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UNIT 5 GRAMMAR
Conjunctions
Conjunctions are connecting words, such as and, or, and but. Conjunctions
can be used to join words, phrases, and sentences. They also make compound
subjects, compound predicates, and compound sentences.
Compound subject: Mars and Venus are planets.
Compound predicate: The Magellan spacecraft landed on Venus
and took pictures.
Compound sentence: Mars is a planet, but the sun is a star.
(Note the comma.)
• Use and to join related ideas: Pluto is small and icy.
• Use but to join different ideas: Saturn has rings, but the moon
has craters.
• Use or to suggest a choice: All the planets are very hot or very cold.
A Write the conjunction in each sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Jupiter is the largest planet, and it spins very fast.
Saturn’s rings are made of ice and icy rock.
There may have been life on Mars, but we are not sure.
One day I will go to another planet or the moon.
Mars has two moons, but it does not have any rings.
Saturn and Jupiter are the largest planets in the solar system.
Saturn is large, but Jupiter is larger.
A planet or other huge object may have knocked Uranus
on its side.
9. Computers and telescopes help us study planets.
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Grammar Space Probes to the Planets
UNIT 5 GRAMMAR
B Use the conjunction and, or, or but to join each pair of sentences.
Write the new sentences. Remember to add a comma.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Would you like to visit Mars? Would you rather go to Venus?
The moon is cold. Pluto is even colder.
Scientists think Mercury shrank after it formed. They are not sure.
Venus is not the closest planet to the sun. It is the hottest.
Neptune has strong winds. They push clouds.
A space probe landed on Mars. It took photos of rocks.
Four planets have rings. No planet has as many rings as Saturn.
Does Jupiter have the most moons?
Does Saturn have more?
9. Space probes circled Mars, Venus,
and Mercury. They are still circling.
10. Would you like to be an astronaut?
Would you prefer being
a scientist?
C Tell whether each sentence
contains a compound subject
or a compound predicate.
Write CS for compound subject
and CP for compound predicate.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Astronauts must study and exercise.
Zach and I went to the planetarium.
We saw a sky show and heard a lecture.
We learned about space shuttles and asked questions.
Venus and Mercury are closest to the sun.
Plants and animals could not live on Venus.
Grammar Space Probes to the Planets
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UNIT 5 GRAMMAR
Review and Assess
Write the correct conjunction in ( ) to complete each sentence.
1. Mars is called the Red Planet, (and, or) it is visible at night.
2. Mars is the fourth planet from the sun, (or, but) it is neither big
nor small.
3. Scientists are not sure if there were plants (but, and) animals on Mars.
4. Is there water on the surface of Mars, (but, or) is it dry?
5. The rocks on Earth (but, and) Mars are much alike.
Write the letter of the word that completes each sentence.
6. Astronomers are scientists who study stars _____ planets.
A of
B but
C and
D if
7. Carl Sagan _____ Edwin Hubble were famous astronomers.
A and
B since
C but
D maybe
8. The planets are far away, _____ they appear
near through a telescope.
A or
B and
C but
D not
9. You might see Venus, _____ only when the sky is clear.
A or
B but
C and
D for
10. Will there be a new moon _____ a full moon?
A but
B so
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C and
D or
Grammar Space Probes to the Planets