Introduction

and, or, but, so, because

Conjunctions are used to connect two sentences into one long sentence:

• I play tennis and I swim.
• You can go to the cinema, or you can visit your aunt.
• Ana loves oranges, but she hates pears.
• It was raining, so I took an umbrella.
• Peter is crying because he has failed his exams.

"and" is used to add items to a list:

• She bought apples and bananas.

"or" is used to talk about options:

• You can have the blue pen or the red pen.

"but" is used to show contrast:

• I speak French but I’ve never been to France.

"so" gives the result of something:

• Peter didn’t study, so he failed his exams.

"because" gives the reason for something:

• I got wet because I didn’t take an umbrella.

More examples

• On Saturdays, we usually visit the zoo and on Sundays, we go to the park.
• I bought a skirt, some shoes and a jacket.
• We can have a holiday, or we can save our money.
• Can we have a picnic, or is the weather too bad?
• I’d like to go, but I don’t have any money.
• Tom ran, but he missed the bus.
• I was unhappy, so I ate some chocolate.
• I forgot the sun cream, so I got burnt.
• I got into university because I studied hard.
• I won’t buy a bicycle because I don't like cycling.

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We usually place a comma before "or", "but" and "so".

With a long list we use commas and we put "and" before the last item:

• He studies maths, science, French and drama.

We can put "because" at the beginning of a sentence:

• Because I don’t like cycling, I won't buy a bicycle.

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Practice

Complete the sentences with the correct conjunction.
.

1)

I'm very good at sport,    I'm terrible at maths.

 

2)

The movie was bad,    I left the cinema.

 

3)

At university, he studied physics    chemistry.

 

4)

Mick can't drive, so he can take the train,    he can take the bus.

 

5)

Shelly didn't buy the car    she didn't have enough money.

 

Please submit the missing answers shown in red
 

Submit

Further practice

Complete the sentences with the correct answer from a, b, c or d:
.

1)

While my father was in Agra, he decided to visit the Taj Mahal ____ the Agra Fort.
 

and

but

because

so

 

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2)

I wasn't invited to the party, ____ I didn't mind.
 

so

or

but

because

 

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3)

____ she was tired, she went to bed early.
 

So

But

Or

Because

 

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4)

Would you like to go to a restaurant, ____ shall I make something?
 

and

because

or

so

 

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5)

She couldn't hear him, ____ he turned the television off.
 

so

but

because

or

 

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6)

I finished the report late ____ my computer broke whilst I was writing it.
 

or

but

so

because

 

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Please submit the missing answers shown in red
 

Submit