Conjunctions KS2: Complete Guide for Years 3–6
FANBOYS, I SAW WABUB, Examples, SATs Tips & Free Worksheets · Last updated June 2026 · Written by the KwizEd team and reviewed against the National Curriculum Appendix 2
What Is a Conjunction? (Quick Answer)
Example: "I like apples and bananas." → and is the conjunction joining two ideas.
That one-sentence definition is exactly what the Year 6 SATs paper tests. Everything below shows how to apply it at every level of primary school, which types exist, how to remember them, and how to avoid the mistakes that cost children marks.
The KS2 SPaG programme of study requires pupils to use coordinating and subordinating conjunctions from Year 2 onwards, with increasing sophistication through to Year 6. Conjunctions are directly tested in the KS2 SPaG paper each May.
The 3 Types of Conjunctions in KS2
The National Curriculum identifies three categories. Each is explained below with its mnemonic, a full example table, and the year group it is introduced.
1. Coordinating Conjunctions — FANBOYS
| Letter | Conjunction | Purpose | KS2 Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | for | Gives a reason (formal) | She sat by the window, for the view calmed her nerves. |
| A | and | Adds information | I packed my bag and checked the door twice. |
| N | nor | Adds a negative | He did not shout, nor did he complain. |
| B | but | Shows contrast | The climb was steep, but she refused to stop. |
| O | or | Offers a choice | You may have fruit or a biscuit after lunch. |
| Y | yet | Contrasts (more formal than but) | The test was difficult, yet she finished early. |
| S | so | Shows a result | The rain started, so we ran inside. |
2. Subordinating Conjunctions — I SAW WABUB
| Letter | Conjunction | Function | KS2 Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | if | Condition | We can go to the park if it stops raining. |
| S | since | Time / reason | I have lived here since I started primary school. |
| A | as | Time / manner | The crowd cheered as the final whistle blew. |
| W | when | Time | Wash your hands when you come inside. |
| W | while | Simultaneous time | The phone rang while we were eating dinner. |
| A | although | Concession / contrast | Although it was cold, we stayed outside to play. |
| B | because | Reason / cause | I stayed indoors because it was raining heavily. |
| U | until | Time (up to a point) | You may not watch TV until your homework is done. |
| B | before | Time (preceding) | Check your work carefully before you hand it in. |
The Comma Rule for Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinate clause FIRST → Comma required: Because it was raining, I stayed inside.
The Year 6 SPaG paper regularly includes a sentence-editing question where children must add the missing comma after a fronted subordinate clause. Drilling this rule with I SAW WABUB words dramatically reduces errors.
3. Correlative Conjunctions — Paired Connectives
| Pair | KS2 Example |
|---|---|
| Either… or | You must either tidy your room or miss the trip. |
| Both… and | Both Maya and Jake won certificates at assembly. |
| Neither… nor | He wanted neither the chocolate cake nor the vanilla. |
| Not only… but also | She is not only a talented artist but also a gifted writer. |
FANBOYS vs I SAW WABUB: What Is the Difference?
| Feature | Coordinating (FANBOYS) | Subordinating (I SAW WABUB) |
|---|---|---|
| Joins | Two independent clauses | An independent + a dependent clause |
| Sentence type | Compound sentence | Complex sentence |
| Swap clause order? | No | Yes — but punctuation changes |
| Example | She was tired, but she kept going. | She kept going although she was tired. |
5 Common Conjunction Mistakes
| Mistake | ❌ Incorrect | ✅ Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The "And" Train | I went to school and forgot my kit and we had the test and I felt worried... | Stop after two clauses joined by and. Start a new sentence or switch to a subordinating conjunction. |
| Subordinate Fragment | Because it was raining outside. | Always attach a main clause: Because it was raining, I stayed inside. |
| Missing Comma | Although she was tired she finished her reading. | Although she was tired, she finished her reading. |
| Confusing But / Although | But she was tired, she kept going. | Although she was tired, she kept going. |
| Overusing Because | I was late because the bus was late because of traffic because... | Replace with since, as, or so that to vary the logical relationship. |
Conjunctions by Year Group: National Curriculum Map
| Year Group | Conjunction Focus | NC Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | and | KS1 Word-level grammar |
| Year 2 | and, but, or, because, when | KS1 Sentence grammar |
| Year 3 | Coordinating: and, but, or + time conjunctions | LKS2 Appendix 2 |
| Year 4 | Subordinating: when, if, because, although | LKS2 Appendix 2 |
| Year 5 | Full FANBOYS set; fronted adverbial clauses | UKS2 Appendix 2 |
| Year 6 | All types; compound-complex sentences; SATs application | UKS2 Appendix 2 / SPaG test |
3 Classroom & Home Strategies
Strategy 1 — The Sentence Stretcher. Write a simple sentence: "The dog barked." Give your child the FANBOYS or I SAW WABUB list and challenge them to stretch it by adding a reason, a time, and a contrast — three sentences, three different conjunctions. This trains flexibility fast.
