The Literacy Lab Sentence Connections

Interactive writing workshop

Small words.
Stronger sentences.

Learn how FANBOYS and SWABI connect ideas. Explore what they mean, build sentences, and practise choosing the right connection.

✦ Visual sentence models✦ Instant feedback✦ Writing challenge

Explore the connectors

Choose a family, then select a word to see the meaning and how the clauses fit together.

Choose a conjunction family

FANBOYS · Coordinating

Connects two equally important ideas. When both are complete clauses, write a comma before the conjunction.

Adding information

And

Connects two related ideas.

The comma rule

When FANBOYS joins two independent clauses, put a comma before the conjunction.

See the sentence

Independent clauseDependent clauseConjunction

Think like a writer

Each teal part could stand alone as a sentence. The conjunction makes the relationship clear.

Compound sentence

Independent + FANBOYS + independent

It was late, but we kept reading.
Both halves can stand on their own. The comma goes before but.

Complex sentence

Dependent + independent

Because it was late, we stopped reading.
The opening clause cannot stand alone. Put a comma after it.

Build your own sentence

Choose a conjunction and edit the ideas. Watch what happens to sentence structure and punctuation.

1 · Choose a sentence type

2 · Choose a conjunction

3 · Write your ideas

Write a complete thought, without a period.
Write another complete thought, without a period.

Live sentence preview

Compound

The punctuation adjusts when you change the conjunction family or move the dependent clause.

Independent clauseDependent clauseConjunction
FANBOYS joins equal clauses. Use a comma before the conjunction.
Writer's check

Does each clause contain a subject and verb? Does your conjunction express the relationship you intended? The lab models punctuation, but you decide whether the ideas make sense.

Practise and get feedback

Work through ten questions about conjunctions, clauses, sentence structure, and punctuation.

Question 1 of 100 correct
Conjunction family

Sentence Connections · Writing Challenge

Write with purpose

Go beyond identifying conjunctions. Connect ideas to show cause, contrast, sequence, and choice. Then compare with model responses.

Mission 01 · Contrast

Build a compound sentence

Join these two complete thoughts with a FANBOYS conjunction that shows contrast.

The storm began.   The match continued.
One possible response: The storm began, but the match continued.
The comma comes before but because both clauses can stand alone.
Mission 02 · Sequence

Build a complex sentence

Use a SWABI conjunction to show when one event happened. Start with the dependent clause.

Amira checked her answer.   She found a mistake.
One possible response: After Amira checked her answer, she found a mistake.
The dependent clause comes first, so put a comma after it.
Mission 03 · Choice

Express a choice

Combine these alternatives in one compound sentence.

I could revise my draft.   I could start over.
One possible response: I could revise my draft, or I could start over.
Use or to present alternatives; include the comma before it.
Mission 04 · Cause and effect

Explain a reason

Use because to explain why the class was quiet. Put the independent clause first.

The class was quiet.   Everyone was concentrating.
One possible response: The class was quiet because everyone was concentrating.
A trailing because clause normally does not need a comma.

Self-check before you finish

Model responses are examples, not the only possible correct answers.