explained in the following paragraphs:
clauses paragraphs 8.151 to 8.163 verbs paragraphs 8.164 to 8.170 noun phrases paragraphs 8.171 to 8.179 adjectives and adverbs paragraphs 8.180 to 8.189 other words and phrases paragraphs 8.190 to 8.193
Ways of emphasizing coordinating conjunctions are described in paragraphs 8.194 to 8.199.
The linking of more than two clauses, words, or phrases is explained in paragraphs 8.200 and 8.201.
Linking clauses
8.151 You can use a coordinating conjunction to link clauses that have the same subject, or clauses that have different subjects.
omitting words in the second clause
8.152 When you link clauses that have the same subject, you do not always need to repeat the subject in the second clause.
If the conjunction is and, or, or then, you do not usually repeat the subject.
I picked up the glass and raised it to my lips.
It’s a long time since you’ve bought them a drink or talked to them.
When she recognized Morris she went pale, then blushed.
If the conjunction is but, so, or yet, it is usual to repeat the subject.
I try and see it their way, but I can’t.
I had no car, so I hired one for the journey.
He lost the fight, yet somehow he emerged with his dignity.
When you link clauses that have different subjects but that have some common elements, you do not need to repeat all the elements in the second clause.
For example, instead of saying Some of them went to one restaurant and some of them went to the other restaurant, you can say Some of them went to one restaurant and some to the other.
One soldier was killed and another wounded.
One side was painted black and the other white.
functions of coordinating conjunctions
8.153 A coordinating conjunction can be used simply to link clauses, or it can be used in addition to indicate a relationship between them. These uses are explained in the following paragraphs.
related facts
8.154 If you simply want to mention two related facts, you use and.
He has been successful in Hollywood and has worked with such directors as Mike Leigh and Richard Attenborough.
The company will not close and will continue to operate from Belfast.
He gained a B in English and now plans to study languages.
You also use and to show that two things happened or are happening at the same time.
I sat and watched him.
Other uses of and are explained in the following paragraphs.
sequence
8.155 If you use and between two clauses that describe events, you are saying that the event described in the first clause happens or happened before the event described in the second one.
She was born in Budapest and raised in Manhattan.
He opened the car door and got out.
Then can be used in the same way, but it is less common.
We finished our drinks then left.
two negative facts
8.156 When you want to link two negative clauses, you usually use and.
When his contract ended he did not return home and he has not been there since 1979.
However, you can use or when the clauses have the same subject and the same auxiliaries. In the second clause, you omit the subject, the auxiliaries, and not.
For example, instead of saying She doesn’t eat meat and she doesn’t eat fish, you can say She doesn’t eat meat or fish.
We will not damage or destroy the samples.
He didn’t yell or scream.
You can also link negative clauses by using and neither, and nor, or nor. You put be or the auxiliary at the beginning of the second clause, in front of the subject.
For example, instead of saying My sister doesn’t like him, and I don’t like him, you can say My sister doesn’t like him, and neither do I.
I was not happy and neither were they.
I could not afford to eat in restaurants and nor could anyone else I knew.
These people are not crazy, nor are they fools.
But neither and but nor can also be used.
This isn’t a great movie, but neither is it rubbish.
I don’t want to marry him but nor do I want anyone else to.
When you use and to link two negative statements, you can put either after the second statement.
I hadn’t been to a rock festival before and Mike hadn’t either.
Electricity didn’t come into Blackball Farm until recently and they hadn’t any hot water either.
For emphasis, you can join two negative clauses by using neither and nor. This use is explained in paragraph 8.198.
contrast
8.157 When you are adding a contrasting fact, you usually use but.
I’m only 63, but I feel a hundred.
It costs quite a lot but it’s worth it.
I’ve had a very pleasant two years, but I can’t wait to get back to the city.
If you want to add a fact that contrasts strongly with what you have just said, you use yet or and yet.
Everything around him was destroyed, yet the minister escaped without a scratch.
I want to leave, and yet I feel I should to stay.
You usually put a comma in front of but, yet, or and yet.