Beginning–Advanced ESL, Native Speaker
FANBOYS — for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Practice 1– multiple choice
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Practice 2 – edit the sentence
Practice 3 – select the part of speech
She danced and waved a fan.
She danced and waved a fan, and he played the flute.
Intermediate– Advanced ESL, Native Speaker
Grammar System Notes (show-hide arrow)
Practice 1– identify
Practice 2– multiple choice
Practice 3– edit sentences in paragraph
The day was cold and windy.
They day was cloudy, windy and also cold.
The wind was strong as well as cold.
Besides being windy, it was also cold.
The day was windy and cold. In addition, it was dry.
It was bright, clear and windy. Moreover, it was cold.
Intermediate–Advanced ESL, Native Speaker
And / In addition, – adding elements vs. clauses
Also, / Furthermore, – adding another vs. a final fact
Besides being vs. Besides, – adding a winning fact
Beside -ing / Except for -ing – setting aside info
Reduced Verb Pairs – Come and see…
Practice 1– complete the sentence (MC)
Practice 2– correct / incorrect
Practice 3– edit paragraph
Also see Comma Series | 'Oxford Comma' | Bullet Lists
Anne is an actress. Normally, she actsandsings.
Anne acts, sings and dances. In addition, she directs theater productions. adds information
You should see Anne. She acts, sings and dances. Moreover, she looks like the main character. adds a conclusive fact
Besidesbeing funny, he is also young and smart. adds information
Hire him because he is young and smart. Besides, he is funny!adds a conclusive fact or argument
Beginning–Advanced ESL
Practice 1– multiple choice
Practice 2– multiple choice
My brother has a new toy, and so do I.(American English)
My brother has a new toy, and so have I.(British English)
My bother got a new toy, and I did too.
My brother got a new toy, but I didn't.
You got a new toy, didn't you? Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
Beginning–Advanced ESL, Native Speaker
Polaritypositive/negative
Practice 1– multiple choice
Practice 2– multiple choice
I am eight today, and my cousin istoo.
I amnot a child, and my cousin isn'teither.
I am excited. Me too! (informal) / I amtoo!
I am not worried. Me either! (informal) / I am noteither!
Nobody helped me. Me either. (negative pronoun)
We barely understand it. Me either. (negative adverb)
Beginning–Advanced ESL, Native Speaker
Negative Addition — neither…nor
Practice 1– multiple choice
Practice 2– multiple choice
Both the movie and the play were good.
Not only the movie but also the play was good.
Neither the movie nor the play was good.
Either the movie or the play was good. I can't remember.
Beginning–Advanced ESL, Native Speaker
►And, But…not, Or (conjunction, exclusion, disjunction)
►AND / OR / NOT (Boolean Logic)
Practice 1– multiple choice
Practice 2– correct / incorrect
That store sells Nike or Adidas. (They have one brand.)
You'll can buy the shoes at Macy's or Penney's. (Both)
That store sells neither Nike nor Adidas. (Both not carried)
You can buy the shoes at neither Macy's nor Penney's. (Both not)
They don't sell Adidas, nor do they think it necessary. (connective with SV inversion)
Beginning–Advanced ESL, Native Speaker
Contrast — but, while, whereas, on the other hand, in contrast to, however
Contrary Outcome — but, still, yet, nevertheless, regardless, in spite of, despite
Practice 1– multiple choice
Practice 2– multiple choice
Practice 3– multiple choice
like sugar in my coffee, whereas Edward likes black coffee.
I like sugar in my coffee in contrast to Edward who likes none.
One the one hand, I like sugar in my coffee.
On the other hand, Edgard does not!
I shouldn't eat sugar, but still I do.
Though I shouldn't eat sugar, I do.
I shouldn't eat sugar. Nevertheless, I do.
Beginning–Advanced ESL, Native Speaker
Practice– multiple choice
Brian planned on attending a job fair, but the line was very long. (It discouraged him..)
Brian planned on attending a job fair though the line was very long. (He stood in it anyway.)
Beginning–Advanced ESL, Native Speaker
But not/Except(coordinator / prep)
Practice 1– multiple choice
Practice 2– multiple choice
He likes vegetables but not carrots.
He likes vegetables except (for) carrots.
Jack does nothing all day except[to] eat and sleep.
He isn't interested in anything excepteating and sleeping.
Jack eats nothing but hamburgers.
Jack ate all but one hamburger.
Beginning – Advanced ESL, native speakers
►Negatives in Connectors
Practice 1 – identify the word form (MC)
Practice 2 – contrast word forms (MC)
No one / Not anyone has parked illegally.
His inability / disability was clear to us.
He was unsatisfied / dissatisfied.
Do not park there! We do not park there.
He would park there, wouldn't he?
We asked him not to park there.
I doubt that he *never / ever helps.
He is neither optimistic nor pessimistic. (paired negative)
His no nonsense approach to life is refreshing. (expression)
Intermediate– Advanced ESL, Native Speaker
Coordinated Clauses(conjunctions & semicolons)
Exceptions – the more, the more
Practice 1– identify
Practice 2– edit sentence
My friend and I blogged and read over his shoulder.
Myfriend blogged, andI read over his shoulder.
Intermediate– Advanced ESL, Native Speaker
Practice 1– multiple choice
Practice 2– multiple choice
Also see: Parallel Gerund Prac
*My English is improving slow but surely.
My English is improving slowly but surely.
This is a grammar diagnostic page with study links.
Quiz 1: beginning – intermediate
Quiz 2: intermediate – advanced
Intermediate– Advanced ESL, Native Speaker
She looks around to make sure other girls are noticing her. When asked why she dresses the way she does, she says that she likes it. ______ it seems that the reason for her behavior is more complex.
See Connectors for a complete summary of connective words.