Strategy 2 — The Clause Sort. Write main clauses on blue cards and subordinate clauses on yellow cards. Mix them up. Children match a blue and a yellow card, choose the correct I SAW WABUB word to join them, and write the sentence out — remembering whether a comma is needed.
Strategy 3 — The Daily Kwized Quiz. A focused five-to-ten-question quiz, taken daily, is more effective than weekly long-form worksheets for grammar retention. The Kwized Grammar Dashboard tracks which specific conjunction types a child is struggling with, so revision can be precisely targeted rather than generic.
Free Kwized KS2 Conjunctions Worksheets (PDF)
Three curriculum-aligned worksheets covering coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions — one for each year group. Each includes a full answer key. Free to download and use in the classroom or at home.
Identify and use the four core subordinating conjunctions. Includes sentence completion and the comma rule.
📄 Worksheet ✅ AnswersPractice with all seven FANBOYS conjunctions. Compound sentences, clause identification, and SATs-style questions.
📄 Worksheet ✅ AnswersCoordinating, subordinating, and paired conjunctions in context. Editing tasks, clause identification, and extended writing prompts aligned to the Year 6 SPaG paper.
📄 Worksheet ✅ AnswersKwized subscribers get access to additional worksheets, adaptive quizzes, and progress tracking across every KS2 grammar topic.
Start your free trial →Interactive KS2 Conjunctions Quiz — Free Practice
Test knowledge of FANBOYS and I SAW WABUB with this free interactive KS2 practice quiz. Pupils identify conjunction types, complete sentences with the correct conjunction, and apply the comma rule — with instant feedback on every answer. No login required to play.
This quiz covers coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS), subordinating conjunctions (I SAW WABUB), and the comma rule — key objectives in the KS2 SPaG curriculum for Years 4–6. Register free to save your score, track progress, and access the full Kwized question bank.
KS2 Conjunctions Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Conjunction | A joining word connecting words, phrases, or clauses |
| Coordinating conjunction | Joins two independent (main) clauses of equal weight |
| Subordinating conjunction | Introduces a dependent clause that cannot stand alone |
| Correlative conjunction | A paired conjunction working together (both…and) |
| Main clause | A clause that makes complete sense on its own |
| Subordinate clause | A clause that depends on the main clause for meaning |
| Compound sentence | Two main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction |
| Complex sentence | A main clause + subordinate clause joined by a subordinating conjunction |
| FANBOYS | Mnemonic for the seven coordinating conjunctions |
| I SAW WABUB | Mnemonic for nine key subordinating conjunctions |
| SPaG | Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar — the KS2 national test |
| KS2 | Key Stage 2 — Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 in English primary schools |
| Fronted adverbial | A subordinate clause placed at the start of a sentence, followed by a comma |
Related KS2 Grammar Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
A conjunction is a word that connects two words, phrases, or clauses within a sentence. In KS2, children learn two main types: coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) and subordinating conjunctions (I SAW WABUB).
FANBOYS stands for For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So — the seven coordinating conjunctions used to join two independent clauses of equal importance in a compound sentence.
I SAW WABUB stands for If, Since, As, When, While, Although, Because, Until, Before — nine of the most common subordinating conjunctions used to introduce a dependent clause in a complex sentence.
A coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) joins two clauses that could each stand alone as a complete sentence, creating a compound sentence. A subordinating conjunction (I SAW WABUB) introduces a clause that depends on the main clause for its meaning, creating a complex sentence.
With coordinating conjunctions joining two long independent clauses, a comma goes immediately before the conjunction: "The storm raged all night, but the tent held firm." With subordinating conjunctions, no comma is needed if the main clause comes first ("I left because it was late"), but a comma is required if the subordinate clause is fronted ("Because it was late, I left.")
The Year 6 SPaG paper tests coordinating conjunctions (especially but, so, yet), subordinating conjunctions (especially although, because, when, if), comma placement with fronted clauses, and the ability to identify clause types. Children are also expected to demonstrate varied conjunction use in their writing composition.
A connective is an umbrella term covering any word or phrase that links ideas. Conjunctions link clauses within one sentence. Connecting adverbs (such as however, therefore, and consequently) link ideas between separate sentences and are not conjunctions.
Yes. Because is a subordinating conjunction — one of the I SAW WABUB words. It introduces a subordinate clause that explains the reason for the action in the main clause: "She smiled because she had passed her test."
Yes — in a complex sentence with a full main clause attached. "Because the road was icy, school was cancelled." is grammatically correct. What is incorrect is a subordinate fragment without a main clause: "Because the road was icy." ✗
A complex sentence contains one main (independent) clause and at least one subordinate (dependent) clause joined by a subordinating conjunction. Example: "Although the weather was awful, we still enjoyed the trip." Complex sentences are a key KS2 writing target from Year 4 onwards.
