Adult ESL students love “and.” They use it to connect everything. Every. Single. Thing. And while they’re technically communicating, reading what they write (or listening to what they say) feels like being trapped in a run-on sentence that never ends.
You know this student, right? The one who strings together every thought with “and” like they’re making the world’s longest paper chain? Like this gem I got once:
“I didn’t know about the due date, and I missed class the day you explained it, and then one of my classmates told me it was today, and I thought since I missed class, tomorrow would be fine.”
Here’s the thing: they need coordinating conjunctions. Not just “and.” ALL of them.
Why This Matters (and why FANBOYS isn’t enough)
Your students might feel like they’re getting their point across just fine. And technically, they are. But using “and” for every situation is like having a toolbox with only a hammer. You can get some things done, but you’re going to have problems.
Before you can teach them subordinating conjunctions and complex sentences (the fancy stuff), they need to get comfortable with compound sentences. This means they need to understand what coordinating conjunctions actually DO and not just memorize a cute acronym.
No, not even if you create a song and dance routine that requires your (adult!) students to sing and dance with paper fans. (I’m looking at you, former co-worker.)
The Discovery Lesson Setup
This lesson doesn’t spoon-feed definitions. Students figure out coordinating conjunctions through a linguistic investigation, which means they’re way more likely to remember how to use them.
You’ll need to do some prep.
If you don’t have the time or the mental bandwidth to create the following, you can also purchase a ready-made version here from my TpT store.
Part 1: The Handout
Create a handout with plenty of white space. Put a small empty box or circle at the beginning of each sentence. Your sentences should use the seven coordinating conjunctions (and, but, so, yet, for, or, nor), but here’s the trick: don’t use them only as conjunctions.
Mix it up. Use “for” as a preposition. Use “yet” in a present perfect sentence. Use “so” as an adverb. Use “and” or “or” in a list. This forces them to analyze what’s happening in each sentence instead of just circling keywords and calling it done.
You can group the sentences by keyword or mix them all together, depending on how much support your students need. Put the keywords in bold so they’re easy to spot because being able to point to them isn’t the point.
Part 2: The Sentence Puzzle
Grab some index cards. Write the first half of a compound sentence (up to and including the comma) on one card. Write the second half (from the conjunction to the period) on another card. Create 1-2 sentences for each coordinating conjunction. Oh, and make sure that each beginning only has one logical ending.
You’ll need a set for each pair or group, so if you’ve got a big class, skip the index cards and create a version using your favorite word processing program instead. Create a table, fill in each cell with half a sentence, and done. Your writing hand will thank you.
How to Run the Lesson
Don’t dump all the instructions on them at once. Dribble them out, one at a time, so students discover the patterns themselves.
First up, that handout.
Give each student the handout (even if they’re working in pairs or groups of three). Then give these instructions, waiting for them to finish applying each instruction to every sentence before moving to the next:
- Underline the subjects.
- Circle the verbs (including any auxiliary verbs).
- Look for the sentences with a subject and a verb on either side of the word in bold. Put a checkmark next to each compound sentence.
- Compare how the words in bold can be used to connect subjects, verbs, and sentences.
- Discuss the difference in the meaning of the words in bold in each set of sentences.
During steps 4 and 5, wander around and listen. You’ll hear some wild theories. That’s fine. Let them think through it. If a group is completely lost, gently steer them back on track or have them discuss with another group.
They don’t need to be 100% correct at this point. The goal is to get them thinking, not to have perfect answers.
Now the sentence puzzle phase.
Give each group a set of cards and tell them to match the sentence beginnings with the correct endings.
Push them to use context clues to figure out what each coordinating conjunction means. They should discuss this and take notes.
Have each group join another group to compare theories. This is where you’ll hear, “Wait, we thought ‘so’ meant…” and then they’ll adjust their thinking. Perfect.
Finally, have students use the sentences as models to write their own sentences for each coordinating conjunction.
Give Them Some Glue
They’ve just spent a whole lesson investigating coordinating conjunctions like linguistic detectives. They’re less likely to forget this than if you’d just lectured at them about FANBOYS. But they’ve got lives outside your classroom, so give them a way to revisit the concept.
Have them create a presentation or even a TikTok video explaining it. Challenge them to “teach” it to another class. Let them choose the format that makes sense for them.
The Bottom Line
Your students are capable of more than just stringing sentences together with “and.” Once they discover how the other coordinating conjunctions actually function, they’ll be able to express contrast, cause and effect, and alternatives with precision instead of hoping you’ll figure out what they meant.
Plus, you’ll get to stop reading essays that feel like a marathon run-on sentence.
That’s it from me. See you in the next post!
Don’t have time to create all this from scratch? I hear you. Pop over to my TpT store and grab these:
discovery lesson . . . | | | . . . grammar guide with worksheets . . . | | | . . . task cards
Here, have a Freebie!
Here’s a set of graphic organizers to help your students organize their discoveries about coordinating conjunctions. Use them during the lesson or as a follow-up activity.
Are connectives other than coordinating conjunctions actually the problem? Are Connectives the Missing Links in Your Adult ESL Writing Classes?
Read more about teaching adult ESL grammar!
Conditionals Worksheets: 6 Quick Ways to Make Them FUN!
I Don’t Regret Letting YouTube Teach My Grammar Class That Day
2 Fun Activities for Reviewing Prepositions of Time
Why Your Adult ESL Students Still Write Like Beginners…and how to fix that
