What does a coordinating conjunction do?

A coordinating conjunction serves the primary function of joining two independent clauses, which are complete thoughts that can stand alone as sentences. Common examples of coordinating conjunctions include "and," "but," "or," "nor," "for," "so," and "yet." When used to connect independent clauses, a coordinating conjunction can establish a relationship between the two clauses, such as addition, contrast, or choice.

For instance, in the sentence "I want to go for a walk, but it is raining," the coordinating conjunction "but" connects two independent clauses—each of which has its own subject and verb—forming a compound sentence that conveys a relationship between the two ideas.

While other options may involve the use of conjunctions, they do not accurately describe the specific role of coordinating conjunctions. For example, linking dependent clauses to main clauses is typically the function of subordinating conjunctions, which create complex sentences rather than joining independent clauses.