Basic conjunctions: and, but, or, because and so

What you'll learn

A conjunction joins words or short ideas.

At A1, these five are especially useful:

and · but · or · because · so

Start with these examples

• I like tea and coffee.
• It is small but comfortable.
• You can call or email me.
• I stayed home because I was tired.
• It was late, so we left.

Use and for addition

Use and when both ideas are true.

• I have a brother and a sister.
• She speaks Spanish and English.
• We bought bread and milk.

Use but for contrast

Use but when the second idea is different or surprising.

• The hotel is cheap but clean.
• He is tired, but he is happy.

Use or for a choice

Use or when there is a choice or an alternative.

• Do you want tea or coffee?
• You can walk or take the bus.

Use because for a reason

Use because to explain why.

• I am at home because I am ill.
• She studies English because she likes languages.

Use so for a result

Use so to show the result.

• I was tired, so I went to bed.
• The shop was closed, so we came home.

Common mistakes

• Because I was tired so I went home. → I was tired, so I went home.
  or I went home because I was tired.
• It is small and expensive. → It is small but expensive. (when you want contrast)
• I speak Spanish or English. → I speak Spanish and English. (when both are true)

Quick check

• I am hungry, ___ I want lunch. → so
• She stays at home ___ she is ill. → because
• Do you want water ___ juice? → or
• My flat is small ___ nice. → but

Next step

You can now combine many A1 grammar points to make clear, useful everyday sentences.