Ms. Preciado
English 12
Beowulf
from Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel
Grammar and Style: Coordinating Conjunctions
A coordinating conjunction links two of the same grammatical sentence parts. For example, a coordinating
conjunction may link two subjects, two predicates, or two independent clauses. There are seven coordinating
conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, yet, so, and for. Look at these uses of coordinating conjunctions from Beowulf.
Passage
Conjunction and Use
. . . The Almighty drove Those demons out, and
their exile was bitter, . . .
The coordinating conjunction and connects two
independent clauses.
. . . [T]heir ears could not hear His praise nor
know His glory. . . .
The coordinating conjunction nor connects two
predicates.
The coordinating conjunctions yet, so, and for also serve other functions in sentences. To identify them as
coordinating conjunctions, make sure they are used to connect two of the same
kinds of sentence parts.
Example
Use
Beowulf was brave, yet he was also smart.
Yet is used as a coordinating conjunction to
connect two independent clauses.
I have not read Beowulf yet.
Yet is used as an adverb to modify have read.
Beowulf volunteers to fight Grendel, for he
sees it as his destiny.
For is used as a coordinating conjunction to
connect two independent clauses.
I bought a copy of Beowulf for two dollars.
For is used as a preposition in the phrase for
two dollars.
A. Practice: Underline each coordinating conjunction in these lines from Beowulf. Tell what
sentence parts it connects.
1. The high hall rang, its roof boards swayed,/And Danes shook with terror.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. . . . [T]hey could hack at Grendel/From every side, trying to open / A path for his evil soul, but their
points/Could not hurt him. . . .
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. . . . [T]he sharpest and hardest iron/Could not scratch at his skin, for that sin-stained
demon / Had bewitched all men’s weapons. . . .
B. Writing Application: Write a sentence for each of the coordinating conjunctions for, so, and yet. Make sure you
use each as a coordinating conjunction.
1._____________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________