Coordinating conjunctions

Join two equal clauses

and

addition: She works hard and she earns well.

but

contrast: He's smart but lazy.

alternative: Tea or coffee?

result: It rained, so we stayed home.

for

reason (formal): He was tired, for he had worked all day.

Subordinating conjunctions

One clause depends on the other

because

reason: I stayed home because I was ill.

although / even though

contrast/concession: Although it was cold, she wore a t-shirt.

when / while

time: I was reading when you called.

condition: If it rains, we'll stay home.

before / after / until

sequence: Wash your hands before eating.

Connectors (linking adverbs)

Connect ideas between sentences — more formal

however

contrast: It was expensive. However, it was worth it.

therefore

result: It rained. Therefore, we cancelled.

also / in addition

addition: She is kind. She is also very patient.

for example

example: She loves sport, for example swimming.

however and therefore connect SENTENCES (with full stop or semicolon). but and so connect CLAUSES within a sentence.

because vs because of

Common confusion — different grammar follows each

because + clause

I stayed home because I was ill.

+ subject + verb

She left because she was tired.

because of + noun

I stayed home because of my illness.

+ noun phrase

We were late because of traffic.

Common mistakes

Where learners go wrong most often

Although it rained, but we went.

→

Although it rained, we went.

No 'but' after although

Despite it rained, we went.

→

Despite the rain, we went.

Despite + noun phrase

He is tall so that he plays basketball.

→

He is tall so he plays basketball.

"So that" = purpose; "so" = result

although vs but / despite vs however

although (mid-sentence)

Although she was tired, she worked late.

but (joining clauses)

She was tired but she worked late.

despite / in spite of + noun/-ing

Despite being tired, she worked late.

however (new sentence)

She was tired. However, she worked late.

Your turn

Answer out loud — full sentences

Join your ideas with and, but, so, because or although.

Why are you learning English?

Say something you like and something you don't like about your town.

It rained all weekend. What did you do? (so …)

Tell me about a difficult day — use although once.

Recap

Addition

and · also · in addition

and she works hard

Contrast

but · although · however

but she's lazy / however, she works

Reason

because (+ clause) · because of (+ noun)

because I was ill

Result

so · therefore

so we stayed / therefore we cancelled

Practice now →

Conjunctions