Extending sentences with but, and, or: fire ant
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 (and, but and or) to the one given.
Scintillating Sentences
1) Biologists and engineers are fascinated by the ability of fire ants to work together without an obvious leader.
2) Once afloat, the fire ants could be eaten by fish or other predators.
3) The larvae were in grave danger from the floodwater, but luckily the worker and soldier ants came to their rescue.
4) Each ant locked legs with its neighbour and gradually a living raft was formed.
Did you know?
Ants don’t have ears, and some of them don’t have eyes!
Ants ‘listen’ by feeling vibrations from the ground through their feet.