Tie-Dye Day: Joining Ideas with Conjunctions

Use and, but, or, so, because, when, if and more to join ideas.

Join with and, but, or, so, yet

And, but, or, so and yet are coordinating conjunctions. They join two ideas that are equally important. When they join two sentences, put a comma before the conjunction.

Mr. Diaz's art club made tie-dye shirts on Friday. Every sentence on this worksheet is about their colorful, messy day.

Write a word from the box to finish each sentence. Use each word once.

Do you want a striped shirt a spiral shirt?
Ravi left his shirt in the dye too long, it turned very dark.
Lila tried to make a heart shape, it looked more like a circle.

What does the coordinating conjunction show in each sentence? Sort the sentences.

Read these two sentences.
The shirt was still wet. Omar hung it on the fence.
Which sentence joins them correctly with a coordinating conjunction?

A. The shirt was still wet, or Omar hung it on the fence.B. The shirt was still wet because Omar hung it on the fence.C. The shirt was still wet, Omar hung it on the fence.D. The shirt was still wet, so Omar hung it on the fence.

Join with because, when, if, until

Because, when, after, before, if and until are subordinating conjunctions. Each one begins a part of a sentence that cannot stand alone. That part tells why, when or what could happen.

What does the part that starts with the subordinating conjunction tell? Sort the sentences.

Which conjunction best completes the sentence?
Wear gloves ______ you squeeze the dye bottles.

A. althoughB. orC. whenD. unless

Which conjunction best completes the sentence?
______ it rains on Saturday, we will dye shirts in the gym.

A. IfB. UntilC. SoD. Or

Read these two sentences.
Ravi opened his bag. Then he saw a dark purple spiral.
Which sentence joins these ideas and keeps their meaning?

A. Ravi opened his bag because he saw a dark purple spiral.B. When Ravi opened his bag, he saw a dark purple spiral.C. Ravi opened his bag, or he saw a dark purple spiral.D. When Ravi saw a dark purple spiral, he opened his bag.

Circle the subordinating conjunction in this sentence.

Complete sentences

A part that starts with a subordinating conjunction needs another part that can stand alone.

Which one is a complete sentence?

A. Because the shirts were still wet and dripping.B. When the shirts were wet and we hung them outside.C. Because the shirts were wet, we hung them outside.D. We hung the shirts outside on the line because.

10.

Finish this sentence in your own words.
The dye bottle tipped over, so …

11.

Write a sentence about something you would like to make. Use the conjunction if.