Extending sentences with but, and, or: ibex

2 - The Grammar Bit

The Grammar Bit!

Read the scintillating sentences opposite. The words highlighted in bold are coordinating conjunctions. These ‘gluey’ words can be used to extend sentences by joining words and phrases. Sentences 1 and 2 are examples of this.

These conjunctions can also be used to join clauses. (Remember – a clause is a group of words that usually contains a subject and a verb.) Sentences 3 and 4 are examples of this.

With your talk partner, see if any of the sentences ‘work’ with a different coordinating conjunction (andbut and or) to the one given.

Scintillating Sentences

1) An ibex, or mountain goat, lives in the mountainous regions of Europe, central Asia and north Africa.

2) An ibex eats grass and other vegetation.

3) The mother ibex climbed up the vertical dam wall and she was followed by her brave, young kid.

4) The ibex kid’s hoof slipped off the wall, but fortunately the hoof found a different foothold to grip onto.

Did you know?

Both the male and female ibex have horns that face backwards. The male horns are much bigger, typically three times as long as those of the female, which is a good way to tell the male and female apart.