The word and is a conjunction. More precisely, “and” is a coordinating conjunction, which is a part of speech that links two or more nouns, phrases, or clauses. For example, in the sentence “I have a bird and a fish,” “and” connects the two nouns.
Examples: And in a sentence
In Costa Rica, I visited La Fortuna and San Jose.We went to dinner, and then we went to watch a movie.
Freddy was hungry, and he wanted to try both the lasagna and the fettuccine Alfredo.
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What part of speech is the word and?
The word “and” is a conjunction. Conjunctions are a part of speech that establishes a relationship or connection between multiple parts of a sentence. There are three types of conjunctions—coordinating, subordinating, and correlative. “And” is a coordinating conjunction.
How to use and in a sentence
Coordinating conjunctions link parts of a sentence that have the same grammatical value. Simply put, “and” connects single words such as nouns with nouns and verbs with verbs, but it also links phrases with phrases and clauses with clauses.
| I’m going to go home to shower and wash my hair before the party. | She went to the park to read a book and relax under a tree. | Tulia likes to exercise in the morning, and Nathan goes for a run in the evening. |
Can you start a sentence with and?
Yes, “and” can be used at the start of the sentence. Although it is more common in casual and informal communication, it can also be used in formal and professional contexts and is typically used as a transition or to add clarity or emphasis.
However, “and” at the beginning of a sentence should be used sparingly and must always be part of a complete sentence.
Examples: And at the beginning of a sentence
✓ She moved to another country. And that’s when everything changed.✓ And then the television stopped working during the final minutes of the game.
✓ And for that reason, we decided to go with a different marketing agency.
✗ And left without saying goodbye.
Note
A comma before “and” is required to connect two independent clauses. However, a comma isn’t always necessary when the independent clauses are short and closely related. In this case, the use of a comma is a stylistic choice.
✓ I went to the mall, and I walked around all day until I found the perfect dress.
✓ Ryan swept and I mopped.
✓ Ryan swept, and I mopped.
Do not use a comma before “and” when it connects independent and dependent clauses.
✗ My best friend is Italian, and loves to cook pasta.
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