What Conjunctions Are
A conjunction is a word that joins. And, but and or join two things of the same kind — two words, two phrases or two whole sentences. Because and so join in a different way: they tie a reason to a result.
JOININGand · but · or
Both halves are true, and and puts them in one sentence.
I speak English and a little French.
Two things of the same kind, held together by one word.
GIVING A REASONbecause
I stay at home because it is raining.
Because is followed by a whole sentence: it is raining.
The difference matters from the first sentence you write. After and, but and or you can put almost anything, as long as it matches what came before. After because you have far less freedom: a subject and a verb, every time.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"I like tea I don't like coffee."
- Question 2
"I stay at home I am sick."
The patterns
AND / BUT / OR
Aand / but / orB
tea and coffee · small but comfortable · now or later
A and B match: word with word, phrase with phrase, sentence with sentence.
BECAUSE
resultbecauseSV
I stay at home because I am tired.
Because opens a clause, so a subject and a verb must follow it.
SO
reasonsoresult
I am tired, so I go to bed early.
So runs the other way round from because: reason first, result second.
English joins two halves with because or with so, never with both: Because it is raining, I stay at home. · It is raining, so I stay at home. Many languages pair two connectors instead — Vietnamese Vì… nên… is the classic case — and translating such a pair word for word gives Because it is raining, so I stay at home, which has one connector too many.
Because I am tired — subject and verb. The form because of + noun (because of the rain) is learned at A2.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Would you like tea coffee?"
- Question 2
"It is late, I go home."
- Question 3
"Because I am tired, to bed early."
When to use each one
Adding
I want bread and milk.
And puts two things of the same kind side by side, with nothing between them but the word itself.
Signal words: and · both … and · one more thing
Contrasting
The room is small but comfortable.
But warns the listener that the second half turns against the first.
Signal words: but · a surprise · the opposite of what you expect
Choosing
We can walk or take a taxi.
Or offers alternatives — and after a negative it also replaces and: I don't drink tea or coffee.
Signal words: or · a choice · after a negative
Giving the reason
I am happy because you are here.
Because answers the question Why? and is followed by a full sentence.
Signal words: because · Why …? · a reason · because + S + V
When the reason comes first it takes a comma after it: Because it is raining, I stay at home. When it comes second there is no comma: I stay at home because it is raining.
Four words, one table
| JOINING EQUALS | TYING REASON TO RESULT | |
|---|---|---|
| Adding | and — I have a cat and a dog. | — |
| Contrasting | but — The room is small but clean. | — |
| Choosing | or — Tea or coffee? | — |
| Reason first | — | because — I stay at home because it is raining. |
| Result second | — | so — It is raining, so I stay at home. |
The last two rows say one thing in two directions, and a sentence may pick only one of them.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"My sister likes music I like sport."
- Question 2
"I don't eat meat fish."
Common mistakes
Incorrect:Because it is raining, so we stay at home.
Correct:Because it is raining, we stay at home.
One link, one connector. Keep because, or drop it and keep so on the second half.
Incorrect:I don't like tea and coffee.
Correct:I don't like tea or coffee.
After a negative, or covers both items; and denies only the two of them together.
Incorrect:I like coffee and I don't like tea.
Correct:I like coffee but I don't like tea.
The second half turns against the first, and that turn is what but is for.
Incorrect:Do you want tea and coffee?
Correct:Do you want tea or coffee?
This question offers a choice, so it takes or. With and you are asking for both at once.
Incorrect:She is tired because the long trip.
Correct:She is tired because the trip is long.
Because needs a whole sentence after it — a subject and a verb. The form because of + noun comes at A2.
Quick check · 6 questions
Choose the word that completes the sentence:
I have a cat and a dog.
- A. and — Correct
- B. but
- C. or
Answer: A. and
Both halves are true and neither turns against the other, so and simply puts them side by side. But would promise a contrast that never arrives.
Choose the word that completes the sentence:
The flat is small but very bright.
- A. but — Correct
- B. and
- C. or
Answer: A. but
Small usually counts against a flat and bright counts for it, so the sentence needs but to warn the listener that the turn is coming.
Choose the word that completes the sentence:
Do you go to work by bus or by bike?
- A. or — Correct
- B. and
Answer: A. or
This question expects one answer, not both, so it takes or. Asking "by bus and by bike" would be asking whether you somehow use the two at once.
Choose the word that completes the sentence:
She doesn't eat meat or fish.
- A. or — Correct
- B. and
- C. but
Answer: A. or
After a negative, or is the word that covers both items: she eats neither. "She doesn't eat meat and fish" denies only the pair, and leaves a listener wondering whether she eats one of them on its own.
Choose the word that completes the sentence:
I don't go out because it is raining.
- A. because — Correct
- B. so
- C. but
Answer: A. because
"It is raining" has a subject and a verb, and it is the reason, which is exactly what because takes. So runs the other way: reason first, result second.
Choose the words that complete the sentence:
Because it is late, I go home.
- A. I go — Correct
- B. so I go
- C. and I go
Answer: A. I go
Because has already joined the two halves, so nothing else belongs in front of "I go". Say "Because it is late, I go home" or "It is late, so I go home" — never both connectors at once.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 12 questions
