Recognizing Coordinated Elements (1)

To enter a response, click in the window, type the response, and click "Check." In some cases you must enter only two words, in others more—sometimes even two whole sentences. In all cases, however, the two elements on either side of the slash will be of the same type. Feedback will appear in a pop-up window, and your cumulative score will appear here.

Why Bother?

In order to apply the rules governing commas with joining words, you must consciously identify what sort of units are being joined. That is what this exercise is for.

Directions: In this exercise, the coordinate conjunctions "and," "but," and "or" sometimes join pairs of words and sometimes join pairs of sentences (independent clauses). For each sentence, first find the coordinate conjunction. Then copy the two units joined by the conjunction. Between them place a forward slash with a space on both sides of it.

Example:
      The stolen painting was not beautiful OR valuable.
Response:
      beautiful / valuable

Example:
      You can lead a horse to water, BUT you can't make it drink.
Response:
      You can lead a horse to water / you can't make it drink.