alternatives
8.158 When you want to mention two alternatives, you use or.
We could take a picnic or we could find a restaurant when we’re out.
Did he jump, or was he pushed?
8.159 When you are giving advice, you sometimes want to tell someone what will happen if they do a particular thing. You do this by using an imperative clause, followed by and and a clause containing a verb in a form that expresses future time.
For example, instead of saying If you go by train, you’ll get there quicker, you can say Go by train and you’ll get there quicker.
Do as you are told and you’ll be alright.
You speak to me again like that and you’re going to be in serious trouble.
When you are giving advice, a warning, or an order, you sometimes want to tell someone what will happen if they do not do what you say. You do this by using an imperative clause, followed by or and a clause containing a verb in a form that expresses future time.
For example, instead of saying Go away! If you don’t go away, I’ll scream, you can say Go away, or I’ll scream.
Hurry up, or you’re going to be late for school.
Don’t fight or you’ll get hurt.
8.160 In writing, you can sometimes begin a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. You do this to make the sentence seem more dramatic or forceful. Some people think this use is incorrect.
The villagers had become accustomed to minor earth tremors. But everyone knew that something unusual had woken them on Monday.
Do you think there is something wrong with her? Or do you just not like her?
Go now. And close that door.
8.161 Sometimes, in writing, two clauses can be made into one sentence without a coordinating conjunction being used. Instead, a semicolon or a dash is put between the clauses. This is a way of expressing two statements in one sentence when no particular coordinating conjunction seems appropriate.
The neighbours drove by; they couldn’t bear to look.
I couldn’t say thank you–those words were far too small for someone who had risked her life to save mine.
non-finite clauses
8.162 Coordinating conjunctions can be used to link non-finite clauses.
To-infinitive clauses can be linked by and or or.
We need to persuade drivers to leave their cars at home and to use the train instead.
She may decide to remarry or to live with one of her sisters.
Sometimes the second to is omitted.
They tried to clear the road and remove discarded objects.
When the second clause is negative, you can use not instead of and not.
I am paid to treat people, not to interrogate them.
Clauses beginning with a participle can be linked by and or or.
She lay on the bed gazing at the child and smiling at him.
You may be more comfortable wearing a cotton dress or shirt or sleeping under a cotton blanket.
However, if the first clause begins with standing, sitting, or lying, you do not usually put and between the clauses.
Inside were two lines of old people sitting facing each other.
8.163 For information on how to coordinate more than two clauses, see paragraph 8.200.
Linking verbs together
8.164 When you are talking about two actions performed by the same person, thing, or group, you can use a coordinating conjunction to link two verbs.
intransitive verbs
8.165 Coordinating conjunctions can be used to link intransitive verbs.
Mostly, they just sat and chatted.
We both shrugged and laughed.
transitive verbs
8.166 When you are describing actions involving the same subject and object, you can link two transitive verbs. You put the object after the second verb only.
For example, instead of saying He swept the floor and polished the floor, you say He swept and polished the floor.
Wash and trim the leeks.
Similarly, instead of saying They walk to work or cycle to work, you can say They walk or cycle to work.
I shouted and waved at them.
leaving out the auxiliary
8.167 When you are linking verb phrases that contain the same auxiliary, you do not need to repeat the auxiliary in the second clause.
Someone may be killed or seriously injured.
Now he is praised rather than criticized.
He knew a lot about horses, having lived and worked with them all his life.
emphasizing repetition or duration
8.168 If you want to say that someone does something repeatedly or for a long time, you can use and to link two identical verbs.
They laughed and laughed.
He tried and tried, but in the end he had to give up.
8.169
For more information about this use see paragraph 3.200.
8.170 For information on how to coordinate more than two verbs, see paragraph 8.200.
Linking noun phrases
8.171 When you are talking about two people or things, you can use a coordinating conjunction to link two noun phrases.
8.172 In simple statements about two people or things, you use and.
There were men and women working in the fields.
I’ll give you a nice cup of tea and a biscuit.
…a friendship between a boy and a girl.