Using conjunctions to build sentences

Part of Language and LiteracyGrammarYear 1Year 2

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What is a conjunction?

A conjunction is a word, or words, used to connect two clauses (parts of a sentence) together.

For example:

and, but, for, or, while, until, before, after, because

These words can be used to join two sentence clauses together.

Here are two sentences:

Lilly ate an ice cream. She read a book.

Using a conjunction they can be joined to make one sentence, like this:

Lilly ate an ice cream and read a book.

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Watch: Conjunctions song

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Activity 1

Write the sentences down on paper and underline all the conjunctions you can see.

  1. I want to play on the roundabout and on the swings.
  2. My brother wanted to have spaghetti for tea but I wanted pizza.
  3. Tony went to his dad’s house after his karate class finished.
  4. Katy had to tidy her room because it was a mess.
  5. Aarav couldn’t have a biscuit until he had eaten his carrots.

You can check your answers using this answer sheet.

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Activity 2

Watch this video about what life is like under the sea. Then try the activity below.

Write these sentences out adding in the correct conjunction from the list to fill in each gap.

Conjunctions

  • and
  • but
  • while
  • so
  • because

Sentences

  1. There are little fish ____ big fish living in the sea.
  2. The octopus swam away ____ it wouldn’t get hit by the passing fish.
  3. The seaweed looks like a plant ____ it is an algae.
  4. Whales eat plankton ____ they are swimming.
  5. Whales come up to the surface of the sea ____ they have to breathe.

You can check your answers using this answer sheet.

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