Here's a breakdown:
* Coordination means joining two or more elements of equal grammatical rank. These elements can be words, phrases, or clauses.
* Grammatical Function refers to the role a word or phrase plays in a sentence, such as subject, verb, object, or modifier.
Examples:
* Incorrect: The cat sat on the mat and a bird flew by. (The elements "The cat sat on the mat" and "a bird flew by" are both complete sentences, not equal grammatical elements)
* Correct: The cat sat on the mat and purred. (Both "sat" and "purred" are verbs functioning as the predicate of the sentence)
* Correct: The cat sat on the mat and under the table. (Both "on the mat" and "under the table" function as prepositional phrases modifying the verb "sat")
Key points:
* When coordinating elements, use coordinating conjunctions (like "and," "but," "or") to connect them.
* Make sure the elements you coordinate have the same grammatical role in the sentence.
* Avoid coordinating elements that are not grammatically parallel.
By following this rule, your writing will be clearer, more concise, and grammatically correct.